Queens Chronicle South Edition 12-10-20 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. XLIII

NO. 50

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

QCHRON.COM

BACK TO CLASS

REZONING ON TRACK

BE KIND: PLEASE UNWIND

Most schools keep hybrid schedule

CB 10 approves resiliency plan

Library lets love rule with new programs for tense times

PAGE 6

PAGE 4

SEE qboro, PAGE 31

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GIGLIO

Howard Beach Xmas contest aims to lift spirits PAGE 16 For years, Michael Giglio’s Hamilton Beach home has been a light mecca for New Yorkers at Christmastime. Now, during a holiday season like no other, he is one of several dozen home decorators competing in a Christmas light contest in Howard Beach.

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Trump built support in NYC, Queens Results show prez increased Latino margins in boro by Max Parrott Associate Editor

early a month after Election Day, the New York City Board of Elections finally released its official results for the 2020 general election, which may be a hard pill to swallow for Democrats. While there’s no surprise that former Vice President Joe Biden won the largest share of the vote in a city where the majority of registered voters are Democrats, the final results show President Donald Trump building on his support from the last election cycle. Across the city, Trump improved his performance in all but one Staten Island Assembly district. New York City swung toward Trump by 4.7 points between 2016 and 2020, according to the certified city BOE results. This year, Trump received 22.6 percent of the city’s total votes, and Biden got 75.7 percent. But in 2016, Trump got 17.9 percent. Hillary Clinton received 78.4 percent. The 2020 outcome broke records for early and mail-in voting. Turnout overall was way up by over 300,000 votes. Over one million votes were delivered through early voting.

This year, President Trump increased his margin of the vote from 2016 across the city and in Queens. The mail-in system yielded a record 662,314 got 74.8 percent in 2016. absentee and military ballots as well as 33,980 But the declining margins of the Demoaffidavit ballots, with 24,596 ballots that fell cratic presidential candidate’s victory are not into other categories. the only spot of relative bad news for Queens Overall the certified results show that Democrats in the election results. Three of Biden won the city by a landslide with a total Trump’s biggest margins in the borough were of 2,321,759 votes — in the four majority1,630,077 more than L a t i n o A s s e m bly the 691,682 Trump districts. think unfortunately the received. Across the U.S., Democratic Party has a But in Queens, the Trump improved his president won an even margins in 78 of the lot of work to do in the greater share of the nation’s 100 majorityvote than he did cityLatino cou nties, Latinx community.” wide — and grew his according to Politico. margins from 2016 In parallel with that — Assemblywoman-elect Jessica too. national trend, the González-Rojas New York City data This year Trump won 26.8 percent of the 794,498 votes total in strongly suggests that Latino voters in Corothe world’s borough. That’s up from 21.6 per- na, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Woodcent of the vote in 2016. Biden received 71.6 haven also swung for Trump. There are important caveats to that conpercent in Queens this year, whereas Clinton

“I

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clusion. For one thing, the Census data that contains the racial demographics of these neighborhoods is from 2010, so there is an argument that the change in population could account for some of the changes in voting patterns. Third-party candidates also were a stronger draw in 2016, which potentially could account for some of Trump’s increases. Despite that, neither Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Corona) nor Assemblywoman-elect Jessica González-Rojas, representing two of the four majority-Latino districts, said they were surprised. They had met conservative Latino constituents while canvassing. “What I do know is that we’re not a monolith,” said González-Rojas, who added that it was difficult to give a comprehensive profile of the conservative voter in her district based on campaign outreach. continued on page 30

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CB 10 approves Old Howard rezoning As an added condition, board votes to restrict shelters, group homes by Max Parrott Associate Editor

Community Board 10 voted unanimously last Thursday to approve a citywide resiliency plan and an Old Howard Beach-specific rezoning that are aimed at preparing flood zones for extreme weather. But the vote came with an added condition: The board wants to restrict all homeless shelters and group or nursing homes in the small coastal neighborhood. The board’s resolution, as recommended by its Land Use Committee and adopted in the general vote, would restrict any community facilities that have overnight sleeping accommodations from residential areas that could have to be evacuated. The vote concerned both a citywide and neighborhood rezoning. The Old Howard Beach portion primarily involves changing the zoning map so that any new buildings must be detached because standalone houses are easier to elevate and retrofit with flooding-protection measures than those that share walls. The new zoning would affect 48 blocks total, containing 1,037 buildings. Zoning for Coastal Resiliency, the citywide plan, is aimed at removing zoning barriers that prevent resilient construction and retrofitting of buildings that fall in the floodplain. The change to zoning laws would expand the areas where the rules are applicable. Chairwoman Betty Braton said that both the citywide and neighborhood plans were relatively uncontroversial because the neighborhood already consists mostly of detached homes. She added that the context for the board’s “overnight facilities” request goes back to 2017 when the city designated Hamilton Beach be a special coastal risk district. That rezoning included a provision that stopped all such facilities from being built in the coastal hamlet because it is only connected to the mainland by one road that is often

one of the first parts of the neighborhood to flood. Braton thinks it makes sense to add the same provision into the Old Howard Beach rezoning as well because the bulk of the area is beneath 157th Avenue where she worries that it could be difficult to evacuate people. “To get in or out of Howard Beach, you have to use 157th Avenue. If 157th Avenue for some reason gets shut down, nothing gets in or out,” she said. While the provision would stop any new nursing homes and homeless shelters, Braton doesn’t think that it’s likely for those to be proposed in the neighborhood to begin with. “The bigger concern would be group homes. We’ve got a dozen of them throughout Board 10,” Braton said, referring to residences for developmentally disabled adults. Braton noted before the vote that she and four other board members do live in Old Howard Beach, but the city Conflicts of Interest Board does not stop them from voting on the rezoning. The proposal for Old Howard Beach will now go to the Borough Board and Borough President’s Office, which will have 30 days to make a recommendation on the proposal. After that it will go back to the City Planning Commission, which has the option to implement modifications to the application. The City Council will then have 50 days to vote on the plan. A spokesperson for the Department of City Planning did not say whether the board’s additional recommendation falls within the scope of the rezoning. “We appreciate the Community Board’s recommendations and will continue to work with them on resiliency. The City Planning Commission will carefully review recommendations it receives from all Community Boards, Borough Boards and Borough Presidents, as well as public testimony, before making any determinations or modifications for this proposal,” DCP spokesperson Joe Marvilli said in an email to the Q Chronicle.

Proposed changes to the zoning map in Old Howard Beach would primarily make it so that new residences could only be constructed as FILE IMAGE standalone buildings.

No restrictions as Covid rises in area Five ZIP codes in South Queens had over 7-percent positivity rates Wednesday by Max Parrott

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Associate Editor

A portion of the city’s seven-day test positivity map as of Wednesday, where the darker reds represent higher Covid posiNYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IMAGE tivity rates.

For over the past month several ZIP codes in the Ozone Park and Richmond Hill area have been hovering at the top of the city’s top sevenday Covid positivity rates. Though Gov. Cuomo previously maintained that geographic areas will see a change from yellow to orange if they have positivity above 3 percent for 10 days and 10 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents based on a seven-day rolling average, he has not updated the zone designations since Nov. 18. Now residents of South Queens have started to worry that Cuomo’s failure to update the designation sets a sense of false security for their neighbors who may not have been closely following the city’s data. “The residents of these neighbor-

hoods are not aware how dangerously high the rates are. They think we’re fine because the governor made these statements about, ‘Oh we’re going to make zones.’ As far as anyone knows the only dangerous zones are in Breezy Point and Staten Island,” said Howard Beach resident Racquel Lavacca. The change to an orange zone would close all indoor dining and gyms. On Monday, Gov. Cuomo set a new metric for closing indoor dining, saying that it could be shut down in five days in the city if hospitalizations for Covid continue to rise. St at e Se n . Jo e Ad d a bb o Jr. (D-Howard Beach), for his part, told the Chronicle that he thinks officials need to wait before making a decision limiting restaurants to takeout. “When you look at closing a business down — back when we shut busi-

nesses down earlier, they had the federal stimulus to fall back on to some extent, and workers as well. Now we’re swinging without a net,” he said. According to city data on Wednesday, five ZIP codes in South Queens all have between a 7 and 10 percent positivity rate. Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park ZIP code 11419 has the fifth-highest in the city at 9.13 percent. ZIPs 11436, 11418, 11418 and 11420 stretching over Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park and South Jamaica, all have a seven-day test rate over 7 percent. Howard Beach had a 4.24 percent positivity rate, down from earlier this week. “I just saw a neighbor and she was like if I would have known that we were at 5.5 percent, I wouldn’t have gone to brunch yesterday,” Lavacca Q said.

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Gov: NYC to get 72K doses of the vaccine CVS, Walgreens employees will vaccinate nursing residents, staff by David Russell Associate Editor

The beginning of the end could be in sight for the pandemic. Gov. Cuomo said the state will get 170,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer on Dec. 15, with additional allocations from Pfizer and Moderna in the coming weeks. Of the 170,000 doses, 72,000 are estimated to be given to New York City, Cuomo announced Wednesday. Nursing home residents will be the first to get the vaccine, which is free for all Ameicans, followed by nursing home staff and then highrisk hospital workers. Reports say around 40 percent of Covid deaths nationwide have occurred in nursing homes. The state opted into a federal program under which CVS and Walgreens employees will vaccinate nursing home residents and staff in the facilities, much like they do for the flu vaccine. Cuomo said 90 regional centers are ready to store the vaccine. “This is going to be the largest governmental operation not just through Covid, this is going to be the largest governmental operation since World War II, in my opinion,” Cuomo said last week. The state released a draft plan in October to determine distribution. The first of five phases includes healthcare

Gov. Cuomo said Wednesday undocumented immigrants will not have to worry about being idenPHOTO BY FERNANDO ZHIMINAICELA / PIXABAY tified if they want to receive the Covid vaccine. workers in patient-care settings, long-term care facility workers who regularly interact with residents and most at-risk long-term care facility patients. Phase 2 includes first responders, police officers, firefighters, teachers and school staff doing in-person instruction, child care provid-

ers, public health workers, other essential frontline workers who regularly interact with the public, other long-term care facility patients and those living in other congregate settings, and individuals in the general population deemed particularly high risk due to health conditions. Phase 3 is for people over 65 and those

under 65 with high-risk comorbidities and health conditions. All other essential workers would be included in Phase 4, while healthy adults and children would be in Phase 5. “To ensure coordinated and efficient statewide distribution and administration, all localities and entities in New York State will be required to follow the state’s guidance and protocols for Covid-19 vaccination,” the plan said. Cuomo said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed not to collect identifying data from people taking the vaccine because of concerns it would be used to identify undocumented residents. “If undocumented people don’t get vaccinated ... it compromises the whole program,” he said. Cuomo said a public education campaign will be launched to encourage people to take the vaccine. Reports have shown first responders, including EMS workers and firefighters, have shown reluctance in taking a vaccine, according to department polls. The governor said he also wants outreach for black, brown and poor communities that have fewer healthcare facilities, higher death rates and higher infection rates. In Britain, Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first person in the world to be vaccinated Q against Covid on Tuesday.

Five-day schedules for 19% of schools As buildings continue reopening, more to get full-time instruction for students by Max Parrott

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Associate Editor

Public schools across New York City welcomed back 3-K through fifth-grade students on Monday after the city shifted to full remote learning two weeks ago when the citywide Covid positivity rate ticked over 3 percent. On Thursday District 75 schools servicing special education students will reopen for in-person instruction as well. Around 190,000 New York City students in all will return to classrooms this week. As part of the plan, Mayor de Blasio also promised that more schools would have enough space and staffing to accommodate students for five days per week, as opposed to the combination of inperson and remote days that has been the norm. But as the kids re-entered their classrooms, the numbers show that only a fraction of the 850 school buildings that opened up this week are able to offer five-day schedules. A DOE spokesperson told the Chronicle that only 161 schools are offering full schedules this week

citywide — less than 20 percent of the total. “I’m not concerned about that because we will be able to deliver. I would say, first of all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. We said, this is something that’s going to be phased in over the coming weeks,” de Blasio said in a press event on Wednesday. Though de Blasio’s plan forgoes the 3 percent Covid testing threshold that initiated the public school closures, the reopening comes even as overall rates for Covid have risen across the city for several weeks. Despite that rise, DOE data has consistently shown much lower rates in public schools than among the general public. The mayor has promised that every school will participate in weekly random testing for 20 percent of its in-person population. The shift to full-time, in-person instruction requires each school to address its space and attendance constraints. Schools are prioritizing students with disabilities, students in temporary housing and other vulnerable populations for full-time, in-person instruction — even if it is only available to a por-

tion of the student body. “Schools are swiftly but carefully moving students to five-day a week programming based on in-person attendance, space assessments, and timelines that are least disruptive for kids, while prioritizing students with disabilities and other vulnerable populations,” said DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Styer, adding that “many more schools will join them going into the weeks to come.” De Blasio added that the city would be paying very close attention to the results of the reopening this week in order to “retool” the system in the near future. During the first months of the school year, a considerably larger number of parents signed up for in-person learning than actually sent their kids to school on a regular basis. To correct for that disparity, de Blasio said that the DOE is keeping track of all students who don’t show up to class the first week, so that the city can re-categorize them as allremote if they continue to be no-shows. In Queens, parents and advocates have worried that a shortage of in-

Parents wait with their children outside PS 49 in Middle Village on the first PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN day of the reopening. person capacity will affect schools mostly in the northwestern part of the borough, where many of the most crowded schools are located. The city has not released each school district’s in-person enrollment figures since mid-October, but that data, published by Gothamist, showed that District 24 had the lowest rate of remote-only students in the borough, with only 46 percent of

all parents requesting to opt out of in-person learning. After District 24 came District 30, where only 51 percent of parents requested to opt out of in-person learning. The relatively high number of inperson families will make it difficult for many of those schools to achieve a five-day schedule, unless these numbers change based on the Q first week of classes.

