Queens Chronicle South Edition 02-23-12 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

PHOTO BY ANNA GUSTAFSON

VOL. XXXV NO. 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

CELEBRATING BRAVERY

QUEENSCHRONICLE.COM

West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department marks 84 years of service PAGES 6 AND 12

WHBFD volunteers salute at their anniversary party at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach last week.

STILL ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

WINTER

Queens film festival features works from around the corner, and the globe

Despite progress on evaluations, Bloomberg still plans to replace teachers

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OUT OF THIS WORLD

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QUEENS’ LARGEST WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

At Walcott meeting, mistrust and anger Teachers, parents cite frustrations with education at CEC 26 forum by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

t was a night dominated by parents sullenly crossing their arms, teachers rolling their eyes and a defensive schools chancellor who swore the mayor is paying attention to residents’ concerns. That, more than anything else, garnered loud scoffs from audience members at a forum organized by Community Education Council 26 at MS 74 in Bayside on Feb. 16. It was, essentially, two hours characterized by the miscommunication and mistrust that seems to have defined so many of the meetings about education in the city for years. “The mayor has been extremely supportive of teachers,” Chancellor Dennis Walcott said, receiving several boos and loud snorts from the audience. “Under this mayor, we’ve gotten a 43 percent increase in teachers’ base salaries.” CEC 26 President Jeannette Segal said her organization, made up of parent volunteers who serve as an advisory council to the city, wanted the meeting to bring Walcott into an area she calls “almost the forgotten district.” “We want him to see you have partners here, but you need to help us too,” Segal said. There weren’t many people saying they were Walcott’s partners, but they did plead with him to do something on a variety of issues, from replacing the principal at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village to changing the city’s emphasis on testing and its policy of closing large high schools and

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott addresses a large crowd at MS 74 in Bayside last week. A number of people spoke out against the city’s educational policies, and Sue Kimmel, a retired teacher, said overcrowded classrooms are a serious issue plaguing Queens. PHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON replacing them with smaller institutions. “Things aren’t working out at Martin Van Buren High School,” said Dino Sferrazza, who has taught at Cardozo High School in Bayside for 17 years. “I’d hate to see that school fail when we can see it needs help and support.” State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), parents and students held a rally last week calling on the city to oust Van Buren Principal

Marilyn Shevell, saying the school has experienced a severe drop in test scores and morale under her leadership. Sferrazza said other area high schools, including Cardozo, Francis Lewis and Bayside, are “bursting at the seams” in part because students do not want to attend Van Buren. “In the last five years, I’ve seen our registered numbers go up and our dollars go

down,” he said. “Families do not want to send their children to Martin Van Buren.” Walcott promised that he and other Department of Education officials are aware of the situation there. “We need to work closely with Van Buren to raise the external image so they can attract students,” said Walcott, who added he would not address complaints about the principal at the meeting. A number of parents said they are concerned the DOE is allowing Van Buren to fail so the city could close it. “I did not say ‘phase out’ in conjunction with Van Buren,” Walcott said, using the term the DOE employs for closing a school over a number of years. Walcott also said there are “a lot of good programs at Van Buren,” something refuted at last week’s meeting by the school’s Parent Teacher Association president, Helen Young. “We don’t see those programs that you talked about,” Young said. A number of teachers told Walcott they are frustrated with the city’s emphasis on standardized tests and said that focus on data, combined with overcrowded classrooms, has made teaching a career that is no longer desirable. According to statistics from the United Federation of Teachers, of the 7,882 teachers hired for the 2002-03 school year, 49.9 percent had quit within seven years. About 11 percent of teachers hired between 2002 and 2009 quit by the end of their first year, and continued on page 33

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QUEENS NEWS

School plan would be ‘chaotic’ — student Despite union deal, Bloomberg says he’ll replace staff at Queens schools by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

hile Mayor Bloomberg is insisting that, despite last week’s progress on teacher evaluation negotiations, he will move ahead with plans to close 33 public schools in the city, including eight in Queens, and reopen them this summer with different names and about half the staff replaced, students, educators and legislators are fighting back and urging the city leader to think twice. Last month, Bloomberg had said the lack of an agreement between the city and the teachers’ union on annual evaluations prompted his plan to implement what is known as the “turnaround” model, which amounts to replacing much of staff at schools that are in a federal improvement program due to low graduation rates and test scores. The move, Bloomberg said, was an attempt to salvage $60 million in education funding specifically meant for the 33 schools that the state had withheld because of the lack of a deal on teacher evaluations. After Gov. Cuomo intervened, a major sticking point in the negotiations on the evaluations was resolved last week — that of the appeals process for teachers who receive low marks on the assessments — and the state education commissioner said during a phone call with reporters last Thursday that he expects the union and mayor to soon reach a full accord. But Bloomberg said the agreement on the appeals process, which would allow for teacher evaluations to include an independent, third-party validation of teacher ratings, does not stop his plans for many, if not all, of the 33 schools, including John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Richmond Hill High School, Long Island City High School, Flushing High School, Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Newtown High School in Elmhurst, August Martin High School in Jamaica and Bryant High School in Long Island City. “If they replaced the teachers, it would be very chaotic for Grover Cleveland,” said Diana Rodriguez, the student body president and a senior at the school. “The teachers who work at Grover Cleveland already understand the problems the high school faces, and, with our new principal and new academies, we already have a foundation to build upon.” In an attempt to increase graduation rates and test scores, Grover Cleveland, which has been improving, launched small academies for freshman and sophomore students that allow the pupils to take extra classes in subjects that especially interest them, like computers or art. “If the mayor removes 50 percent of the staff and brings in new teachers who are inexperienced, how will that benefit the students?” Rodriguez asked. Bloomberg did concede that the progress on the teacher evaluations could mean that not all of the schools would sustain the teacher replacements and that the city may not implement the turnaround program in all of the schools, but he did not say that was definite. “Nothing in the deal prevents us from moving forward with our plan to replace the