C M SQ page 7 Y K Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

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Renewed rule likely: Take out or get out Cuomo warns indoor dining soon to end over rising hospitalization rates by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Gov. Cuomo on Monday said indoor dining in the city could be shut down in five days if hospitalizations for Covid-19 continue to rise. Restaurants in the city may serve patrons inside up to 25 percent of normal capacity, while those elsewhere in the state can go up to 50 percent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; except in the orange zones where there are higher clusters of cases. None of Queens is in an orange zone anymore; southern Staten Island is the only part of the city that is. New York City will likely see orange zone restrictions, on restaurants at least, though they are not yet inevitable, Cuomo said at his virtual press event, where he was joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If after five days, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen a stabilization in a regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospital rate, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to clamp down on indoor dining,â&#x20AC;? Cuomo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five days, if the hospitalization rate doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stabilize in New York City, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to close indoor dining.â&#x20AC;? They could still offer takeout and outdoor seating, which has become much less appealing and more complex as winter approaches. Limited indoor dining was authorized Sept. 30. The seven-day average of citywide hospitalizations was 142 on Dec. 5, the latest day for which the Department of Health had posted

data online as of Wednesday. That was down from the average of 147 on Dec. 4 but up from 137 on the first of the month. The numbers have been rising steadily since early November. The governor said he would target indoor dining because it is identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as something that spreads the coronavirus. Gyms and salons, other businesses forced to close in orange zones, are not major spreaders, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CDC guidance targets indoor dining, which weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re following,â&#x20AC;? Cuomo said in answer to reportersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; questions, while gyms and salons are â&#x20AC;&#x153;not major spreaders on the numbers. It is about indoor dining. This is on top of the orange regulation. So this would supersede. So in other words, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d close indoor dining in New York city in five days, which is what would happen in an orange zone.â&#x20AC;? Cuomo said the shutdowns are not inevitable and can be avoided if a given regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospitalization rates stabilize. But heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not optimistic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You could see New Yorkers change their behavior and be more careful ... and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the increase,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is a possibility. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a probability because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been sitting here for the past month saying, please, please, please, but it is a possibility. Worst case scenario, the number keeps going up and it gets so high that you endanger overwhelming the hospitals, then we have to hit

Empty tables could again be the norm at all city restaurants soon. PHOTO BY MARKO MILIVOJEVIC / PIXNIO pause and go back to closure.â&#x20AC;? Industry groups, however, said the governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments are not backed up by the science of Covid spread. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly regulated, reduced occupancy, well ventilated and COVID-19 compliant restaurants have gone above and beyond to protect the health and safety of their customers and employees,â&#x20AC;? Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a prepared statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indeed, Governor Cuomo said that 70% of recent cases come

from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;living roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spread, not restaurants, and the NYC Department of Health has zero data demonstrating that increased infection rates are a result of our highly restricted restaurants.â&#x20AC;? Rigie pointed out that Manhattan has the largest number of restaurants in the state but has a lower test positivity rate than counties including Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and yet their restaurants could remain open. Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, said government restrictions have made it â&#x20AC;&#x153;virtually impossibleâ&#x20AC;? to continue with indoor dining. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Based on the current metrics and projections, Governor Cuomo has given New Yorkers a one-week warning that indoor dining will likely be shut down, regardless of the number of positive cases that are specifically tied back to restaurants,â&#x20AC;? Fleischut said in a prepared statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The confusing, patchwork system of micro-clusters, regional restrictions and blanket statewide rollbacks has made it virtually impossible for restaurants to continue indoor dining. Whether it is positivity rate or hospitalization rate, all of these factors are outside of restaurantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; control.â&#x20AC;? Fleischut said many eateries will have to shut down â&#x20AC;&#x153;based on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s news,â&#x20AC;? laying off hundreds of thousands of people during the holidays, and that the industry will die withQ out federal financial assistance.

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Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 10

C M SQ page 10 Y K

P Eateries on the edge EDITORIAL

ou see your favorite neighborhood eatery dismantle its outdoor dining contraption as winter’s chill sets in and wonder if the place can survive on a meager 25 percent of regular indoor capacity. Probably not. Certainly not with the staff and service it offered before. And now it could lose even the ability to fill five out of every 20 seats, as the novel coronavirus continues to surge after its summer break. The situation here is nothing like it was in the spring — yet. But positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths are all creeping up, and the next nonhuman casualty could be indoor dining. Gov. Cuomo said Monday he may shut it down as soon as Saturday if hospitalization rates don’t turn around by then. The most recent seven-day average for new hospitalizations in the city was 142 people. That’s nothing compared to the April 3 peak of 1,676. But it’s more than thrice the 41 of Sept. 30, when indoor dining finally reopened.

AGE

Help fix Flushing, fund services

This page has supported small businesses in particular throughout the pandemic, as long as they could operate safely. But it’s hard to see how indoor dining can continue. Mayor de Blasio warned weeks ago that he expected it to shut down soon and now Cuomo has made it clear that the end is almost surely near. Thousands of restaurants in Queens alone, and tens of thousands of jobs, will be lost without specific, targeted aid that only the federal government can deliver. The city and state don’t have the money. What we need, as talks on a new economic stimulus package go on (and on, and on) is another round of the highly successful Paycheck Protection Program. Let these eateries, and other small businesses, apply for PPP loans to keep paying their employees and certain other expenses. The PPP can be tweaked to fix the flaws of its first round, when some big companies got money too, but it must be restarted, or it’ll be closing time for too many of our restaurants.

hat Queens needs is jobs. And housing. A major development project planned for Flushing will bring more of both. The City Council is set to vote today, Dec. 10, on approving the Special Flushing Waterfront District, a plan that will see 29 acres of decrepit, depressing land on the edge of Flushing Creek redeveloped. Thousands of new housing units, including some designated as affordable; offices; retail space, including some meant for small shops; and open space along the waterfront are all part of the proposal. And it’ll generate lots of tax money. The plan is not perfect, but what is? More affordable housing units would be preferable, but the developers at least have agreed to keep talking with the city as officials try to get more of them.

LETTERS TO THE Published every week by

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MARK WEIDLER President & Publisher SUSAN & STANLEY MERZON Founders Raymond G. Sito Peter C. Mastrosimone Michael Gannon Katherine Donlevy Max Parrott David Russell Jan Schulman Moeen Din Gregg Cohen Joseph Berni Richard Weyhausen Lisa LiCausi Stela Barbu

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No Briarwood shelter Dear Editor: Your recent article made the community aware of the property proposed to be a homeless shelter for 175 men as a dormitory-style facility (“DHS announces shelter in Briarwood,” Nov. 26, multiple editions). This building is immediately adjacent to my office building where I have 50 employees in my architectural firm, with approximately half of them being young women, most of whom walk past this building every day coming from the subway station. Immediately around the corner are 275 families in apartments along the Van Wyck Expressway service road. Less than two blocks away are numerous other large apartment buildings with approximately 500 families in five buildings, not to mention all the single- and two-family dwellings within the immediate area. As per my conversations with numerous business owners on Queens Boulevard in the immediate area, they are devastated. After the impact of Covid 19, which is obviously still having an enormous effect on their businesses, now the plans for a homeless shelter in the heart of the neighborhood, right across from the only supermarket in the area (Key Food), will undoubtedly create an unnecessary additional burden to this neighborhood’s stability. In my building, directly next to the proposed shelter, is a marijuana dispensary. A liquor store is a block © Copyright 2020 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.

E DITOR

and half away. Molloy High School, which is co-ed, is two blocks away. I have notified all the immediate property and business owners and they are disappointed and obviously afraid of what this will do to their property values and quality of life. We implore all residents, business owners and landlords to join our fight and stop this proposal. There are so many other options that would be profitable to the new owner and better for the neighborhood. Be clear, we will vehemently oppose this use at this location. Gerald Caliendo Fresh Meadows

Stand-up scooter danger Dear Editor: I see Councilman Costa Constantinides promoting the use of electric scooters on public streets in a pilot program (“Pilot scooter share

More infrastructure upgrades would help, but at least sewer and stormwater systems will be improved. And so on. The project will result in more of those gleaming, squat residential towers that have radically altered Flushing in recent years, but that’s nothing new. The developers could have built an asof-right project without any of the public benefits they did agree to in the end. Instead they’ll be coordinating local hiring and contributing money directly to an existing small business group. The city is hemorrhaging jobs and the revenue needed to pay for vital programs. We cannot afford to keep turning down large developments to maintain the status quo everywhere. This site is especially disgusting and cries out for a cleanup. We hope the Council approves the SFWD plan today.

gets boost in Astoria,” Dec. 3, multiple editions). Hey Costa, a few questions for you: Are these scooters going to become legal in the city? Will there be any safety requirements like mandatory helmets or will they be subject to obeying traffic laws like motor vehicles? I’ve seen people riding recklessly between parked cars and traffic. I’ve seen them on the sidewalk almost knocking over pedestrians. That’s the biggest concern, how fast these things go and their being ridden on city sidewalks. There was a time in City Hall and Albany when they wouldn’t dare legalize “vehicles” such as these until the Ts were crossed and Is dotted on all safety and legal requirements. Now, phonies like you hide behind the argument that “we need new forms of transportation” without giving a second thought to these concerns. Albany just passed a law requiring seatbelts on all backseat passengers, yet you promote e-scooters with no seatbelts, airbags, helmet

C M SQ page 11 Y K

Guv on church: slippery slope Dear Editor: Mr. Gannon, I read your article “Supreme Court grants diocese Covid reprieve” (Dec. 3). I would like to use the famous saying “The longest trip begins with the smallest step.” If Gov. Cuomo can limit the number of parishioners who attend Mass to 10 and 25 in the red and orange zones, he can limit them to five and 15. Then he can limit them to two and seven, then to one and five, then to zero and three. Eventually, we can eliminate attendance at Mass. Then he can eliminate Mass. Once he eliminates Mass, he can eliminate all religions. Eventually, society will be controlled as it is in the novel “1984” by George Orwell. John Duffy Kew Gardens

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Help us save the SHSAT Dear Editor: The Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York asks members and friends to join the urgent email campaign below directed to Gov. Cuomo posted at bit.ly/33YQ5CA. This campaign aims to show Gov. Cuomo that there is strong opposition against another just-launched email campaign that asks Gov. Cuomo to suspend specialized high school admission test administration this year via executive order. Sponsors of that campaign include our usual SHSAT adversaries: the socalled Education Council Consortium, the socalled Teens Take Charge, Coalition for Asian American Children & Families and IntegrateNYC. They make no secret that their real agenda is to abolish forever the SHSAT and the race-blind academic rigor it stands for; the lockdown is just an exploitable excuse. It is totally Mayor de Blasio’s fault that he did not administer the SHSAT in November, when other high school admissions tests — those for private schools, those for Catholic schools — were administered fine in NYC, no drama. It is for de Blasio to solve the problem he created. It is not for Gov. Cuomo to cover for this hapless mayor and his toxic education chancellor. There are still plenty of ways for them to administer the three-hour test, in person, immediately. We thank the Coalition of NYC Specialized High School Alumni Associations for sponsoring this critical campaign. Please participate and ask friends to join! Phil Wong President Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York Manhattan The writer is a resident of Elmhurst.

Congestion pricing delay Dear Editor: News from the MTA that the implementation of congestion pricing may be delayed until January 2023 told only part of the story. MTA Chairman Pat Foye is outspoken in blaming Washington while continuing to stay silent on the critical role Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have also contributed in delays. For one continued on next page

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Dear Editor: I want to first express my support again to all the impacted families in South Ozone Park. In the immediate wake of the flooding, we took quick action to ensure that affected residents received the services they needed to safely return to their homes. I toured the area with Senator James Sanders, and my office approved emergency contracts to clean up and replace damaged heating and hot water equipment in all impacted homes. Managers from our Claims and Community Affairs Bureaus were on the ground to help impacted homeowners navigate the legal process. We organized small-group information sessions at the Courtyard Marriott to make sure residents knew their rights and accepted Notices of Claim on-site so homeowners would not have to travel or go to a post office to submit. We worked with local elected officials and community groups to spread the word, and sent staff door-to-door throughout the neighborhood to ensure all residents could take advantage of these resources. My office also had a presence at the city and Red Cross service center to provide constituent support, disseminate forms and answer questions. While mandatory claimant interviews are historically held in Manhattan, we held these interviews in South Ozone Park — again so residents did not need to travel to complete the process. Through these efforts, we have offered settlements on 85 percent and settled 61 percent of claims before the office. For the very few claims where the claimant has not appeared for a hearing or provided information necessary to substantiate their claims, my staff continues to attempt to reach them. We are working to keep

claimants apprised of the status of their claims, answer questions, and address any concerns. Unlike other jurisdictions, there is no official office to provide legal assistance to those who file claims against the city. The Comptroller’s Office is unable, as a legal matter, to become an adverse party to the city by concurrently advocating for both the city and the claimant. That is why I sent a letter to Council members to join me in support of a proposal to create a new “Office of Claimants,” with the responsibility to inform, empower and represent New Yorkers filing civil claims. My office will continue help impacted families in Southeast Queens, and I am willing to work with all partners to bring the changes needed to reform this process in the future. Scott M. Stringer New York City Comptroller Manhattan

KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEST GIFT TO GIVE…

requirements, etc., and this newspaper does nothing to address those issues either. Remember the problem we had over the summer with those Revel scooters? Reckless riding and no incentive to obey traffic laws caused so many injuries and collisions that they pulled them off the road temporarily while they tried to “educate” their ridership on following the rules of the road. I see the same thing happening with e-scooters. Hey, but let’s legalize them and we’ll worry about the visits to the emergency room as they happen. Sebastian Mannuzza Long Island City

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Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

LETTERS TO THE

LETTERS TO THE continued from previous page year, Cuomo and de Blasio have refused to announce their appointments to the MTA Traffic Mobility Review Board. Details of who will pay what can never be resolved and made public until this board is established and completes its mission. Tolling pricing recommendations were originally promised to be made public by November 2020. This process is politically sensitive. The final details of who will pay what remain unknown. Congestion pricing might not take effect until Jan. 1, 2023 or the fourth year of the $51 billion 2020-24 Five Year Capital Program. You can’t collect five years’ worth of revenue to be bonded in the two remaining years. Congestion pricing may only result in $6 billion versus $15 billion in anticipated revenue. The MTA will have to reduce the original $51 billion Capital Program by $9 billion to $42 billion. It will have no choice but to cancel the $6.9 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 and $1.5 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects. This would still be $10 billion more than the previous record $32 billion 2015-19 Five Year Capital Plan. Larry Penner Great Neck, LI

For the latest news visit qchron.com

A plea to AOC Dear Editor: My fellow Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, questioned the effectiveness of the Lincoln Project’s work to deny President Trump a second term because she saw no independent data, but would apologize if she saw some. Here is some data. Where there were statewide races, Trump lost approximately 1,600,000 votes to President-elect Biden. Trump lost votes to Biden in 60 percent of those states. For example, in Colorado, Biden beat Trump by approximately 439,000 votes, but in the statewide race for Senate, the Democratic candidate won by only about 302,000. In Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Biden defeated Trump, but Republicans won statewide races. So, on average, Trump underperformed Republican candidates. OK, Representative, I await your apology. The Squad of four left-wing Democrats will probably add two or three members, but they come from previously Democratic districts. However, we can place significant blame on the Squad for the loss of, at latest count, nine seats in the House, as Republicans used the Squad as poster children for their candidates. Finally, please keep the Squad out of Georgia for the two Senate seats that are being contested. South Carolina Democratic Representative James Clyburn, who represents the true Democratic Party nationwide and who played a critical role in getting Biden to be the candidate for president, said, “‘Defund the police’ is killing our party, and we’ve got to stop it.” He said it helped cause the loss of fellow South Carolina Democrat Joe Cunningham’s seat to a Republican. We can also thank the Squad for helping Nicole

E DITOR

Malliotakis defeat Max Rose. Representative, you do a great job representing the voters of our district and I enthusiastically support most of your policies, but I ask you to get your nose out of the national Democratic Party before you do any more damage to it. David Soukup Sunnyside

Radical Senate reform Dear Editor: In my opinion, if a presidential candidate (Democratic or Republican) wins both the electoral and popular vote, the power and influence of the majority leader of the Senate should be reduced to the status of a minority leader, and the status of the minority leader of Senate elevated to the status of majority leader. No change of majority leadership would occur if a candidate wins only one leg of the (electoral or popular) vote during a presidential election. Things have to change. President-elect Biden, who won both electoral and popular votes, should not be put in a position of begging or hoping that the Republican majority leader, do-nothing Mitch McConnell, has a change of heart to pass a pandemic relief bill to help American families put food on the table for themselves and their children. The passing of a stimulus bill should not depend on the whims and prejudices of one man. Ciro Di Donna Whitestone

No shoes, less virus? Dear Editor: Those Americans who still wear outside shoes throughout their homes should end this unsanitary practice, particularly during the pandemic. Medical scientists say that aerosols containing the Covid virus fall to the floor. Is the virus being carried on the bottom of shoes into living spaces or places visited? In Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, people remove their shoes before entering the living quarters of their homes. Also, on the news recently, health workers in Taiwan, which has one of the world’s lowest infection rates, were shown disinfecting the bottom of travelers’ shoes upon their entering an airport. Can this cultural difference be a contributing factor to this nation’s high infection rates as compared to other non-Western cultures and other countries that do not maintain this unsanitary practice? Glenn Hayes Kew Gardens

Write a Letter! We want to hear from new voices! Letters should be no longer than 300 words and may be edited. They may be emailed to letters@qchron.com. Please include your phone number, which will not be published.

PHOTO BY ZARA MARSH

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 12

C M SQ page 12 Y K

NYFAC bikers deliver toys The New York Families for Autistic Children Foundation, a Howard Beach nonprofit group, organized its seventh annual Toy Run motorcycle ride on Sunday. Around 200 motorcycles along with a group of tow trucks gathered in Forest Park bearing gifts for children and rode down to the VFW post in Broad Channel to deliver them.

The foundation partnered with Tow Trucks for Kids NYC and the Howard Beach Dads. The toys were distributed to some of NYFAC’s clients as well as a children’s hospital and the fire house in Broad Channel. All leftover toys were delivered to VFW groups Gold Star Families and Wounded Warriors. —Max Parrott

Legislators intro bill to help private schools Proposal to cover cost of Covid testing by Max Parrott Associate Editor

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) recently partnered with Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) to introduce a bill that would require New York State to cover Covid testing costs for private, religious and other nonpublic schools The lawmakers argue that it’s not fair to require nonpublic and private institutions to cover the expense of testing without reimbursement. “Testing is a crucial component of keeping our schools open and keeping our students, teachers, and faculty safe during the pandemic. New York State did the right thing by making these tests mandatory, it must do the right thing again by not imposing an unfunded mandate on our religious, private and nonpublic schools,” said Hevesi in a prepared statement. The bill comes after the Diocese of Brooklyn announced over the summer that four private Catholic schools in

Queens were permanently closing, citing enrollment and financial difficulties. One was within Addabbo’s district in Howard Beach, another one directly adjacent to it in South Ozone Park. “T he nu mbers have show n t hat schools are actually some of the safest spots during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is vital for New York State to provide funding for our private, religious, and non-public schools to continue their testing practices,” Addabbo, a member of the Senate Education Committee, wrote in a statement. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York, thanked the legislators for the bill. “New York has a solemn obligation to protect the health and safety of all students and teachers, no matter what the school. Our Catholic schools have been enthusiastic partners with the state since this pandemic began. All we ask for is fair treatment for our kids, and that’s what this legislation ensures,” Dolan said Q in a statement.

C M SQ page 13 Y K Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

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More branches offer to-go service But public services and programs for libraries remain online only by David Russell Associate Editor

The Queens Public Library opened a dozen more branches for to-go service at the end of November, bringing to the total to 35. The 12 new open spots include: • Briarwood Library at 85-12 Main St.; • East Flushing Library at 196-36 Northern Blvd.; • Elmhurst Library at 86-07 Broadway; • Glen Oaks Library at 256-04 Union Tpke; • Hollis Library at 202-05 Hillside Ave.; • Hunters Point Library at 47-40 Center Blvd. in Long Island City; • Lefrak City Library at 98-30 57 Ave. in Corona; • Maspeth Library at 69-70 Grand Ave.; • Mitchell-Linden Library at 31-32 Union St. in Flushing; • Richmond Hill Library at 118-14 Hillside Ave.; • Rochdale Village Library at 169-09 137 Ave. in Jamaica; and • St. Albans Library at 191-05 Linden Blvd. Each branch is operating from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with a one-hour closure from 1 to 2 p.m. for cleaning; 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday; and 12 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a one-hour closure from 3 to 4 p.m. for cleaning. To-go service allows people to request mate-

The Hunters Point Library in Long Island City is one of 12 branches that reopened at the end of FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN November offering to-go service for readers. rials in advance at queenslibrary.org, the mobile app or calling (718) 990-0728. Public services and programs remain online only. People may enter select locations for pickup of materials on hold only and may return

materials at external return machines. There is no browsing, no in-person reference service, no seating, no public computer usage, no meeting room availability and no book donations. Returned items are quarantined for 96 hours

in designated containers before being put into circulation. A library spokesperson said health and safety are at the forefront of reopening. “Infection rates, the closure of schools, our role in potential community spread of the virus, the effectiveness of preventive measures, the evolving science, and City and state directives, among other considerations, may each influence our next steps without being the only reason why we would close one or more of our locations, or reduce or expand service,” she said. Public computer use was scheduled to begin at seven branches Nov. 23 but was postponed indefinitely. The library is in the first stage of its reopening. Stage 2 will eventually see limited access with modified spaces for browsing, computer usage, in-person reference and appointment-based services. Public programs and mobile library service will be limited. The number of locations and services is still to be determined based on conditions. Stage 3 will see all locations open with appropriate limitations in place. There are no fines or fees on any library materials checked out this year until Jan. 4, 2021 at the earliest. All blocks on library cards with fines and fees of $15 have been Q lifted until further notice.

HBCOP holds food drive

Fatal shooting in Ozone Park

T h e How a r d B e a ch Civ i l i a n Observation Patrol is now fighting hunger in addition to crime. The patrol is holding a food collection this holiday season. It will accept food at several drop-off sites in the greater Howard Beach area through Dec. 19. The group is collecting nonperishable food, water, juices, pasta, rice, can ned vegetables, hot and cold cereal, powdered milk/Parmalat, canned fruits, snacks, canned soups and other canned foods. All the food will be donated to The Ozone Park Pantry. The drop-off sites include Key Food at 162-30 Cross Bay Blvd., Cross Bay Chemist at 157-02 Cross Bay Blvd ., t he We s t H a m i lt on Beach Volunteer Fire Department at 102-33 Davenport Court, Bombshell Hair Boutique at 102-21 159 Road and Divino’s Pizzer ia at 164 - 02 Cross Bay Blvd. H BCOP will pick up donations f rom those u nable to br ing food donations to the collection sites. To schedule a pickup, call (646) Q 241-6645.

A man was killed in a shooting on Monday night in Ozone Park, police say. The 22-year-old male was shot in the head in front of an auto shop at 90-04 Liberty Ave. around 9:51 p.m., according to the NYPD. The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A gray Honda Accord was observed fleeing northbound into the jurisdiction of the 102nd Precinct. Police were witnessed canvassing the area after the shooting, which occurred in the 106th Precinct. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Police did not release any information on what events led to the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by text i ng 274637 (CR I M ES) a nd then entering TIP577, or by going to @ ny pdtips on Twit ter. All tips are Q strictly confidential. — Max Parrott

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New BP Richards inaugurated History happened as Borough President Donovan Richards was inaugurated at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens last Sunday. Richards, who officially took office last Wednesday, is the first black man to hold the position. He is the second African-American to hold the position after Helen Marshall, who served from 2002 to 2013. Richards, who was sworn in by state Attorney General Letitia James, was the councilmember representing Southeast

Queens and Far Rockaway since 2013. He defeated several challengers in the Democratic primary in June and then beat Queens GOP Chairwoman Joann Ariola and independent Dao Yin in a landslide general election victory. Sharon Lee served as the acting borough president after Melinda Katz was elected district attorney, leaving a vacancy at Borough Hall. Lee was the first Asian-American to serve as borough president. — David Russell

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A GLITTERING CHRISTMAS by Max Parrott Chronicle Contributor

Though it may be the first year of a formal Christmas light competition in Howard Beach, it’s certainly not the first decorative rodeo for most of the participants, who look forward to the seasonal family activity each year. The Howard Beach Dads Facebook group, which is organizing the contest, has got enough entries in its Christmas Light Fight to map out a full-neighborhood route for visitors to tour the displays from New Howard Beach to Hamilton Beach. Though the pandemic promises to drastically change the holidays this year, participants say that it also makes a little seasonal escapism all the more important. “After Covid came, I said I just got to light up this neighborhood,” said Tony Modafferi. “I was actually going to do it in the summer and my wife said, ‘Are you nuts?’” Modafferi, who moved to Howard Beach in the ’90s, started putting up Christmas lights around 20 years ago to lift his family’s spirits. When he lost his brother, a fire captain, at the World Trade Center on 9/11, and his mother-in-law a year later to date, he knew he needed a way to cheer up his kids for the holidays. “It was a lousy year and I had small kids. I had to get them out of a funk. They were very depressed. My in-laws lived with me,” he said. He started putting up more lights, and bigger ones, and soon enough it became an annual tradition. Eventually he switched to WowLights, a programmable LED light display that has allowed him to design a display of Santa Claus, Mariah Carey and Christmas trees dancing in sync with holiday tunes. Though he has to shut off the music at 10 p.m. every night, Modafferi said that seeing the families come to his house has been very moving under the pandemic. “I figured the parents can come out and take these kids over here and that’s their out,” he said. Hamilton Beach resident Michael Giglio’s display

Howard Beach residents go all out on boasts approximately 90,000 lights, and that’s without at least $4,000 of decorations that he has packed away in storage. “I just can’t find room for it,” he said Giglio has been participating in “megadecorating” for most of his adult life. He previously worked as a supervisor for Macy’s Herald Square, which puts up a Santa Claus Palace every year. Giglio’s ambitions are not limited to the neighborhood competition either. “I’m involved in the worldwide great light fight,” he said referring to a national contest that people apply to compete in. Over in New Howard Beach, Fred Caputo took a completely different approach to decorating. His garage features a group of animated snowmen, while a more traditional nativity scene sits in a brightly lit window above them. “It’s one thing to throw up lights and have a lot of lights,” Caputo said. “We tried to make a scene where it’s cohesive and there’s a single story line. That’s how we looked at it.” Contest winners will receive a prize donated from one of several neighborhood businesses including KeyFood on Cross Bay Boulevard, Food Emporium of Lindenwood, Allesandro’s Sausage & Peppers, Bae Salon, Bougies Salon, J&M Chocolate, Sorella Boutique, Battaglia Skin Clinic, House of Holidays, Mist Kiss Air Brush, Josie and Jade Boutique, Lavilla, Brina Ciaramella, Esq., the JFK Airport Hilton and Empanadas on the Rise. But all the participants the Chronicle spoke to say they’re not in it for the prizes. “It’s a great way to spend the night with the family looking at lights. My kids love it. They look forward to Q it,” said Caputo.