John Adams High School in Ozone Park is one of eight Queens schools at which the mayor aims to FILE PHOTO replace about half the staff. lowest performing teachers in 33 of our most troubling schools,” Bloomberg said at a City Hall press conference last Thursday. He said the teacher replacement would happen in “probably most of them, certainly most of them.” Alongside students, educators are also slamming the mayor’s plan. Ernest Logan, the school principals’ union president, recently wrote a letter to Education Commissioner John King Jr. and said replacing half the staff would “cause a massive school-by-school destabilization throughout the system, with scant evidence of an ability to do more good than harm.” City off icials have said as many as 1,800 teachers could be replaced — but the mayor is not allowed to fire them and many of them would undoubtedly land in the reserve pool of teachers who do not have permanent assignments. According to Logan, that would cost the city about $180 million annually because the teachers would still have to be paid. So, while the cost of the new teachers would likely be covered in part by the federal funds, which are doled out by the state, that still leaves a serious gap between the $60 million in aid and the amount the city would pay for the teachers who are not permanently stationed at any school. Legislators also slammed the mayor for not abandoning the turnaround model. “The city must roll back its disruptive plan to overhaul public schools like Long Island City and William Cullen Bryant high schools,” state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria said). “Our children’s education should supersede political posturing that would interfere with students’ ability to learn.”

Each of the 33 schools are in a federal improvement program because of such issues as low graduation rates and test scores, which forced the city to implement one of four federally required programs at each institution. Last spring, the city announced it would use models that would not close the schools or replace teachers, but instead bring in educational organizations that would work with the school communities to improve graduation rates, test scores and morale. Schools were told they would have three years to implement the changes before the city would once again consider closing them. “I think the Department of Education is going to go ahead with their turnaround process, but I’m a firm believer that until schools are actually closed that there’s a time the DOE could consider otherwise,”

said state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (DHoward Beach), whose district includes John Adams, Richmond Hill and Grover Cleveland high schools. The city’s announcement on the progress on evaluations came at the same time that Cuomo announced the state had reached an agreement with the state teachers’ union on teacher evaluations. The state agreement on teachers, as well as principals, ends a nearly two-year stalemate on the issue of evaluations and allows school districts, such as the entire New York City system, to base up to 40 percent of the review on student performance and state standardized test scores. The current decades-old evaluation system relies more on principals’ classroom visits and input from colleagues. Cuomo said the remaining 60 percent of the teachers’ ratings will be based on their performance, as determined by principals’ observations, peer reviews and student and parent feedback. The “agreement puts in place a groundbreaking new statewide teacher evaluation system that will put students first and make New York a national leader in holding teachers accountable for student achievement,” Cuomo said at a press conference in Albany — from which Bloomberg was notably absent. “This agreement is exactly what is needed to transform our state’s public education system, and I am pleased that by working together and putting the needs of students ahead of politics we were able to reach this agreement.” But Queens educators were less than pleased with Cuomo’s announcement. Arthur Goldstein, an English as a second language teacher and the UFT chapter leader at Francis Lewis High School in Flushing, said the focus on test scores seems especially unfair when it comes to students just learning English. “Someone who moved here from Brazil two weeks ago is judged on the same standards as someone who spent their entire life in the U.S.,” Goldstein said. “I love to teach what kids need to know, and I love to make kids love to learn English,” Goldstein continued. “This is a disaster and is a stupid idea, and I believe it’s motivated by this hatred for teachers.” Q

A helping hand for soldiers A Howard Beach teen who has dedicated much of her life in recent months to collecting goods for troops serving abroad has now partnered with the Kiwanis Club to further help military men and women. Stefania D’Andrea, 16, is working with the Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach to collect coupons that the U.S. Army uses to purchase food and supplies for soldiers. “I saw that St. Helen’s students were doing this as well, and I thought that was such a fantastic idea,” said D’Andrea, a junior at The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates. “They really

inspired me.” A member of Girl Scout Troop 4215 in Maspeth, D’Andrea has also been collecting food items for soldiers. Coupons may be from newspapers, magazines or the Internet, and will be accepted up to six months after the expiration date. To get the coupons to D’Andrea, place them in an envelope and drop them off at the Queens Chronicle office at 62-33 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park by March 8. Coupons for the St. Helen’s students, who are also working with the Kiwanis Club, may also be dropped off Q at the Queens Chronicle office.

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

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For 84 years, the individuals serving in the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps have dropped everything, rushing from cozy beds and dinners with family and friends, to risk their lives for their neighbors. Last Thursday, those neighbors got a chance to say thank you. About 250 people flocked to Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach to celebrate the anniversary of an institution that residents said has countless times provided rescue and relief for people during some of the worst moments of their lives. “They’re invaluable,” said Mary Ann Carey, a civic leader from Howard Beach. “I can’t tell you how many times they helped when my husband had heart problems before he died. They must’ve come at least 15 to 20 times when he wasn’t well, and they would take me wherever I asked to go. They were so wonderful with him and made him feel so good.” Launched as one of the few fire departments in the area when it began, the group has grown to be a flourishing organization with 32 volunteers who say they are proud to serve the area where many of them grew up. “Having volunteers from this area, it’s a trust and comfort factor,” Chief Joseph Aldana said at the annual dinner, dance and installation of officers. “I’m not just a firefighter walking into someone’s house. I know the neighbors on a first name basis.” During the event, which is the group’s biggest fundraiser each year, the organization honored Joseph DeCandia Jr., owner of Lenny’s Clam Bar and Roma View, and Jimmy Kolm, who owns Liberty Bell Car Care, for supporting the department. “They are incredibly important to the department,” Aldana said of DeCandia Jr. and Kolm. The group also honored three community members who lost their lives because of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — Battalion Chief Thomas Farino, f iref ighter Raymond York and the department’s exchief Kevin Delano. One of six sons of a police officer, Fari-