PHOTO BY PJ MARCEL

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Howard Beach resident Tony Borruso, above right, sets up his yard for the neighborhood’s light contest, which the Howard Beach Dads have turned into a new tradition. A mannequin from a “ChristPHOTOS BY MICHAEL SHAIN mas Story”-themed display, top left, is posed with its tongue stuck to a light pole.

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displays to bring some needed cheer

Michael Giglio’s residence in Hamilton Beac h, near lef t , offers multiple Christmas scenes. Members of the Antico family, far left, put up their lights. St. H e l e n , t o p, e v e n decked out the greenery in front of its nativity. PHOTOS BY

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OPINION

The little tax that could ... save the state and MTA by James Sanders Jr.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays – and thank you for being part of this great community!

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The Kirby, Pfohl & Quigley Families and all of us at Plaxall

It’s no secret the MTA is in trouble; however, when it comes to mass transit, forcing people to pay more for less service is a bad idea. The agency is losing money as a result of a massive hit from Covid-19. Proposed federal stimulus funding is unlikely to come anytime soon and it looks like congestion pricing, the previous answer to the MTA’s budget woes, is not going to happen anytime soon either. So, how are we going to save straphangers from enduring the brunt of this burden? How are we going to prevent layoffs of frontline transit workers, many of whom fell sick with Covid-19 and even lost colleagues to the illness? Fortunately, there is an answer that raises the revenue we need and doesn’t punish the hardworking people of New York. It is time to end the rebate of the stock transfer tax. I have proposed legislation (S.6203-A/A.7791-B) to do just that. This one tax alone has the ability to plug Albany’s budget hole and allow for long-term capital planning. This tax is not punitive; it is applied equally to qualifying stock transactions, and it is estimated to bring in $13 to $16 billion annually. Best of all, investors are already paying it and the state is already collecting it. So, instead of sending rebates to wealthy Wall Streeters and professional stockbrokers, the state should keep the fee and then allocate the money immediately. Right now, the MTA is threatening fare hikes and deep cuts to service. Nine thousand dedicated transit employees are facing potential job loss, a slap in the face after they served our city during the pandemic. “We fully know that any increase will hurt New Yorkers, especially those in areas that depend on us most,” MTA Chairman Pat Foye said at a recent public hearing. Under my legislation, New York State will end the rebate and keep 100 percent of this tax. The money will go into the State General Fund for the first two years, provid-

ing immediate relief to the deep fiscal crisis. After that, 100 percent of the funds collected will be divided amongst various agencies with a significant percentage going to the MTA. The important thing to remember is that the stock transfer tax is not just a shortterm fix but also a long-term solution for the MTA’s financial problems. This revenue will offset decreased state income and local property tax collections and has the potential to stabilize our state budget when our direct tax revenues are falling, which, according to Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, is happening now. In his annual report on the MTA’s finances, DiNapoli said the agency “is facing the greatest crisis in its long history” and “long-lasting damage that could impair regional transit for decades.” The MTA’s congestion pricing program, which was supposed to raise revenue (although it did not account for COVID-19) “could be delayed until 2023,” officials wrote in the agency’s Nov. 24 quarterly disclosure to bondholders. I know we hear the word “tax” and assume that it is a bad thing, but in this case, that little word, which represents fractions of a cent on every stock transfer, is the cement that will fill in the gaping hole that threatens to swallow New York, and take many good people with it. We cannot afford to balance the budget on the backs of those already suffering. It is time to take equitable, long-term approaches that ensure our fiscal recovery. It is time to end the rebate of Q the stock transfer tax. James Sanders Jr. is New York State Senator for the 10th District, in Southeast Queens and Rockaway and Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

The ‘lost spirits’ of Queens

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The Queens Museum will be screening “The Lost Spirits,” a documentary that follows the lives of a Native American tribe that continues to fight for their rights, on Dec. 13. The event, “The Lost Spirits Film Screening: The Future of Native Americans of Little Neck, Queens,” begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed be a Q-and-A session. The film, released in 2009, follows the Barron family, who are members of the Matinecock and Montaukett tribes. The documentary highlights their struggles

with the city of New York after their family cemetery was removed to build a road in the 1930s. The artifacts and burial items mysteriously went missing and their land was snatched by the government for back taxes. “This film is to show people who they are, what happened in their lives, and the future of the American Indians in Little Neck,” the museum said in a release. The screening is free, but a reservation is required. For more information, visit queenshistoricalsociety.org. For tickets, Q visit bit.ly/3mTdYDf.

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Banter bummer: Irish eatery closes Pub shuts doors but some in area note recent neighborhood resiliency by David Russell Associate Editor

Another restaurant in Central Queens has shut its doors. Banter at 108-22 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills closed at the beginning of the month. “I used to eat there a lot,” said Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce President Leslie Brown. “I feel badly. The food was good. The staff was always friendly. It was a great location too.” The Irish bar and kitchen was popular in the community since opening in 2013, especially with its brunch menu. Banter was at the site of the former Old Vienna Cafe. The restaurant was next to the Regal UA Midway Theater, which has been closed since mid-March due to Covid regulations. “It was a thriving block in Forest Hills,” said Frances Kweller of Kweller Prep Tutoring and Educational Services, which is located above Banter. Kweller, who said her business is not in danger of closing, added, “It’s extremely unfortunate that [Mayor] de Blasio and [Gov.] Cuomo don’t care enough about small businesses and let them drown like this.” Attempts to reach the owner for the story

were unsuccessful. An outpouring of support came out online as news of Banter’s closure spread. Someone posted a sign on the front door saying, “We’ll miss you Banter! Best restaurant and servers. #RIP2020.” On Facebook, comments included “Such a loss for the community. Wonderful food and service. The best fries anywhere.” Another wrote, “Such a shame. A really pleasant local place for drinks and music.” Michael Perlman, chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, told the Chronicle the neighborhood is “mourning” the loss of the restaurant. “Banter filled a void and always served quality food that was delicious and unique in an ambiance that was inviting and offered a balance between casual and elegant,” he said. While some businesses in the neighborhood have been hit hard, things haven’t been as bad as some other areas. “You can walk down Austin Street anytime and there’s still, not crowded like it used to be, but certainly a fair amount of people walking and still shopping, visiting the restaurants,” Community Board 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio said Tuesday.

He credits residents wanting to shop locally as to why walking in the area doesn’t feel like walking in Manhattan, where many streets are still empty. “Forest Hills is st ill community, it’s still neighborhood,” Gulluscio said. “Manhattan is populated by tou r ists a nd people working there.” Perlman said the small businesses in the area “give back to our communities in various ways and employ staff members who also have families to support ... If we Banter closed at the beginning of the month after seven years in continue to witness a domi- business. However, some civic leaders say the neighborhood has no effect of closures, we will been resilient and that some new eateries have been replacing have sterile glass or stucco shuttered stores. PHOTOS BY DAVID RUSSELL boxes of pharmacies, clinics 60 years in business but reopened over the sumand banks. Personalization goes a long way.” Brown said almost all the stores on Austin mer as The Cottage under new management. The White Radish American kitchen opened Street have remained open and that two new ones are coming in: a pizzeria on 72nd Avenue on Ascan Avenue during the summer at the forand Austin Street and a chicken restaurant at mer site of Jack and Nellie’s, which closed in May after eight years in business. “We’ve actuthe site of a former Japanese restaurant. “Forest Hills and Austin Street has been ally been seeing a few stores open, which is pretty amazing,” Brown said, calling it a “pleaspretty good, considering,” she said. Q The Irish Cottage closed in early May after ant surprise.”

Oldest Little Neck restaurant fights on Aunt Bella’s nearly closed for good after 85 percent revenue drop by Katherine Donlevy

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Associate Editor

The pandemic has been tough on small businesses throughout the city and Aunt Bella’s has been no exception. After struggling for months with no relief in sight, owner Andy Lin decided on Thanksgiving Eve that the holiday weekend would be the last for Little Neck’s oldest restaurant. Luckily for his loyal customers, Lin decided he would fight to keep the business open for as long as possible. “It has been incredibly tough ... Not knowing and waiting with bated breath as to what the governor and mayor will do is nerve racking. After nine months, my reaction was to give in and give up,” Lin said. But he just couldn’t do it. Rather than shutting down entirely, Lin reduced the operation to just five hours a day: It is open 4 to 9 p.m. every day except Mondays. He hopes the schedule change will reduce the costs of staying open during hours that typically see little to no activity. The tiny Italian eatery has seen an 85 percent drop in revenue since the beginning of the pandemic. Lin, who bought the 43-year-old establishment from original owner Richard Coy in May 2018, closed operations entirely from March to June before slowly opening for takeout and delivery and eventually outdoor dining

Andy Lin, left, nearly closed Aunt Bella’s for good Nov. 30, but was inspired to continue fighting by his loyal customers and staff, including Chef Homero Tello, right, who has flexed an array of PHOTOS BY KATHERINE DONLEVY new menu items to entice customers at the eatery. in the property’s back parking lot. Lin began serving customers inside in August on the very day Gov. Cuomo allowed it, but was limited to 25 percent capacity. As the cold weather rolled in, Lin shut down outdoor operations to concentrate on indoor dining, but the small space only allows for 10 customers inside at a time. Despite the strict regulations, Lin and his

staff were determined to continue operations as normally as possible — while other restaurants created slimmer menus that pushed their more popular items to cut costs, Aunt Bella’s maintained its original menu, and even added some new items. “We tried to make some more special things,” said Chef Homero Tello. “Better quali-

ty, more special ... the people like it so much. They ask, I make it.” Aunt Bella’s refused to increase menu prices, offering customers giant dinner plates for less than $10. Customers could also rent out the restaurant any time of the day, whether during off hours or the dinner rush, for a private dining experience safe from strangers and the risk of Covid, a rare opportunity few other establishments were offering. Lin’s measures helped little and, after lengthy consideration, he decided it was time to close for good. “I felt bad because we ... had no business,” said Tello, adding that every so often they’d receive a large catering order, but more frequently dealt with slow and scarce days. “He tried to do the best he can.” The outpouring of support from the community and his own staff inspired Lin to fight for as long as he could. Though indoor dining has stayed at 25 percent capacity and may soon be stripped away, Aunt Bella’s has been receiving an influx of catering orders. One staff member, who chose not to provide her name, said customers made it clear they’d order from Aunt Bella’s whenever possible to help keep its doors open. “We are not out of the woods and have an uphill battle,” said Lin. “We think we may have Q a fighting chance to remain open.”

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Miller’s memories of time in office Assemblyman spent more than 10 years helping area constituents by David Russell Associate Editor

Outgoing Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) is looking back fondly on his time in office. “It was the best job I had because I was able to help people,” he told the Chronicle Monday. Miller, whose 38th District encompasses Glendale, Ridgewood, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, said he’s proud of his work in the community. Serving six terms since he was first elected in 2009, Miller lost a Democratic primary to Jenifer Rajkumar in June. “My concentration, mostly, was community-wise and not so much getting my name on the chapter, on the laws of New York, though I had many of them,” he said. Miller made sure to mention his staff. “It’s not just me,” he said. “They’re the smart ones. I’m just a pretty face.” The lawmaker said the job consisted of many little things, such as adding a turn signal at Park Lane South and Forest Parkway. “It made a major impact on people’s lives because you were always backed up making that turn,” Miller said. The J train line was repainted after he lobbied the MTA for a year and a half, noting that the money was put in for it long

before he was elected but that the agency had been sitting on it. “For me that was a big thing for the community,” Miller said. He noted constituent cases such as helping a veteran receive benefits and housing. “He was literally starving and we took him in and helped him,” Miller said. Miller also sponsored a Valentines for Veterans Drive, collecting toiletries and cards for patients at the New York State Veterans Home in St. Albans. “Each year it grew and grew and grew, and it was a tremendous success,” he said. The assemblyman said during the pandemic his office has helped more than 1,000 people collect unemployment or at least put them in touch with the state Department of Labor to receive help. Working with the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, he has helped distribute foods to thousands of people. “That’s a tremendous need that we’re filling,” Miller said. Miller also spoke about recycling events he would hold twice a year. “We brought in tons and tons of stuff that was recycled that would have ordinarily just went to the dump,” he said. The assemblyman recalled a night of bad weather that left many in Glendale and

Meeks to chair Foreign Affairs but we must also rethink traditional approaches to foreign policy. This will not be a return to normal, but a leap towards a new way of doing business.” Meeks is the first African-American in the post. He replaces Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx), who lost in a Democratic primary in September. Meeks said he will support the U.S. rejoining the World Health Organization and the Iran nuclear agreement, and will make dealing with climate change a prioriQ ty of the committee. — Michael Gannon

Assemblyman Mike Miller is in his final month on the job after more than 11 years in office FILE PHOTO serving the 38th District. Miller said there was one time he was in session for more than 30 straight hours. “To me that was a bit much but it had to be done,” he said. Another part of the job was “sitting in conference and listening to 106 different opinions about a bill. And ever ybody thought they were right,” Miller said. He said the budget was the biggest eyeopener for him. “It’s nothing that you want and then you have to negotiate it through,” Miller said. “Sometimes you have to compromise. They call it horse trading up there but sometimes you gotta do something to get what you want.” The assemblyman said he does not know what is next. “I know I won’t be running for president or governor,” Miller said. He added, “I made a tremendous number of friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life. I just wanted to thank the people in the community. They really came out to help Q me and embraced me when I came in.”

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U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens, Nassau) has been chosen as the new chairman of the prestigious and inf luential House Foreign Relations Committee. Meeks, now in his 11th term, defeated Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), 148-78, in a vote of the Democratic Caucus. “The committee under the next Congress will preside over an historic shift in US foreign policy, and there is no shortage of work ahead of us,” he said in a prepared statement. “Not only will we need to reengage with a world that has felt the marked absence of US global leadership,

Woodhaven snowed in. Miller was on a Woodhaven Residents Block Association call-in show when a woman called and said her daughter needed to go to dialysis the next day. Miller and his office called the Department of Sanitation and by the next morning the woman’s street and access to the main road were plowed. “To me, that was like, wow, ordinarily I don’t think you’d be able to do that,” Miller said. Of the bills he got passed, Miller has two that stand out as favorites. One was the introduction of a special license plate that features the Kiwanis International logo. “Every other group had a license plate and Kiwanis did not,” he said. Miller also sponsored a bill for a Down’s syndrome license plate. Any state resident can be issued the plates, with the words “Down’s Syndrome Awareness,” for an annual $25 fee, which is deposited to a Down’s Syndrome Research Fund. “I’m proud to be able to do that,” Miller said. Before entering politics, he already was a familiar face in the community. Miller was a member of Community Board 5 and the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council as well as president of the Glendale Kiwanis Club. He was also a branch manager for Tiger Federal Credit Union. He was pushed to run by people in the community, much to his surprise. “Of course I told them they were nuts and I never did any of that,” Miller said. But he decided he could help the area by running for office. He picked up support from both sides of the aisle, not just from then-Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Democratic District Leader Frank Kotnik but also the Queens Conservative Party. “Going out and doing the work in the community I felt this gave me a little more calling power to be able to get some of the things that were needed in the community,” he said. “That’s why I took the opportunity.” Miller took office in September 2009. “I never did politics,” he said. “I didn’t work in politics. Once I got in, learning the system was an eye-opener.”

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Communication is key when it comes to Covid LIJMC and NYPQ frontline workers are ready for winter virus wave by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

“We’re waiting and we’re ready,” said Dr. Robert Blenderman, the chief operating officer of NewYorkPresbyterian Queens, on the second Covid-19 wave expected to hit hospitals in the coming weeks. Cases in New York City have been steadily rising over the last few months, particularly picking up in late October. The five boroughs reported nearly 11,300 cases Dec. 4, the highest since mid-April, and doctors only expect the numbers to climb now that the holiday season is underway and the cold weather ushers people indoors. “The key for us has been the ability to not only react, but to plan for this,” Blenderman continued. Each hospital staff member is included in the planning and preparation and the NYPQ system values transparency, he said. To achieve it, the 56-45 Main St. hospital staff meets three times a day, every day of the week where they are briefed on the latest updates and encouraged to ask any questions they may have. This knowl-

Dr. Fred Davis of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, left, and Dr. Robert Blenderman of NewYork-Presbyterian Queens are confident in their preparedness for a second surge in Covid cases as the winter and holiday seaPHOTOS COURTESY NORTHWELL, LEFT, AND NYPQ son kicks into gear. edge provides the workers with the power and courage to continue their exhausting work as frontline workers. Though cases had decreased significantly during the summer, the staff has not let their guard down since the overwhelming first

few days of the pandemic in March. Medical officials had long been expecting another surge in virus cases come winter, especially because it would force people inside with fewer options to socially distance. The NYPQ staff spent the past few months perfecting a

response plan for when the time would eventually arrive. NYPQ’s plan centers around the volume of incoming patients testing postiive for Covid-19. Rooms have already been identified for overflow once Intensive Care Unit beds have been filled and surgeons are prepared to suspend elective procedures at the government’s orders and switch their responsibilities to Covid-related tasks. “We don’t live in a state of reacting, but of preparing,” Blenderman said. “The fact is we have to be very nimble on a daily basis.” Northwell’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center also determines what their plan of action for the day will be on the volume of Covid patients being treated in the ICU. “That’s our biggest gauge of how many are really sick and how we need to prepare further,” said Dr. Fred Davis, the branch’s associate chair of emergency medicine. Though filled above capacity during the height of the pandemic, the Glen Oaks hospital had not been as overwhelmed as others, especially those located in the epi-

center — LIJMC accepted a number of patients from Northwell’s Forest Hills center during March and April. The staff has spent the months since collecting resources and personal protective equipment to accommodate the inf lux of patients in preparation to accept off loaded Covid patients during the second surge. Blenderman and Davis reported that their facilities have the situation under control, but worry that could change any day now. “We’re going to see a lot of cases from [Thanksgiving] and I’d advise people to see it as a lesson and take it seriously,” Davis said. “We can see number increases; this is serious. People get sick and die.” Blender man encouraged the continuation of safe practices that have proved to work in recent months, such as wearing masks and social distancing, even though a vaccine may soon be coming. “It’s not a silver bullet,” he said. “Until then, we have to do all the things that worked for us ... We do worry people will have a false Q sense of security.”

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SHAIN

Richmond Hill youth donates locks to charity There’s something magical about long hair. Ask Samson, Rapunzel and this extraordinary 12-year-old from Richmond Hill, Emily Algredo. Last Friday, Algredo donated her long locks to Butterfly BBI, a St. Albans-based company that makes free wigs for young women who have lost their hair to cancer and other illnesses. It’s Algredo’s third time in the salon chair, giving a great length of hair to a wig charity.

She did it before at ages 6 and 9. It was of utmost importance for Algredo to get clipped again before her 13th birthday on Monday. “It’s a three-year thing,” she said. “Got to keep the streak alive.” Councilmember Adrienne Adams wielded the scissors at Aracelis Unisex Salon on Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill while a raft of local officials — including state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer

Amato and Assemblywoman-elect Jenifer Rajkumar — looked on. Originally, Algredo had planned to donate about 15 inches of hair last spring. But Covid-19 restrictions shut down beauty parlors for four months, a delay that meant she ended up donating 23 inches of minky-brown hair last Friday. “I can do it again when I’m 15,” she said. “My hair grows back pretty fast.” — Michael Shain

The Queens Chronicle’s 13th annual Holiday Photo Contest is underway! Take pictures of lights, miniature villages, snowy landscapes, children and families — anything that reflects the season — and send them on in. Our main requirement is that the photos be taken in Queens this season. Give us all the details you can, especially the location, the names of any people in the picture, when possible, and when it was taken. And please tell us your correct name, where you live and whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer. The winner or winners will, like us, have to wait patiently for their prize — free passes to a family-friendly performance in or around the city — to become available again. Send your entries to peterm @ qchron.com, saying “contest” somewhere in the subject line, or mail prints to Queens Chronicle Photo Contest, 71-19 80 St., suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385. The deadline is Monday, Jan. 4. Good luck!

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How the largest Catholic HS in the U.S. stays open Some St. Francis Prep students attend in-person classes full time by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

“We’re doing it and we’re getting it done. We’re going to keep doing it until this pandemic is over,” said Patrick McLaughlin, the principal of St. Francis Prep, the largest non-diocesan Catholic high school in the country. Since opening for in-person instruction on Sept. 14, the Fresh Meadows school has had 27 positive cases of Covid-19. The facility has only shut down once in the past three months, not because there was uncontrolled spread throughout the building, but because a handful of teachers were quarantining out of an abundance of caution after students in their classrooms tested positive for the virus. That overly cautious attitude, strict social guidelines and rotating inperson schedule has allowed Prep to keep its students in the building, even as public h igh schools throughout the city were shut down indefinitely by Mayor de Blasio. “It’s been very successful, but not without its challenges, and we’re challenged every minute of every day,” McLaughlin said.

On an average school day, Prep has about 800 students inside the building, though the total population is closer to 2,500. The students have been divided into fou r cohorts: “A” and “B” rotate which days of the week they attend classes inside the building or remotely, while “C” is completely remote every day of the week. Cohort “D” was recently introduced and is composed of students who attend in-person classes every day of the week, a popular option that students had to apply for, but was only approved for about 200. Prep, and other schools in the Catholic High School Athletic Association, have been continuing athletics as well, though the Public Schools Athletic League has suspended its sports seasons. The school takes social distancing and staggered attendance seriously. Over 1,500 desks have been removed from its classrooms and placed in storage; distance markers line the hallways and walls; and maintenance sanitizes the building each day and night. McLaughlin called the facility “immaculate,” a substantial com-

St. Francis Prep has been holding in-person classes since September, with ST. FRANCIS PREP PHOTO / INSTAGRAM some students even attending full time. pliment from the principal of the Catholic institution. “It was a monumental task and we did it all. The reason we did it was, one, the safety of students and staff and, secondly, we understand the importance of a religious, Franciscan education. That’s why parents send their kids here,” he said. Each student is equipped with an iPad, making remote learning possible, but McLaughlin understands the emotional importance of being inside the classroom, seeing

friends, visiting the guidance counselor and physically participating in music and art classes. The school appointed its nurse, Mary Pappas, as its Covid administrator, as required by the state Department of Health protocol. Prep also has a Covid team who conduct all contact tracing and provide com mu nit y updates via emails, newletters and phone calls. When students test positive, the team orders them and anyone who may have had contact with them to

isolate for 14 days. That typically involves every student and teacher who shares a classroom with that individual. Lessons shift to the school’s remote learning plan for those two weeks. The most recently repor ted case was on Dec. 4, though no one was required to quarantine because the student hadn’t been inside the building. Prep reported the case to the state DOH and its families regardless. The school is conducting classes remotely until Dec. 18, however, at which point students will begin Christmas break, but it is unrelated to the recent positive case. “The priority for us, besides safety, is communication. It’s so important that if we have a case we have a Covid team that jumps to respond to that ... Schools are safe, and if they are, let’s take advantage of that. Let’s not deny [our students] an education,” McLaughin said. “We’re answering the call right now whether it be a positive case, cohort instruction, keeping a faith-based instruction going ... It’s business as usual in the middle of Q the pandemic.”

Wishing everyone the best Holiday Season possible. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Healthy New Year. JOSEPH P. ADDABBO, JR.

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Richmond Hill gets festive The Richmond Hill Lions Club did not let the pandemic stop them from decking out the neighborhood tree this year. The club held its annual tree lighting last Sunday at the Richmond Hill triangle at 133rd Street and Liberty Avenue. A group gathered wearing masks to watch the lights turn on and sip hot

chocolate. The tree stands at least 15 feet tall and will be on display for the rest of the season. Councilwoman Adrienne Adams, Community Board 9 Chair Kenichi Wilson and newly installed Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson were all in attendance. — Max Parrott

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Congestion pricing: Now it’s up to Biden NY officials accused Trump admin. of stalling project; MTA $ at stake by Michael Gannon Editor

Could the choice of President-elect Joe Biden finally be the key to unlocking approval for congestion pricing and a projected $1 billion per year for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority? No one in New York is popping the champagne corks just yet. The long-sought plan to raise $1 billion a year for mass transit by tolling vehicles traveling into and out of Midtown and Downtown Manhattan was supposed to be all over but for the details when it was approved as part of the state budget in April 2019. But it also needed final review by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has been a long time coming. Back in the summer U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Gov. Cuomo accused the Trump administration of stalling — Cuomo charged the feds with blocking a lot more — while the U.S. DOT told the Chronicle that a new program of such complexity needed extensive study. Polly Trottenberg, who backed the idea as commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation, recently resigned to accept a post advising the Biden-Kamala Harris transition team on transportation issues. And even with the MTA hemorrhaging

These drivers crossing the Queensboro-Ed Koch Bridge will pay a fee under congestion pricing — FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON if it ever is approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. money, Cuomo wasn’t being optimistic when he last addressed the matter. In a transcript from Nov. 23 provided by Cuomo’s office this week, the governor said he has not yet spoken with Biden or his team about the issue. “No, just because the conversation hasn’t gotten to that level of detail,” Cuomo said. “I’m sure he doesn’t know about the DOT -— we have a lot of DOT issues. The MTA

congestion pricing plan is one of a long list of i s s u e s w it h t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Transportation.” Cuomo said the DOT hasn’t approved the rebuilding of the Hudson River tunnels. Or the LaGuardia Airport air train. Or the Second Ave subway, “while every other federal DOT has. And the federal government hasn’t approved the congestion pricing plan. So, it’s a long list.”

Cuomo in that press conference did not place a priority number on the congestion pricing plan. “They’re all important,” he said of the various projects. Speaking back in June about the impasse in Washington over a bailout for the MTA — which is ongoing — Schumer on a Zoom call accused President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao of sitting on funding for or approval of several big-ticket transportation projects including the Moynihan Station rail project in Manhattan. Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). “Making sure she is not transportation secretary after November is probably the best way to do it,” he said then. A source close to Schumer told the Chronicle that “the senator has discussed transit issues with the President-elect.” Whatever plan is approved would allow for the placement of machines that would toll vehicles entering the Manhattan business districts. Different estimates have placed the start of the zone at 60th Street — anyone crossing the Queensboro-Ed Koch Bridge would pay the toll — while others place the top of the zone as high as the 90s. Fees would vary by vehicle size and posQ sibly by time of day.