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no, who grew up in Ozone Park, died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, along with 342 other firefighters. York, of Valley Stream, LI, was teaching children about fire safety when he heard the news that New York had been attacked. He immediately jumped on a fire truck that was passing by the area and headed straight for the trade center. He arrived just before the collapse of the second tower. PS 65 in Howard Beach was renamed for York. Delano, who served as the chief of the WHBVFD for 12 years, died in 2008 from leukemia, which his family members and doctors have said was due to the more than 40 hours he spent during the rescue efforts at Ground Zero. The 2001 attacks “silenced the souls of our bravest,” said Mitchell Udowitch, a former chief who emceed Thursday’s event. Jimmy Sands, a firefighter from Howard Beach who leads the National 9/11 Flag Project, brought to the anniversary dinner a flag that had been found tattered in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Since the flag was discovered, Sands has brought the flag all over the country to be repatched. After being mended by Martin Luther King Jr.’s children, among many others, the f inal stitch was sewn in Rockaway. Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) also spoke about the importance of the department. “My dad’s in the volunteer ambulance corps in Rockaway, and there have been many times that five minutes into dinner, the call goes out and my dad goes running,” Goldfeder said. Judge Augustus Agate presented the organization with a $1,000 check from the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club. “There’s no agency better than the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps,” Agate said. “They do tremendous work in our community.” Victor Rodriguez and Paul Capocasale, of the Ozone Park Kiwanis Club, gave the department a check for $2,500. “When people who volunteer their time and leave their houses to save lives, those are the good people that make America Q great,” Capocasale said.

Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

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EDITORIAL

PAGE

Don’t close 33 more schools ven though he’s getting what he wants when it comes to more rigorous teacher evaluations, Mayor Bloomberg plans to press ahead with shutting down eight high schools in Queens and 25 more citywide, getting rid of half the teachers in them and reopening them under new names, with new instructors. The mayor apparently believes this will improve the educational prospects for students at the schools. Many educators, students and parents see it differently, believing that it’s just the next step in his continuing crusade against teachers. Though we’ve supported mayoral control in the past, and do believe that outsidethe-box thinking on education can be beneficial, the administration has lost us on this one, and we urge our readers to tell City Hall to forget about the closures. The costs to the students, the general school community and the taxpayers are all just too high. What happens when a high school loses dozens of experienced teachers at a time? Chaos. The new teachers who would replace them are unseasoned, and whom could they look to as mentors if half the staff is gone? There’s also the cost factor. When these teachers are taken out of a school, they’re not fired, since they’re tenured. Instead they’re put into the rotation for substitute assignments, a demoralizing move for people who have racked up years or even decades of

experience. The mayor appears to be banking on these teachers getting so frustrated that they quit, but that’s no way to treat public servants, whatever an individual’s faults. Those who remain still get paid, costing an estimated $180 million, while the city would only receive $60 million in new aid. Add in the salaries of the teachers that replace them, and you’ve got a real waste of money at a time the city cannot afford it. The factors that determine which schools will be closed are simply unfair to begin with. Standardized tests have their place, but in an immigrant haven like Queens, they’re simply not accurate arbiters of educational effectiveness. Many students come in not speaking English. How can their English skills then be graded on the same basis as native-born students? Queens also has great disparities in social factors like wealth and crime. Schools in some areas have many students who come from broken homes or have been in the criminal justice system, or both, and it’s also not fair to judge their teachers on the same basis as those in more stable communities. Week after week the pages of this newspaper are filled with stories about the ongoing crisis in the school system, and far too often it’s City Hall that’s stoking the flames. Moves like these are not reformist but disruptive, and it’s time for a new approach.

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Reuse old stuff Dear Editor: If you are dismayed by how many everyday goods are made in China and elsewhere today — from potholders to spatulas, aprons to hardware, visit a yard sale or the home of a friend who no longer cooks. Older people have a ton of unwanted utensils and housewares of no use and would be happy to give them to you or take very little cash for them. Men have good tools made here by Stanley. Pantries have good pots and pans that Revere Ware and Corning Ware made in upstate New York, ones that are indestructible and great for young people starting out or folks starting over with limited resources. Sure, it is nice to have something new, but old stuff, especially from a family member, old friend or neighbor, can be a treasured keepsake. We traded the Rust Belt and its pollution for global goods, sacrificing all those lost factory jobs with good pay and good pensions. Education after high school is key to future employment in 21stcentury's fields that elevate income and afford security. What we do best is technology and innovation. If everyone wants a smart phone, someone needs to know how to fix it. BK Brumberg Howard Beach

Dolan a great shepherd Dear Editor: I would like to applaud new Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is going to do great things for the Catholic Church. More than that, I believe he honors New York, America, and the world. As a Catholic and a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, I feel this is a momumental occasion not only for Cardinal Dolan but also for all of us in need of a good shepherd in these most troubling of times. I also find his approach to evangelizing most enlightening, as he said, “The new evangelization is accomplished with a smile, not a frown.” I will try that myself in hopes of bringing others back to the faith who have dropped out.

Fracking safeguards f hydraulic fracturing for natural gas must be done in New York State, as it appears it will be, it is beyond crucial that the city’s water supply be fully protected from all dangers associated with the practice. So we’re glad to see the Democratic-dominated state Assembly has passed a responsible bill categorizing the wastewater created by the process commonly known as fracking as the toxic waste it is. The Republican-led Senate must now do the same. There’s no denying that fracking would create tens of thousands of jobs and provide an energy source at lower cost, something the economy desperately needs. But this is a process that sometimes poisons drinking water and even creates minor earthquakes. Neither of these things can happen anywhere near the watershed and tunnels that supply the city’s drinking water, and the Assembly bill is one step toward ensuring they won’t.

EDITOR

Cardinal Dolan has also been outspoken on important issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, Catholic education and family values. He now is in a position to make a profound difference and will do battle on these issues. Who knows, maybe Cardinal Dolan could be the next pope, an achievement that might be accomplished with a smile. He does a lot of that. May God bless you, your Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks

Bully with a badge Dear Editor: I totally agree with your article “Do as I say ...” (Feb. 16, multiple editions). Here’s what happened just two days prior to reading your article. Tuesday morning my friend was trying to get out of her driveway, which was blocked by two cars. One of those cars was parked at the hydrant and about one foot into her driveway, blocking her in totally. She was trying to get to work where she works as a school aide.

She leaned on her horn and eventually a man emerged from one of the nearby homes. He started to berate her by telling her that she “had plenty of room” and tried to coaxe her out. Upon seeing this, I got annoyed and informed him that he was parked illegally. He dismissed me with a wave of his hand. When I called him a choice word that begins with an “A,” all 6 feet 2 inches of him came bounding towards me in a threatening manner. He opened up his jacket to show me his badge, explaining that he was on “the job” investigating. I then informed him that he was the same “A” word, but with a badge! How dare he try to intimidate me because he wore a badge. I have family members who are members of the NYPD and I have the utmost respect for the badge, but I will not be intimidated. If in fact he was “investigating” something, then wouldn’t this so called “investigator” try to keep a low profile? There was no investigating going on here; it was a simple case of an abuse of power. Do as I say, not as I do. Why he thought it was OK to park at a hydrant during the night hours and put my family and every other family

C M SQ page 9 Y K

Rockaway Line v. AirTrain

eral Motors not only paid off but are being paid back. It’s a great thing to find hope when everything seems to contradict it. Shana Rhodes Little Neck

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Volt subsidy shocks me Dear Editor: The new Obama budget includes a little known tax break for the rich. The administration wants to increase the tax credit for buyers of the Chevy Volt from $7,500 to $10,000. The Chevy Volt costs over $40,000, which is more than the middle class pays for a car. I just wonder, where is the outrage from all the liberals who want the “rich” to pay their fair share? Lenny Rodin Forest Hills

Dear Editor: Read the article “Assemblyman call for new train service” in your 16 Feb. edition with interest. Unfortunately, the MTA “missed the train,” so to speak. Before the AirTrain was planned and eventually constructed from Kennedy Airport to Jamaica and Howard Beach, there was consideration given to re-open the old Rockaway Beach LIRR line, and extend it to JFK as the AirTrain now does. No pants on the ground This would have given passengers a high-speed, one-seat ride from Penn Sta- Dear Editor: Re “104th Explorers pitch in,” Feb. 12, tion to the airport, on comfortable commuter trains with some baggage storage Mid-Queens editions: Can someone please tell me: capability. Philadelphia did that years ago, 1) Did your photographer not notice and it is very nice. There was too much resistance from the so-called NIMBYs that the middle person in this picture had along the line, and other political and his underwear hanging out and perhaps should have kindly reminded financial obstacles to overthem that they are taking a come at that time for that ONLINE picture and to look preplan to succeed. sentable? The new proposal, unlike Miss an article cited 2) If for some crazy reason the example of London cited by a letter writer? Want the photog rapher did not in the arcticle, which has news from our other both regional rail and subeditions? Find past notice this, why did your way lines connecting reports, news from the paper print this picture? I have always prided your Heathrow directly with the rest of Queens and more paper on being responsible, city, would still require travat queenschronicle.com. moral, etc., but this picture elers to transfer. The map threw me for a loop. This illustrated doesn’t show how the new line would connect with existing should have not been printed. I don’t care subway lines. It doesn’t even extend to the what the “fad” is that kids nowadays walk around like this, we do not have to be subQueens Boulevard line. Bob Brown jected to it in our neighborhood paper. “Undergar ments” are to be wor n Fresh Meadows “underneath,” not be exposed. Diana Shanley Glendale

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on this block in danger is a mystery to me. I wish I had enough time to get his badge number, I would have reported him. It’s guys like him that make it bad for the rest of the NYPD. Thank you for your article, and I hope others will contact you to let you know of other “Do as I say ...” situations. Dale Cuneo Ozone Park

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Dear Editor: I’ve just returned from a visit with my sister in Michigan. I had been putting it off and making excuses for not going for some time. After all the depressing news about the dismal economic condition and unemployment in the state I sefishly did not want to witness it firsthand. Finally I ran out of excuses and acquiesced. I’m glad I did. Unfortunately, I was not pleasantly surprised as I naively hoped I would be. Indeed there were all the makings to assure abject misery, yet it was not there, or at least not to an extent you’d expect. After a few days and many conversations, it finally became clear that the reason for this was hope. Seeing not only the rebirth of their auto industry but General Motors once again regaining the position of the largest source of motor vehicles in the world gave people hope that conditions can be made to change. Repeatedly I heard accolades for President Obama’s intervention despite all the shortsighted who would have had their major industry fail. He is their hero. It was a long overdue but very uplifting visit. The loans made to Chrysler and Gen-

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

LETTERS TO THE DITOR

Fitness expert flexes his muscles on TV hit Catanzaro on ‘Bayou Billionaires’ by Maria Fitzsimons Chronicle Contributor