Panel OKs Flushing waterfront project Developers agreed to include more community benefits in SFWD plan by Katherine Donlevy

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Associate Editor

Despite initially voicing concerns about the Special Flushing Waterfront District and implying they would reject the plan, members of the City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted to approve the 29-acre development on Dec. 9. The five members passed the proposal after Zoning Chairperson Francisco Moya (D-Corona), Land Use Chairperson Rafael Salamanca (D-Bronx), district representative Councilmember Peter Koo (D-Flushing), Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) and labor unions Hotel Trades Council and SEIU 32BJ struck a deal with the developers to ensure the controversial development will provide quality jobs for area residents and community benefits. According to Koo, the developers, FWRA LLC, agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Queens Chamber of Commerce to coordinate local hiring of goods and labor, in particular with residents of the neighboring NYCHA developments, the Bland Houses and Latimer Gardens. A second MOU with the Downtown Flushing Transit Business Improvement District promises that FWRA will contribute $2 million to support local small businesses over the next 10 years. Additionally, the developers promised to double the amount of public waterfront access

to 40 feet to include children’s playgrounds, public plazas, workout areas, art installments and pedestrian pathways, as well as to remove contaminated soils and include infrastructure upgrades to the existing sewer and storm water drainage systems to reduce Flushing Creek pollution. The compromise also features an agreement to further engage in discussions over a threeyear period with Housing Preservation and Development, the City Council and other governmental entities to maximize the amount of affordable housing on site. The developers will also dedicate 20,000 square feet of community fa ci l it y s p a c e, i nclu d i ng a f lex ible 1,000-square-foot space for the La Jornada food pantry dedicated to child mentoring programs and senior recreational use. Three weeks earlier, Moya, subcommittee member Catalina Rivera (D-Manhattan) and 10 other councilmembers said that they would vote against the project unless it included more benefits for the community. “As I stated from the very beginning, it would have been irresponsible to approve this application without commitments to provide good-paying jobs for local community members and deep community benefits like real affordable housing,” Moya said in a Dec. 8 statement. “That’s why it was imperative that we reach a deal that met these demands.”

The vote was reached the day after proposal opponents delivered a petition containing over 1,000 resident signatures to Koo, as well as an open letter begging him to vote against the plan. MinKwon Center for Community Action, one of the groups that has fervently opposed the project for months, said Koo’s staffers collected the petition but claimed the activists were never afforded the opportunity to sit and speak directly with their representative. “Living in the time of COVID-19 where thousands of people are lining up in Flushing for food, businesses are shuttered, and residents face eviction, it is unconscionable to build more luxury housing and retail that will only further make life more precarious for its current residents and neighborhood,” the letter states. Signed by residents, organizations, community leaders and other supporters, the letter urges the representatives to consider the financial burden luxury condos would place on the neighborhood, the lack of affordable housing included in the plan and the “misleading insinuation” that FWRA would clean up Flushing Creek. Though his name did not appear on the letter, Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) has publicly rejected the project. Other Flushing representatives, Rep. Grace Meng and state

The proposed Special Flushing Waterfront DisSFWD RENDERING trict would rezone 29-acres. Sen. Toby Stavisky, have also vocalized concerns about the plan. Koo, however, said in a statement he was “happy” with the agreement reached with the developers, indicating he will vote in the project’s favor at the full City Council meeting Dec. 10, the potential last stop for the plan. As the representative of the district where the development is proposed, Koo has the vote with the potential to sway his undecided colleagues’ votes in a tradition known as member Q deference.

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Inspired by pandemic, the AM’s candidacy is his second attempt by Katherine Donlevy

Throughout the pandemic, Weprin has been an outspoken supporter of small busiInspired by the ongoing pandemic, nesses that are struggling to produce reveAssemblymember David Weprin (D-Fresh nue, especially restaurants, which have been Meadows) is running to be the city’s next burdened by strict regulations and indoor capacity caps. He fought to increase the 25 comptroller. “The economic crisis that we’re going to percent capacity to 50 percent, at which be in for a really long time is something I neighboring Nassau County is operating. “There’s been a little spike [in cases] but feel, based on my financial background, that I can really make a contribution to,” he told there’s no correlation [to indoor dining]. the Chronicle Dec. 9, two days after he offi- What I’ve seen is they’re doing it safely,” cially announced his candidacy. “What I Weprin said. “I’d hesitate to shut down want to do is put middle-class families front indoor dining. They’ve been devastated. It could be the nail in the coffin.” and center.” As comptroller, Weprin plans to Standing up for vulnerable popuorganize a Red-Tape Reduction lations and those who have been Commission that would eliminate struggling to make ends meet many of the fees, fines and reguwill be a priority in his camlations stifling small businesses. paign, he said. For example, he Weprin touts a history in the wants to reassure seniors that financial sector, first working as their city pensions are safe. deputy superintendent of banks Balancing the budget, which saw 2021 andthesecretary of the Banking Board for major cuts this year, will be the key to New York State under Gov. Mario Cuomo’s preserving the city, Weprin said. He plans to investigate city agencies and the ways they administration, where he oversaw $2 trillion utilize their funding to eliminate wasted and regulated more than 3,000 financial instispending. The Department of Education has tutions and financial service firms. He later the largest outside consulting budget, he said, worked in a variety of roles in the private secbut most of the work can be done in-house tor, including as chairperson of the Securities for cheaper rates. Other municipalities do Industry Association of New York. Weprin served as the District 23 city that, and Weprin hopes New York can, too. Associate Editor

eens votes u Q

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

Weprin announces bid for city comptroller

Assemblymember David Weprin announced Monday he will be running in the 2021 contest for COURTESY PHOTO city comptroller. It will be his second bid for the position. councilmember for eight years and as the chamber’s Finance Committee chairman. He’s served as the 24th District assemblymember since 2010. The comptroller bid is the second for Weprin, who ran for the position in 2009, but lost to now-st ate Sen. Joh n Liu (D-Flushing). Weprin finished the primary race in last place, also behind now-District Attorney Melinda Katz and former City

Councilmember David Yassky. “I’ve been in the Assembly for 11 years. I’ve expanded my resume. I’m proud of the legislation we’ve enacted due to my efforts,” Weprin said. So far, he will face state Sens. Brian Benjamin (D-Manhattan) and Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) and City Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) in the June 2021 Q Democratic primary.

Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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Bill de Blasio Mayor

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 30

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Johnnies avoid upset, look to conference play The Red Storm must have been thankful that they can’t be heckled by cardboard cutouts as Rider, picked to finish last in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, took a double-digit lead at Carnesecca Arena Tuesday. “I keep saying it every time I get here; it is the year 2020, expect the unexpected,” Red Storm head coach Mike Anderson said after his Johnnies battled back for an 82-79 victory. Vince Cole scored 12 of his 26 points in the final two minutes and 45 seconds as St. John’s avoided a stunning upset. His heroics were reminiscent of opening night when he drained a three-pointer in the final seconds to beat St. Peter’s. But Cole noted something was missing Tuesday from the Red Storm. “Energy, energy, was the one thing that we were lacking,” he said. “Flat, that’s one of the words [Anderson] used. We came out real flat and we were just slow on the energy part today.” As is typical with an Anderson-coached

team, most of the roster is seeing playing time. Nine players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game. Six are averaging at least eight points per game, with Julian Champagnie at the top with 22 per game. Champagnie scored 18 points in Tuesday’s victory and Marcellus Earlington scored a season-high 16 points, making seven of his eight shots. The Johnnies are off to a 5-1 start but the schedule is about to become more difficult as Big East play begins Friday with a matchup with Seton Hall. “Ready or not, here it comes,” Anderson said. “We are in the family now. The sense of urgency goes up probably about 20 notches and so our guys have got to be able to do that.” Cole said he doesn’t believe that the Johnnies need to play a bigger-name opponent in order to bring more energy. “We look at every game as an important game,” he said. “The game you’re playing right now is the most important, we don’t look at the next game or the

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St. Michael’s tree lighting goes virtual St. Michael’s Cemetery will celebrate its second annual tree lighting with a video ceremony to be posted Dec. 12. The ceremony is being held virtually at stmichaelscemetery.com. The event is a celebration, a renewal and a remembrance of those entrusted to St. Michael’s and the families who honor their loved ones. The Rev. Kate Flexer will open the ceremony with a prayer and the video will embrace the music of the season. Christmas ornaments with the names of remembered loved ones will be placed onto the tree. St. Michael’s offers the ornaments free to families who wish to commemorate their loved ones during the Season of Joy. The form to ensure the ornament will be placed onto the tree is available at stmichaelscemetery.com. Types include an angel, a snowman and a happy holidays ornament. At the end of a year that has seen losses and hardship, the tree lighting promises a new year of hope. The East Elmhurst cemetery, which opened in 1852, is committed to ensuring

St. Michael’s Cemetery will place Christmas ornaments with the names of loved ones on a tree with the video ceremony available Dec. PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES PHOTO / WIKIPEDIA 12. loved ones will always be in the hearts of their family and friends. For more information, visit the cemeQ tery’s website or call (718) 278-3240.

Vince Cole puts the Red Storm ahead with a free throw in the final minutes against Rider as the PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL cardboard cutouts at Carnesecca Arena look on. game after that.” St. John’s was selected to finish ninth in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll. The conference expanded from 10 teams to 11 with the University of Connecticut returning to the Big East. Only DePaul and Georgetown were predicted to finish lower than the Johnnies. The first four conference games have been scheduled, with the remaining 16 to be determined later as teams navigate the Covid-plagued season. “I said it last time, we have still got a lot of work to do, and one of the things it takes to be one of the better teams in our confer-

ence in consistency,” Anderson said. “You have to be consistent in what you bring, day in and day out.” Cole said the team knows it can play better than it did against Rider, citing energy and effort. “Going into conference play, that is what we need to provide: a lot of effort and a lot of energy and that’s our brand, that’s what we do,” he said. In recent seasons, the Red Storm often burst out of the gate against weaker opponents and fell back to earth against tough Big East opponents. With energy and effort, Q they’re looking to avoid a repeat.

Trump grew election margins continued from page 2 “I didn’t see a resounding trend that I could tell. A lot of it was quick interactions in the street,” she said, but added that she suspects that more conservative voters are second- or third-generation immigrants, male and possibly more economically secure. “I think unfortunately the Democratic Party has a lot of work to do in the Latinx community,” González-Rojas said. “During a presidential election, we aren’t necessarily paying attention to the down-ballot races in a state like New York,” said Cruz, whose district runs through East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights into Corona. She was the only one of the four Democratic representatives in majority-Latino districts who received more votes than Biden in her race, indicating that over 700 voters may have split the ticket between her and Trump. “It has a lot to do with religion,” Cruz said. Abortion was a driving factor among conservative Latinos in her district, she said, which contains Catholics and conservative Pentacostal parishioners as well as a growing population of Adventists. Queens County Republican Chairwoman Joann Ariola, on the other hand, chalked the increases up to public safety. “The message of public safety and the bail reform was a really big issue. That’s in

all communities,” Ariola said. “When we were campaigning across the borough that was the main thing that we emphasized.” Ariola has maintained from the moment that she was elected head of the Queens County Republican Party in 2017 that it needs to diversify its ranks. She said that the party worked with groups from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds to register more Republicans, and to find candidates to present a credible challenge in Assembly districts with Democratic majorities. While her strategy did not yield Republican victories for any down-ballot races, it did draw down the margin of Democratic dominance in two of the borough’s most conservative districts. When the absentee votes were tallied for state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park), their victories were slimmer than years past. In 2016, Addabbo received 62 percent of the general election vote. In 2018, he received 64 percent. This year, he got 51.6 percent to his opponent, his second-time Republican challenger Tom Sullivan’s 44.4 percent. Pheffer Amato had a slightly higher cushion, but still lower than the past two election cycles. She received 58.3 percent of the vote to her opponent, Peter HatziQ petros’ 36.4 percent.