His chiseled body and toned physique grace the cover of romance novels around the world. Now one Queens resident can add national reality TV star to his long list of fitness accomplishments. Anthony Catanzaro, 41, called Tony by everyone who knows him, has been fitness training since he was a determined 15-yearold in Bay Shore, LI. He was drawn to training through his love of watching professional wrestling on TV, and the powerful image these athletes presented as role models for a fit and healthier lifestyle. His hard work and dedication led him to become a successful competitive bodybuilder, most recently winning the NBF Natural NYC Middle Weight Championship in 2005, while continuing to focus and maintain a personal fitness, training and modeling career. As a long time certified nutritionist, Catanzaro practices what he preaches. “If God made it, use it. If man made it, lose it,” he said, a mantra he takes very seriously. He encourages eating food from the ground; natural options that are not processed or come out of a can. “People aren’t educated [about nutrition]; they eat what’s in front of them. They eat fast food and don’t realize all the chemicals that are in the food,” he said. “That’s what’s killing us, what’s aging us, giving us cancer, heart disease, cholesterol problems and other ailments.” With his expertise, it’s no wonder Catanzaro, dubbed the “Superman of Fitness,” was

hand selected via his website, anthonycatanzaro.com to participate on Country Music Television’s show “Bayou Billionaires,” the network’s most watched original series, according to trade and consumer publication, The Hollywood Reporter. The reality program documents the rags-toriches story of the Dowden family, who became wealthy after learning their home sits on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the United States. Catanzaro was flown to the Dowdens’ home in Shreveport, La., with the mission to improve the health and fitness of the family’s patriarch, Gerald Dowden. As a native New Yorker, Catanzaro felt like he “stuck out like a sore thumb” in the slower paced, southern culture, but he used his fitness knowhow and the resources available to his advantage. “I had him pushing hay, a wheel barrel with me in it, chasing chickens,” he said. “It’s a comedy; I had to enthuse this guy somehow — it wasn’t picking up dumbbells.” What surprised him the most was “how family orientated they are down there, very tight knit; it’s God’s land. Going to Louisiana taught me how to slow down and relax,” he said. Catanzaro is passionate about his life’s work and knows that for fitness longevity, it comes down to one’s attitude as well. “I love to help people get into shape, that’s what I do, mentally and physically,” he said. “My goal is to not just be your personal trainer, but to be your life motivator as well.” The excitement of the cable opportunity is

also felt by his wife, Tina Catanzaro, who’s been married to her husband since 1999 and helps with his personal fitness career. “I was really excited for him. I know he’s the best personal trainer there is and I knew they’d love him,” she said. The wife is most proud of her husband’s lasting impact on his clients and speaks fondly of his accomplishments: “People all over the world love him; they send him emails all the time saying how much he’s changed their lives with his positive thinking. I’m most proud of the way he’s changed Anthony Catanzaro looks on with pride as he holds one of his many competitive bodybuilder trophies at his gym, Tony’s Fitpeople’s lives.” PHOTO BY MARIA FITZSIMONS Catanzaro’s fitness and train- ness Studio, in Ozone Park. ing ideology is made up of four core principles and he offers this advice to in their Ozone Park home for friends and famiQueens residents looking to kickstart a healthy ly when the episode of “Bayou Billionaires” airs on CMT, March 3. Though they plan on lifestyle: • Nutrition: eat the right foods; eat healthy having healthy options to eat like grilled chicken and salad, the celebration may call for spefoods. • Weight training: on a daily basis, go to a cial treats, but of course in moderation. “We’re programmed already in our soul, gym, get some dumbbells. “Use your muscles, in our spirit, to know what’s good for us. It’s that’s what they’re there for,” he said. • Cardiovascular Work: take a brisk walk in called our common sense,” the fitness guru the morning; try jogging. said. “It’s the key to being healthy. I do this • Stretching: “Animals stretch all day long, because I love it; because every day of my not because they think they’re out of shape, life I’m living to my full potential … all that but because it comes naturally,” he noted. matters is that I’m living every day at my Q The Catanzaros plan to hold a viewing party very best.”

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C M SQ page 12 Y K

West Hamilton Beach FD celebrates 84 years

Ozone Park Kiwanis officers Victor Rodriguez, left, and Paul Capocasale, right, present a check for $2,500 to Jonah Cohen, former chief and Kiwanis president, second from left, and Chief Joseph Aldana.

Volunteers salute the American flag carried by other departPHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON ment members.

Firefighters carry the American and West Hamilton Beach flags into Russo’s on the Bay banquet room, where everyone stood to greet them.

Battalion Chief Thomas Farino, back left, firefighter Raymond York, back right, and the department’s ex-chief, Kevin Delano, all of whom lost their lives because of the Sept. 11 attacks, were Mark Weidler, publisher of the Queens Chronicle, and honored. Mitchell Udowitch, a former chief, at the dinner.

Judge Augustus Agate, right, of the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club, presents a $1,000 check to Jonah Cohen, the department’s immediate past chief.

Rick Hollborn, of the Islip Terrace Fire Department on Long Island, congratulates Chief Joseph Aldana after swearing him in.

Jimmy Sands, who leads the National 9/11 Flag Project and is a firefighter with Engine 311 in Howard Beach, speaks about the flag that was partially destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Joe DeCandia Jr., second from left, and Jimmy Kolm, second from right, are honored by Chief Joseph Aldana, left, and Deputy Chief Danny Amorim as Jimmy Kolm’s father, James Kolm, center, joins them.

Department members smile after being sworn into office.

Iggy Tamburello, center, is presented an award for his service from Marie Persands, whose father, Edmund, was a past commissioner who joined the department in the 1940s, and Deputy Chief Danny Amorim.

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder addresses the crowd.

EMS Lieutenant Nick Spinelli, left, and Fire Lieutenant Tyrone Finholt are sworn in.

C M SQ page 13 Y K

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (DHoward Beach) has written a letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, urging him to send more cops to the 106th Precinct to help deal with the swell of people coming to the casino. “I make this request with three issues in mind — the addition of over 100,000 people a week visiting the Resorts World Racino at Aqueduct Racetrack, the proposed convention center at the same location and the recent rise in crime in the area,” Addabbo wrote in his letter. “The men and women of the 106th Precinct are doing an outstanding job with limited resources, and I believe we are in dire need of additional officers at this time.” Residents and other legislators, including Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park), have been requesting additional police for months, including before the casino opened. Police have noted that while no additional permanent officers have been assigned, they routinely deploy extra cops from other areas to the 106th. CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton said more than nine million casino visitors are expected to pass through the precinct annually, and residents are bracing themselves for an even larger number once the convention center that Resorts World is expected to build Q opens.