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December De Dec e ber em emb er 110 10, 00, 2020 2002200

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

Be kind: by Katherine Donlevy

Please unwind •••

Library lets love rule with new programs for tense times

continued on page 33

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“Kindness is not just ‘out.’ It should start with you,” said Nayelli Valencia Turrent, the director of adult ser vices and cultural programs at the Queens Library. In its third year, the library’s It’s Time for Kind campaign is focusing on the importance of being compassionate not only to one’s friends, family, neighbors and strangers, but also to oneself. The campaign, whose logo is a pair of hands forming a heart, recognizes shared humanity for oneself and others, a sentiment that is especially vital in 2020 as people around the world may be experiencing a more difficult time in the era of the pandemic, Turrent said. “Usually when you are surrounded by people and family it’s easier to feel warm and good with yourself because you have your loved ones around. A lot of people are celebrating holidays by themselves this year,” she said on the goal of the library’s six-week initiative, which began on Thanksgiving and lasts throughout December. “Taking care of your body, taking care of your

mind, taking care of yourself is the first step ... We all need to be kind to ourselves.” The It’s Time for Kind campaign involves a multitude of programming, interactive exercises and activities to celebrate kindness during the holiday season, most of which are being conducted virtually for safety and accessibility purposes. In prior years, each branch would display a “Kindness Wall,” where patrons were encouraged to share, via Post-it notes, how they spread kindness and recount stories of kindness they received. Because none of the branches are allowing customers inside their facilities except for to-go service, the Queens Library has created a “Kindness E-Wall” instead. Participants can post words or drawings to the library’s website as well as view other posts from other Queens library goers. The virtual wall is not separated by branch like the physical ones had been in previous years, and includes different prompts each week so that participants can share numerous stories of kindness.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 32

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I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

King Crossword Puzzle ‘Forbidden Planet’ star grew up in Central Queens

ACROSS

1 Vagrant 4 Poke 7 Femur or fibula 8 Elaine’s last name on “Seinfeld” 10 Cook by direct heat 11 Silvery 13 Smooth-coated pooch 16 1/20 ton (Abbr.) 17 Humdinger 18 Moving truck 19 Narnia’s Aslan, e.g. 20 Antitoxins 21 Munchie 23 Enthusiasts’ emotions 25 Roe provider 26 Group of quail 27 Debtor’s letters 28 Muslim maiden 30 Thee 33 High-backed chairs 36 Earthling, in sci-fi 37 Flavor 38 Go over the books 39 Spud’s buds 40 Always, in verse 41 Two, in Tijuana

DOWN 1 Give a leg up 2 One 3 Tuneful 4 Spanish wine town 5 Mad 6 Tavern offering

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

7 Forehead 8 Conductor’s wand 9 Whine 10 English channel? 12 Signs of sorrow 14 Kindle competitor 15 Genetic stuff 19 Young fellow

20 Put into words 21 Try for a two-pointer 22 Queasiness 23 Nil 24 Ousted 25 Bro or sis 26 Beyond well-done 28 Throng

29 Where the elated walk 30 Affirmatives 31 Uneaten morsels 32 Work with 34 Verifiable 35 Boxer’s successful blow

Philip Ward Francis was born in Elizabeth, NJ in 1900. He was a Quaker who had a business in the silk industry. He married Edith Albertson in Manhattan on Feb. 24, 1923. She gave birth to Anne Francis in Ossining, NY on Sept. 16, 1930. After Philip lost his business he worked as a sales clerk in Macy’s department store. Anne got modeling jobs to help The home of actress Anne Francis during her teenage support the family. As time years, inset, at 66-11 99 St. in Rego Park, as it appears GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE; INSET, WIKIPEDIA / EBAY went on she got parts in radio, today. which led to theater. Her most famous movie role came oppoThe family moved to a new apartment building at 66-11 99 St. at that time in Forest site Leslie Nielsen in the 1956 sci-fi film Hills but part of Rego Park today. Francis was “Forbidden Planet.” Francis starred in the ABC show “Honey home-schooled due to her busy career. In her autobiography she wrote her only West,” in which she played a female private friends were her father’s brother, Alfred, and detective. Though the show was canceled his three daughters, her cousins, who lived at after one season, Francis won a Golden Globe 84-40 63 Road in Rego Park. Francis was and was nominated for an Emmy for the role. She passed away at age 80 on Jan. 2, 2011 very active in theater and moved to California Q in California. in 1949 to star in movies.

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Life lessons, lightheartedly, with a bit of ‘el sexo’ by Mark Lord qboro contributor

The show must go on — online, that is! Forced to shut its doors on March 13 with the arrival of the coronavirus, the venerable Thalia Theatre, which, for 43 years, has been celebrating Spanish and Latin American culture via live performances in its intimate space in Sunnyside, isn’t letting a pandemic stand in its way. Taking full advantage of modern technology, the theater, under Artistic and Executive Director Angel Gil Orrios, is still providing audiences with a wide variety of shows — though, for now at least, strictly in the comfort of their own homes. The ingenious idea involves use of archival videos of some of the theater’s most admired productions. The latest offering to hit computer screens is an awardwinning one-woman comedy called “Las Mujeres lo Hacemos Mejor que Los Hombres,” by Puerto Rican playwright Roberto Ramos-Perea. That translates to “We Women Do It Better Than Men,” and, in a 90-minute tour-de-force directed by Gil Orrios, Soledad Lopez sets out to prove the point — in a variety of entertaining ways. The demanding role, in which Lopez portrays numerous characters — both male and female, young and old — has become somewhat of a career-spanning venture for the actress, who has been seen in it at the theater in multiple runs over the years. In fact, according to Gil Orrios, she was scheduled to reprise it on stage again this past April, followed by runs in Guatemala and Spain, but those plans were brought to a halt by the outbreak.

Soledad Lopez in the show called in English “We Women PHOTO BY MICHAEL PALMA Do It Better Than Men.” The premise finds Lopez, as a psychologist, leading a professional growth workshop, with the audience as the attendees. Before long she is letting loose with one sharp remark after another. “For men in sex and in politics, to be on top doesn’t necessarily mean screwing those who are under you,” she says near the top of the show. Later she opines, “God made man first and then woman. Why? Because you learn from your mistakes.” A highly detailed examination of male-female relationships, the show covers a lot of territory. There are serious

moments, to be sure, including stories about an abusive alcoholic father, relationships that didn’t work out and, most moving of all, the death of a mother. But the show also contains more than a fair share of laughs. There is an extended segment dealing with the various types of “professional seducers” that offers dramatic and often hilarious personifications of each type, from “the Bohemian” to the “sexually liberated guy.” The production itself is low-tech, with a stagehand entering from behind a center stage curtain to set the next scene. But the quality of the video is admirable, bringing viewers up close to the headline performer. And what a performance she is giving. Lopez begins to talk about her character’s first sexual experience and, putting her hair in pigtails, instantaneously transports us back to her youth. With a slight change of posture she just as easily becomes her own mother. In one scene, in which she relives rollicking in the waves and having her first sexual experience with her first crush, she plays both participants to great effect. Adding to the fun is Lopez’s occasional venture out into the house, where she engages the audience in direct participation in the storytelling. The video is in Spanish with English subtitles that are simple, easy to read and unusually faithful to the spoken word. To watch the production, as well as others including tango and flamenco dance shows, visit thaliatheatre.org. The theater requests a contribution of $10 or more for viewing the performances, which will be available through Q June 30.

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

boro

’Tis the season for kindness

Crossword Answers

smile, give a thumbs-up or share your kindness resolution for 2021. The campaign is utilizing social media to conduct its Canned Food Challenge. With a goal of 500 cans, the library is asking the community to give back by donating to a nearby food pantry, drive or bank. To participate, take a picture or video of at least five cans of food that you plan to donate, post it to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the tags @QPLNYC and #QueensCan. “What we’re trying to do here is create a chain of kindness,” Turrent said. The Queens Library has been successfully streaming virtual programming since the early days of the pandemic, which it ramped up for the It’s Time for Kind campaign. The schedule features 44 different classes throughout the six weeks, which range from chair yoga sessions to musical performances to cooking classes and more. There’s even a beginner sewing class where viewers can learn to make their own face mask. In the spirit of kindness and sharing with others, the Queens Library is using the virtual platform to highlight family-owned restaurants around the borough. The “Soul Food” series explores how food connects a

Queens Library’s It’s Time for Kind campaign features an array of programs, including Kindness Storytime with Queensboro Hill Children’s Librarian Lucianne Pastorello, left, and offers To-Go Kits at select locations. On the cover: The gesture of heart hands was adopted as the campaign’s logo to represent kindness. PHOTOS COURTESY QUEENS LIBRARY community and what it means to be kind. Spotlighted restaurateurs include Jonathan Forgash of Queens Together, Beatrice Ajaero of Nneji in Astoria and Dudley Stewart of The Queensboro in Jackson Heights. And in true library fashion, the campaign features several booklists for all ages that

focus on the importance of kindness. “Kindness is the overall theme of the holiday season,” Turrent said. “Be kind to your family, friend, neighbor, dog, yourself.” For more information on It’s Time for Kind and how to participate, visit the Q library’s website, queenslibrary.org.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

continued from page 31 The only aspect of the campaign that has remained in-person is the distribution of To-Go Kits. While supplies last, participants can visit a branch offering to-go service and pick up a package containing winter gloves and a craftmaking kit with a QR code linked to an instructional YouTube video. One must pass a kindness test in order to be eligible for a To-Go Kit, however. To claim a kit, flash the librarian your biggest

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Notice of Formation of ATLANTIC GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/04/20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of G Mobile Mechanical LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/14/2020. 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: GERARD ROETHEL, 831 LIBERTY LANE, BREEZY POINT, NY 11697. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Ginisse LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/20/2020. 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: GINISSE LLC, 509 FAIRVIEW AVE., APT 1, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Malave Consulting Group LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/04/2020. 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: MALAVE CONSULTING GROUP LLC, 6615 WETHEROLE ST., APT C7, REGO PARK, NY 11374. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of NEWANG LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/3//20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: The LLC, 3-35 Cresthaven Lane, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of Uglystreetwallstreet Co. LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/19/2020. 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: UGLYSTREETWALLSTREET CO. LLC, 92-11 219TH ST., QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of C.S.N Consulting & Events LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/17/2020. 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: CAMERON NADLER, 41-18 CRESCENT ST., APT 5F, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

GAG TAXI LLC. Arts. of Org. filed

Notice of Formation of Just2, LLC

with the SSNY on 01/28/20.

Articles of Organization were filed

Office: Queens County. SSNY

with the Secretary of State of New

designated as agent of the LLC

York (SSNY) on 10/19/2020. Office

Notice of Formation of Morgan McLarty and Mitchell LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/23/2020. 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: MORGAN MCLARTY AND MITCHELL LLC, 6935 213TH ST, OAKLAND GARDENS, NY 11364. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of RED HOUSE HOLDINGS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/03/2020. 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: JING J CAI, 7305 168TH STREET, FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11366. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Wine Queen LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/07/2020. 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: WINE QUEEN LLC, 4029 27TH ST., LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

it may be served. SSNY shall

location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may

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upon whom process against

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

MY WAY CONSTRUCTION

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 36

C M SQ page 36 Y K To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

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Services

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Legal Notices NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 11-19-2020, bearing Index Number NC-000600-20/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) CHRISTON (Middle) LEA (Last) DYER GULTOM. My present name is (First) CHRISTON (Middle) LEA (Last) DYER AKA CHRISTON DYER. The city and state of my present address are Long Island City, NY. My place of birth is PUTNAM TENNESSEE. The month and year of my birth are July 1981. NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 12-07-2020, bearing Index Number NC-000604-20/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) REEM (Middle) RIDHA (Last) SHAKER. My present name is (First) ELEEN (Middle) RIDHA (Last) SHAKER (infant). The city and state of my present address are East Elmhurst, NY. My place of birth is QUEENS, NEW YORK. The month and year of my birth are April 2020.

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Notice of Formation of 398 Manhattan Ave Realty LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/6/20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 136-20 Roosevelt Ave., Room 288, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Adoption Single woman looking to build her family by adoption. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call: 347-470-5228 or my attorney: 800-582-3678 Subscriptions are only $19 for a full year!!! Call 718-205-8000

on premises consumption under the ABC Law at 108-07 72nd Avenue Forest Hills NY 11374.

Notice of Formation of Ada + Ida Group LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/30/2020. 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: DONNA DAVIS, 2936 MARTIN COURT, FAR ROCKAWAY, NY 11691. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of A Visit from HOPE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/19/2020. 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: SALISHA HOPE, PO BOX 130332, SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

ASTORIA PARK WAREHOUSE

AB CURATED TRAVEL LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/24/20. 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, 25-15 Crescent Street, Apartment 5A, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

ASTORIA PARKING LOT LLC,

LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/06/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been

Real Estate EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Apts. For Rent Bushwick, 6 Stanhope St, #3R. NO FEE. 1 BR/1.5 bath. $1,900/ mo. Beautiful renov apt. HWF, SS. Small pets OK. New construction bldg. Avail Now. Call Tiana Williams, 917-982-8507. Capri Jet Realty Old Howard Beach, 2 BR, 1.5 baths, pvt deck, gas/water incl. No pets/smoking. $2,000/mo. 646-220-5429 Williamsburg, 302 Ainslie St, Apt 3. True Renovated 3Br/1Bath. NO FEE. $ 2,599/mo. Avail Dec 15, rest of Dec is FREE. Heat & Hot Water incl. Shared Yard. Laminate Floors. Windows in Every Room. Call Robert 347-450-3577. Capri Jet Realty

Real Estate Misc. Howard Beach/Lindenwood, HiRise 1 BR unit converted from a studio. Low maint, updated kit & bath, top fl. Asking $168K. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136

Houses For Sale Howard Beach/Rockwood Park. Pristine/Stucco unique contemporary Colonial. 3/4 BR, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, open fl concept on 1st fl. 2nd fl master BR en suite, 2 other BRs & full bath, fin bsmnt, ping pong rm or 4th BR, IG saltwater heated pool, Jacuzzi, cabana, full bath, storage rm. Asking $1.298 Mil. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136 Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, COMING SOON! Hi-Ranch, 4 BR, 3 baths, 40x100. Asking $849K. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136

Legal Notices Notice of Formation of RiverRock Consulting LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/23/20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: PO Box 940603, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Williamsburg, 905 Metropolitan Ave, Apt 3R. NO FEE. 1 Month FREE. Brand New Renov Luxury 2 BR, $2,500/mo. Ex-lg apt. HWF, high ceilings. New SS appli. Avail Dec 1. Call Agata Landa 914-255-7284 Capri Jet Realty Woodhaven, 2 BR, 1 bath, 2nd fl.

designated as agent upon whom $2,200/mo. C21 Amiable II, process against the LLC may be 718-835-4700 served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 2191 21st Street,

Rooms For Rent Seeking room for rent. Near con-

Long Island City, NY 11101. venient public trans w/reasonable rent. Very good refs. Call Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. 929-990-1675