Statue preservation on table again Boro prez agrees to set up meeting on ‘Civic Virtue’ by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

For the first time in the nearly 15 years that Community Board 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey has been working to conserve the “Civic Virtue” statue outside Borough Hall, Borough President Helen Marshall has said she will set up a meeting about repairing the structure that has fallen into disrepair, Carey said. “I’m anxious to see what possibly can be done to conserve it,” Carey said of the statue that was completed by American artist Frederick MacMonnies in 1919. “There are a lot of people interested in having this preserved.” A number of politicians have criticized the statue, saying it’s sexist because it depicts a nearly nude man with a sword towering over two female f igures. Just before former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned from office, he and Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst) called for the work to be moved from the corner of Queens Boulevard and Union Turnpike. “I’ve passed by that statue many times, and I don’t like its message,” Marshall said during a budget hearing earlier this month. “It would cost probably $2 million to clean, and we do need services for children and seniors.” Still, Carey said this week that she was heartened by Marshall promising that she would set up a meeting with the district manager about preserving the statue, which has been badly damaged by the elements, as

well as pigeon waste, after being outside for so many years. Carey began working on preserving the statue around 1998 — a year when an Ozone Park corporation assessed the statue and reported it would cost around $1 million to restore it. Carey said one of her priorities is to find a nonprofit that might be able to take on the restoration fight, or potentially use its own funds to help fund the work. She noted that many residents want to see the piece preserved in part because it is one of the borough’s few public art works. While others have called the work sexist, an art historian from Stony Brook University has also advocated for its preservation. “I wouldn’t argue that politicians are wrong, or people are wrong, or stupid because they see this work as sexist in some way,” professor Michele Bogart, who lives in Brooklyn, said in a previous interview with the Queens Chronicle. “I would argue they’re not paying close enough attention to the work. They’re reacting in a knee-jerk way and haven’t bothered to understand the history of it.” Bogart said the statue could be used to teach students and the general public about the history of the city and the borough, as it was commissioned by the mayor in 1909 and ultimately dedicated in 1922. “Use the work as a vehicle to educate people on the complexities of art, the representation of male-female relationships, Q about Queens and the city,” she said.

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Hundreds turn out for Colin Flood Drive seeks matching bone marrow donor for Middle Village boy, 6 by Andrew Benjamin Chronicle Contributor

Colin Flood, 6, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December, has captured the hearts and minds of the entire Queens community. And that was no more evident than it was on Feb. 18, when hundreds of potential bone marrow donors came out in the hopes that one would be a match for Colin. Held at Colin’s elementary school, Our Lady of Hope, the event saw donors start pouring in when doors opened at 8:40 a.m.

The sign says it all.

People who wanted to register had to be between the ages of 18-55 and in good health. One woman who was just a year above the cutoff age had to be turned away, much to her chagrin. After filling out a form with their names and some personal information, donors were given a small bottle of water and asked to sip and swish in their mouth before swallowing. Donors then went to a table where they were given two cotton swabs and swabbed each one on each inside cheek. Michelle Flood, Colin’s aunt, spearheaded the drive with DKMS, a nonprofit organization that registers donors in a database, after she learned about Colin’s condition. “My family and I want to thank the community, everyone who is coming to get swabbed, the volunteers,” Flood said. “We just can’t thank you enough.” James Kirkland, a DKMS spokesman, was amazed at the outpouring of the community. “This is incredible,” he said. “It’s not even 10 o’clock and we have lines forming around all the tables.” Kirkland added that the more people who sign up, the fewer lives will be lost to diseases such as or similar to Colin’s. “The thing we cannot tell everyone in this nation is that there are thousands of patients searching for a bone marrow donor,” he said. “And they’re not finding them. They’re los-

Christine Decker, right, gives her cheek a swab on Feb. 18 at a bone marrow drive for 6-year-old Colin Flood of Middle Village. Hundreds turned out in an effort to find a match for Colin or somePHOTOS BY ANDREW BENJAMIN one else waiting for a compatible donor. ing lives. We just need people to sign up.” Christine Decker came out from Seaford, LI, to get registered. When she heard of Colin’s condition she was overcome with sadness, and wanted to help in any way possible. Decker, who is a friend of the Flood family, was elated that hundreds came out to get registered. “This is what community is, this is what friendship is,” she said. “He’s got a whole group of support behind him.” More than 50 volunteers were on hand to help the Flood family. They donned shirts

with a storm trooper from “Star Wars” — one of Colin’s favorite films — on the front, and “Team Colin” printed on the back. When family friend Joann Betz from North Massapequa, LI, heard about Colin’s condition, she immediately wanted to volunteer. “I wanted to be here to give as much support as possible,” she said. Betz is optimistic that a match will be found for Colin. “I’m trying to think positively,” she said. “I’m hoping and praying that someone will Q come through.”

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Company that allegedly swindled seniors must pay state $100K by Stephen Geffon Chronicle Contributor

A chimney repair company that state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has accused of scamming seniors in South Queens and Brooklyn for unneccessary and bogus home repairs was ordered by a judge last week to stop all business practices. Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan signed a consent order on Feb. 15 barring Brooklyn Union Maintenance and two related companies, KeySpan Maintenance and KeySpan Heating, from operating a home improvement contracting business, including conducting chimney inspections and repairs within the state until a performance bond of $100,000 is filed with the state attorney general. According to the court order, the proceeds from the bond are to provide a fund for restitution, civil penalties and costs should consumers be defrauded or damaged by the firm