Arts. of Org. filed with the

Furn. Rm. For Rent Woodhaven, furn rm for rent, 1st

SSNY on 11/06/2020. Office fl, use of backyard. No pets/smokloc: Queens County. SSNY has ing. Avail immediately. $875/mo. been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC

347-475-9279

Co-ops For Sale

may be served. SSNY shall mail Howard Beach, Hi-rise, 2 BR, 2 process to: The LLC, 2116 24th baths. Top fl. Asking $229K. Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Connexion RE, 718-845-1136

Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noon on Tuesday for Thursday’s paper.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Health Services

Notice of Formation of 3JE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/17/2020 and amended on 10/07/2020. 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: 3JE LLC, 52-30 39TH DRIVE, 6D, WOODSIDE, NY 11377. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Page 37 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS IN TAX LIEN FORECLOSURE– SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS – NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN FOR THE NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST, Plaintiffs, against SOFIA VINEREANU AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF NECHIT VINEREANU, GABRIEL VINEREANU AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF NECHIT VINEREANU and THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF NECHIT VINEREANU, if living, et. al., Defendants. Index No. 701729/19. To the above named Defendants –YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty days after service is completed if the summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Plaintiffs designate Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the county in which the property a lien upon which is being foreclosed is situated. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Robert J. McDonald, J.S.C., entered January 30, 2020. The object of this action is to foreclose a New York City Tax Lien covering the premises located at Block 513 Lot 1 on the Tax Map of Queens County and is also known as No# Welling Court a/k/a 8-60 Astoria Boulevard a/k/a 860 Astoria Boulevard, Long Island City, New York. Dated: November 9, 2020 BRONSTER LLP, Attorney for Plaintiffs, NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN FOR THE NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST, By: Josef F. Abt, Esq. 156 West 56th Street, Suite 902 New York, NY 10019 (347) 246-4776

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 38

C M SQ page 38 Y K

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

• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, Dec. 13th 2-3:30 pm

• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, Dec. 13th 12-1 pm 18-73 Greene Ave., Ridgewood 4 Family w/ Backyard & Full Basement! $1,349,000

391 Graham Ave., Williamsburg Renovated Single Family + Store in Williamsburg! $1,775,000

78-57 81st St., Glendale Gorgeously Renovated 3 Fam., 5 Levels w/Backyard & Pvt Dwy! $1,149,000

• OPEN HOUSE • Saturday, Dec. 12th 1-3 pm

• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, Dec. 13th 1:30-2:30 pm

• OPEN HOUSE • Saturday, Dec. 12th 1-2:30 pm

261 St. Nicholas Ave., Ridgewood Corner 2 Family + Store & Full Basement! Projec. CAP Rate 8% $1,699,00

13 Stuyvesant Ave., Bed-Stuy VACANT! Renovated 2 Family Brick Building in Bedford Stuyvesant! $1,150,000

180 Russell St., Greenpoint Charming 2 Family (3 Levels) w/Backyard! Delivered Vacant! $1,439,000

• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, Dec. 13th 3-4 pm 172 N 6th St., Williamsburg VACANT Brick 2 Fam. w/Backyard & Full Basement!! $2,350,000

16 Devoe St., Williamsburg Vacant 2 Family (4 Levels) w/Backyard! $1,799,000

97-06 161st Ave., Howard Beach Luxurious New Construction House 3 Levels + Attic $1,375,000

12 Broome St., Greenpoint Vacant Corner Lot! Approved DOB Plans! $1,499,000

• OPEN HOUSE • Saturday, Dec. 12th 11:30 am-1 pm 549 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg Mixed-Use 2 Fam. + Store! Owner Financing at 3.75% $2,999,000

47-08 59th Pl., Woodside Gorgeous Brick Tudor 1 Family w/Garage & Backyard! $935,000

WE ARE HIRING LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS!

756 Grand St., Williamsburg Brick 6 Family + Store w/Backyard & Full Basement! $2,500,000

420 64th St., Apt PH2, Bay Ridge Stunning 1 BR/1 Bath Penthouse Condo w/Balcony in Bay Ridge! $527,000

For more properties for sale and apartments for rent, please visit our website www.CapriJetRealty.com

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

Ask about our “Earn while You Learn” Program

RECRUITING/CAREER ZOOM SEMINAR: December 18, 2020 (11:30 - 2:3O PM) CALL TODAY TO JOIN THE WINNING TEAM!

Thinking of Listing, call anyone. Thinking of Selling, Call Us! Call Today for a FREE over the phone CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) CAPJ-078314

For the latest news visit qchron.com

• OPEN HOUSE (By Appt.) Sunday, Dec. 13th 2:30-4 pm

533 Metropolitan Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211

O: 347-450-3577 info@CapriJetRealty.com

C M SQ page 39 Y K

Happy Holidays To All Our Friends!

EAT

CENTURY 21 AMIABLE II 82-17 153 RD Ave., Suite 202, Howard Beach, NY 11414

Matz’s last stand by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The future sure seemed quite bright for Steven Matz when he finally graduated from the Mets minor league system in the summer of 2015 to pitch for the varsity team at Citi Field. He won all four of his decisions and pitched well in the Mets’ postseason run. Many thought he would be a star Mets left-handed starter in the mold of Al Leiter and Jerry Koosman. As a further bonus Matz was almost as good a hitter as he was on the mound. The fact that he grew up in Suffolk County as a Mets fan, and that his last name sounds so close to their beloved team, understandably endeared him to the Flushing faithful. Matz had some shoulder and elbow issues in 2016 and 2017 but was certainly serviceable though far from spectacular. He was injury-free in 2018 and 2019 but problems were evident in both seasons. For every good start he had, it seemed as if he would get bombed in at least another two. In 2019, then-Mets manager Mickey Callaway, who came to the organization with a reputation for being a pitching guru, was forced to move him to the bullpen in the hopes of restoring his confidence. The bottom truly dropped out for Matz during the shortened 2020 season. He lost all five of his decisions and his earned run average was an unsightly 9.68. His disastrous pitching was a

major reason the Mets failed to make the expanded MLB playoffs this past summer. Many were wondering if the Mets would cut Matz loose by not offering him a contract for 2021 since ownership had that right. If the Wilpon family had not sold the team the odds are Matz would have received his walking papers. Fortunately for Matz, new owner Steven Cohen and team President Sandy Alderson decided he was worth a $5.3 million investment. Lefty starters are hard to find and Matz can still throw in the mid-90s. Matz has always been a good guy in the clubhouse, and his problem seems to be more with confidence and keeping his composure when things don’t go well in an inning such as a bad call from an umpire, bad fielding behind him or a bloop hit, than with a lack of talent. Whoever the Mets pitching coach is next season had better be a good amateur psychologist. Relief pitcher Trevor May became the first free agent to be signed by the Mets since Steve Cohen became CEO. He quickly learned the perks of working in Queens as he raved on social media about a sandwich he ate at Benateri’s Italian Gourmet Deli in College Point. The Queens Economic Development Corp. should hire May to be its spokesman for our borough’s Q food purveyors. See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

Connexion REAL ESTATE

Get Your House SOLD!

161-14A Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach (Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

ARLENE PACCHIANO Broker/Owner

718-845-1136 FREE MARKET EVALUATION

CONNEXIONREALESTATE.COM OZONE PARK

Reduced $798K Owner Mortgage

LIST YOUR HOME HERE!

HOWARD BEACH/ LINDENWOOD

69-39 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385

718-628-4700 • OPEN HOUSE • Sat. 12/12 • 1:30-3pm • 90-56 Shore Pkwy

• Rockwood Park • Ranch Style 1 Family home located in Rockwood Park / New Howard Beach. Home has 3 BRs 2.5 baths, living room, Eat-in-kit., dining room, full basement & pvt dvwy. This home is a great opportunity for someone who wants to create their own space. Conveniently located near shopping and transportation. Home is Selling “as is.”

• Broad Channel •

• Lindenwood •

A great investment in the Jamaica Bay front community, great opportunity to open a bakery, cafe/ restaurant, bike shop, ice cream store, barbershop/hair salon, law office, etc. It is mixed use zoning for a second floor apartment.

Completely and beautifully renovated studio with terrace. Features open floor plan, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, walk-in closet, fi replace. Condo has soundproof walls. Near transportation, shopping and restaurants.

• Brooklyn • Welcome to this unique & beautiful 2 fam. home with a fi n. bsmnt, a spacious backyard & central A/C. This recently-renovated property was updated with top-of-the-line fixtures & fi nishes. The 2nd apt has a custom kit. made from recycled wood imported from France. The Mediterranean bathroom is breathtaking, with spa fixtures such as a rain shower, Jacuzzi, jet massage & heated floor. The apt has beautiful wood fl rs, new noise reducing windows and a charming terrace. The 1st apt is a true gem with unique moldings, French doors, beautiful wood fl rs, an updated kit., patio & stunning bathroom. The bsmnt is fully renovated with marble fl rs, large mirrors throughout & exposed brick. The bohemian style backyard, accessible from either apt, is perfect for a private relaxation session yet spacious enough to entertain family & friends. The property boasts parking & is conveniently located right on the border of Greenpoint & Williamsburg.

• Lindenwood • • Valley Stream • 4 BRs, 2 bath, Cape on an over-sized lot. Must see to appreciate. Much bigger than it looks outside! Old world charm with modern updates, heated floors in sunroom, French door onto deck, semi in-ground saltwater heated pool, wood burning fi replace, gourmet kitchen, alarm system. Too much to list!!!

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Pristine/Stucco unique contemporary Colonial, 3/4 BRs, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, open floor concept on first floor & winding S.S staircase to second floor master bedroom en suite w/ Jacuzzi and bidet, 2 other BRs & full bath, fin. bsmnt, storage rm., den, ping, pong rm or 4th BR, fences front & backyard has I.G. saltwater heated pool, Jacuzzi (seats 8) Cabana, full bath, storage rm, S.S. gates, 2nd flr balcony granite & awning.

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

OZONE PARK

MIDDLE VILLAGE

Det. 1 Family, 3 BRs, 2 baths, basement, pty driveway and 1 car garage

Mint Detached Colonial, pvt dvwy & 2 car garage, 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 kitchen with cherry cabinets, S.S. appl, island, Beautiful.

Hi-Rise 2 BRs, 2 Baths, Top Floor Asking $229K

Asking $168K

We are Hiring Licensed Real Estate Agents! Call for Confidential Interview!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy Chanukah from our Family to yours!

Asking $1.298 Mil

CO-OPS FOR SALE Hi-Rise 1 BR Unit Converted from a Studio, Low Maint, Updated Kit & Bath, Top Floor

Turn Key 1 BR garden cooperative with great sunlight exposures & good closet space! This 2nd floor unit has new LED overhead lighting in the living room (12’ x 17’) & Dining room; New electrical breaker; insulated flooring; & New doors throughout. NEW Kit features Quartz countertop with bar seating; new cabinets; flooring & backsplash. Bathroom features a new toilet & vanity. The home has just been freshly painted too. Oversized BR is 16’ x 11’.4” - check out the provided layout. The monthly maint. $671.26; utilities is $50.00 (fluctuates by usage); includes all utilities: heat, hot water, cooking gas, & electric. Flip Tax is $25/share, 236 shares. Building is Pet friendly. Ideally located near a shopping center, public transportation, express bus to Midtown, airport & major highways.

Mint Hi-Ranch on 40x100 lot, 4 BRs/3 full baths, Vinyl siding with brick front, Andersen windows, Hi-Hats, tiled floors, new carpeting in BRs, security cameras, alarm system, freshly painted, mechanics all updated, heated spa & in-ground pool, brick patio, CAC, rollout awning Asking $889K

RICHMOND HILL SOUTH

$610K

COMING SOON!

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK Lovely Colonial in heart of Richmond Hill South. Updated Kitchen, 3 BR’s, 2 Full Baths, Full Finished Basement, Garage.

Asking $575K

Hi-Ranch, 4 BRs, 3 Baths, 40X100

Asking $849K

Asking $968K

FREE Market Evaluation 718-845-1136

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Commercial Building (101st Ave.) 2 blocks off Cross Bay Blvd./25x100 lot, 25x46 building/ 2nd flr., Dental Office $2,200 per mo./ 1st floor gutted to studs & vacant / basement clean with new furnace / zoning R6B / building K2

718-835-4700

Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020

SPORTS

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 10, 2020 Page 40

C M SQ page 40 Y K FREE DELIVERY For All SENIOR CITIZENS

24-Pack

True Spring Water with $35 purchase (Only Pay Deposit)

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

Sale Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dates 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

PHONE ORDERS GLADLY ACCEPTED

$5.00 OFF Your Order

FREE With this coupon. Expires 12/17/20. Limit One per family.

WHEN YOU SPEND $75 Excluding catering. With this coupon. Expires 12/17/20. Limit One per family.

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

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

We Accept All Major Credit Cards WIC - EBT

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

COOKED WHOLE TURKEY (10-14 lbs)

with 3 Sides & a Pie (feeds 8-12)

9999

Includes Gravy SIDES • Sweet Potatoes • Mashed Potatoes • Steamed Vegetables • Stufﬁng • String Beans • Corn • Gravy

PIES • Pumpkin • Apple • Coconut • Sweet Potato

SLICED TURKEY BREAST (8-12 lbs)

with 3 Sides & a Pie (feeds 8-10)

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Includes Gravy SIDES • Sweet Potatoes • Mashed Potatoes • Steamed Vegetables • Stufﬁng • String Beans • Corn • Gravy

PIES • Pumpkin • Apple • Coconut • Sweet Potato

HAM with any 3 Sides

For

99 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.