“Any scam that defrauds

The attorney general alleged in the lawsuit that the companies completed unlicensed and often unnecessary services that subjected residents to further damage, like carbon monoxide leaks and poisoning. “This scheme exposed seniors to health risks and threatened their source of heat, just as winter weather begins to set in,” Schneiderman said. “Any scam that defrauds consumers will be stopped — especially those that prey on the most vulnerable New Yorkers.” Assistant Attorney General Lois BookerWilliams said in court papers that the attorney general began investigating the chimney

cleaning firm after receiving more than 30 consumer complaints alleging that the company engaged in deceptive, fraudulent and unlawful business practices. Booker-Williams alleged in an affidavit that Brooklyn Union Maintenance failed to provide consumers with written contracts for home improvement work costing $500 or more, failed to notify consumers of their right to cancel work and did not complete contracted services in a safe manner. She also said the company did not complete work for which payment was received, failed to give refunds to consumers who were enti-

tled to them, engaged in false advertising, misrepresented that they were fully licensed and insured, and didn’t obtain a license from the city Department of Consumer Affairs. Schneiderman advised that residents shop around and get written estimates for a project, get references and check them with the city Better Business Bureau. He also suggested that residents look into the home improvement contractor’s city Department of Consumer Affairs license. If consumers feel they have been victimized, they may contact the attorney general’s Q consumer helpline at (800) 771-7755.

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in the future. Bunyan also ordered the companies to pay the attorney general $120,000, comprising $60,000 in restitution and $60,000 in penalties and costs. The order also stated that if the restitution owed to all affected consumers is less than $120,000, then the attorney general will retain the balance as civil penalties. The attorney general can apply to the court for additional funds for restitution for eligible consumers who may come forward within 180 days of the order, according to the court order. Schneiderman on Nov. 18, 2011 secured a temporary restraining order to freeze Brooklyn Union Maintenance’s assets and filed a lawsuit against the company, as well as KeySpan Maintenance and KeySpan Heating Maintenance, whom he alleged were swindling elderly residents in the borough and beyond. “Those who prey on vulnerable consumers will be held accountable,” Schneiderman said in a prepared statement. Attorney John Lewis Jr., representing Brooklyn Union Maintenance, declined to comment.

Howard Beach Senior Center announces raffle The Howard Beach Senior Center has launched its 300 Club Raffle. Anyone is welcome to purchase a ticket, which costs $100, and, depending on how many tickets are sold, the grand prize could be as much as $10,000. There will be a number of other prizes as well. The drawing will be held on May 1st at 2 p.m. at the center’s Tuesday dance. For tickets or information, call Mark Frey Q at (718) 738-8100.

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Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Gambinos admit they extorted strip clubs Four Howard Beach men plead guilty by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

Four members of the notorious Gambino family, all of Howard Beach, pled guilty in Manhattan Federal Court last week to a long list of crimes, including operating large scale narcotics distribution operations, the majority of which were located in Queens, and extorting strip clubs in the borough and Long Island. Alphonse Trucchio, 35; Michael Roccaforte, 35; Anthony Moscatiello, 41; and Christopher Colon, 37, all of Howard Beach, admitted on Friday that they, along with others, distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, as well as thousands of ecstasy and Vicodin pills, between 1998 and 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. The sales generated millions of dollars for the Gambino family, according to the FBI. Additionally, Moscatiello, a Gambino “soldier,” fessed up to using violence and threats to extort payments from business owners throughout the city, the feds said. Trucchio, a Gambino “captain,” and Colon, an associate with the crime family, pled guilty to extorting strip clubs in Queens and Long Island, including Per-

fection in Woodside and Rouge in Maspeth, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. According to the federal government, Trucchio and Colon worked with other Mafia members and the Russian mob to smuggle in women from eastern Europe to strip in Perfection, Rouge and other clubs. They have been charged with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, assault, and extortion, among other crimes. “For those who believe La Cosa Nostra’s criminal activities and influence are on the decline, the sweeping charges in this case and today’s guilty pleas should disabuse them of that notion,” Bharara said in a prepared statement on Friday. “They should also make clear that this office is as committed as ever to rooting out the dangerous and deadly presence of organized crime.” Trucchio also pled guilty to ordering and participating in two assaults in 2008 and 2009, while Colon admitted to hitting another person with his car while trying to collect a debt in 2010. Trucchio, Roccaforte and Moscatiello will be sentenced on May 17, and Colon Q will be sentenced June 4.

PHOTO COURTESY NYPD

NYPD seeks woman’s attacker The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the individual wanted in connection with an attempted rape in the confines of the 104th Precinct. Police said the attack took place at about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 when a 25year-old woman was grabbed from behind by the suspect, who pushed the victim to the ground and attempted to rape her. The suspect fled the location after the victim began to scream for help. The suspect took the victim’s purse fled the scene on

foot. The suspect is described as a black male, 25 to 35 years old, approximately six feet tall and weighing 210 pounds. He has short black hair and wore a gray jacket. Police declined to identify the specificneigborhood in the precinct. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800)-577-TIPS (8477). The public also can submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

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In an attempt to recruit and retain more volunteer f irst responders, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (DOzone Park) is throwing his support behind a bill introduced by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-Bath). Goldfeder is co-sponsoring Assembly bill 7154, for which there is equivalent Senate legislation and which would provide a $400 state income tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who have been active for at least four consecutive years. It would also exempt motor vehicles owned by volunteer first responders and used for volunteer duties from registration fees. “Southern Queens and Rockaway has the highest number of volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance companies in all of New York City, and this legislation will put these dedicated volunteers first — as they so often put the safety of our families f irst,” Goldfeder said. “It is becoming harder and harder to recruit and retain volunteer f irst responders and creating quality incentives is the right thing to do.” Supported by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, the bill would also increase the number of candidates, from one to three, that volunteer companies can submit for inclusion in the state’s college tuition Q assistance program.

Senate studies fracking bill Would remove exemption for toxic byproducts by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

The state Assembly has passed a measure that would classify wastewater from hydrofracking as hazardous — leaving Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) by his own admission, with some work to do on the Senate side in Albany. Avella is an ardent opponent of hydrofracking, the process by which natural gas is extracted from underground rock formations by blasting the rock with water and chemicals at high pressure. Avella and others oppose using the process upstate on the grounds that the chemicals could pollute sources of groundwater that supply New York City. They also question whether or not the process could damage underground tunnels through which the water travels from upstate. “The problem is that in the Senate, Republicans are in favor of fracking, and they don’t want any restrictions on the process,” Avella said. The senator is the ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee. Existing state regulations specifically exempt water and effluent from the fracking process from classification as toxic. Avella’s bill, S.4616, is essentially the same one that passed in the Assembly to eliminate that loophole. He thinks that if it passes, Gov. Cuomo will sign it. “I want to ban hydrofracking, but if it is going to be done, this bill is the minimum

that should be done,” Avella said. “If the Republicans want fracking, the DEC needs to have the best possible regulations if they’re interested in protecting the water for the city and the people of New York. “The waste from hydrofracking is very toxic; some of it is radioactive,” Avella said. “And it is not regulated as if it is toxic, which is absurd.” Avella has 27 cosponsors in the 62member chamber. Among them two Republicans, including Sen. Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo), the chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee. Avella and Ricardo Gotla, legislative director for the New York League of Conservation Voters, both hope the senator can entice a few Republicans to their camp. “We have some work to do in the Senate,” Gotla said. “We do need to get this done, but they haven’t even done the budget yet.” The Assembly bill, introduced by Assemblyman Bob Sweeney (D-LI), passed on Feb. 14. Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) was a cosponsor. Weprin, in a statement issued by his office on Feb. 16, said it was an easy call. “I was a proud cosponsor,” Weprin said. “If fracking is to go forward in New York State, and right now that is a big if, it is imperative that the proper regulatory oversight mechanisms are put in place to protect New Yorkers against contamination of our drinking water, soil, and food.” He said those must include regulations

State Sen. Tony Avella FILE PHOTO

and oversight of the management and transportation of any hazardous waste produced Q from the entire process.

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Keep young offenders near home? Mixed reactions greet Cuomo plan for juvenile lawbreakers by Eddie Small The New York World

Two of Euphemia Adams’ sons have been through New York City’s juvenile justice system. Based on the nature of the boys’ charges, which included assault and robbery, both were placed in facilities upstate — well over 100 miles from their home in Staten Island. “I had to take the bus to the ferry, ferry to the train, and then I went to Metro North and had to take another train up to visit,” their mother recalled recently. “When the kids are upstate, it takes more time to get to visit them than you have to actually be with them.” One of her sons made it out and is now a stay-at-home dad with two children of his own. Another ended up heading back into crime, and to adult prison. Adams can’t help but wonder: had the second son been housed in a facility closer to home, would he have had a much better chance at rehabilitation? New York State appears set to embark on an experiment to find out. Following years in which New York City’s juvenile offenders were sent upstate for rehabilitation, only to fall back into crime, Gov. Cuomo’s executive budget for f iscal year 2013 includes a proposal to keep New York City’s young detainees near their families. If approved by the Legislature, the governor’s plan would give the city the authority to stop sending juvenile offenders upstate, as long as the courts determine they don’t need to be placed in a secure facility.

For years, the recidivism rate among the city’s juveniles has vexed the agencies and advocates that try to help them. Approximately 350 young city residents at any time are detained in facilities operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the majority of them located upstate, in towns where the facilities serve as important sources of employment. As the city seeks nonprof it organizations to run non-secure facilities in the five boroughs, unions representing workers at the state-run facilities are pushing back. They contend the city is not in a position to provide either the services or security that sent juveniles offenders hundreds of miles from home in the first place. Members of two of the state’s labor unions — the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation — say the Cuomo plan, known as Close to Home, suffers from lack of clear strategy. Together, the unions represent approximately 5,000 OCFS employees, and members could lose hundreds of jobs. Representatives maintained that employment losses were not their main concern. “The issue is

whether or not this is good public policy,” said Stephen Madarasz, director of communications for the Civil Service Employees Union. “In the case of this proposal, there is no plan. There’s really no plan explaining how this is going to work. It’s just a concept that they’re going to do.” Taurina Carpenter of the Public

“These kids are way more difficult to handle than they know.” — Taurina Carpenter, Public Employees Federation

Employees Federation put the stakes even more strongly. “They’re putting the community at risk. They’re putting the kids at risk,” she said, referring to the Cuomo administration. “These kids are way more difficult to handle than they know.” Indeed, juvenile offenders are typically sent upstate for one of two main reasons: They have either been charged with a designated felony — a legal term

encompassing violent crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and arson — or the courts have decided that they need services best offered by upstate facilities, such as drug abuse programs or a high level of mental health services. According to Jacqueline Pittman, whose son was sent upstate to the Tryon juvenile justice facility when he was 12, these services often leave much to be desired. “There was no type of support from the staff,” she said. “They just made the kids feel down.” Avery Irons, director of Youth Justice Programs for the Children’s Defense Fund in New York, agreed that state services have not always lived up to their promise. “The point of the OCFS facilities was to have a greater level of security but also a greater level of service for kids that have higher needs,” she said. “They’ve for many years failed in that mandate, but they are trying to reform now.” It might be too late. Close to Home seeks to reboot a system that currently sees 89 percent of boys and 81 percent of girls who have been released from a state facility get rearrested by their 28th birthday,

What is The New York World? This article is published under the Queens Chronicle’s new partnership with The New York World, which produces accountability journalism devoted to deepening public understanding of the ways city and state government shape life in New York City. The New York World is published by

Columbia Journalism School, and named for school founder Joseph Pulitzer’s groundbreaking newspaper of the same name. Reporters are graduates of the Journalism School, on year-long postgraduate appointments. Their work is published online at TheNewYorkWorld.com.

according to the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. The advisory group noted that Ohio, Illinois and California, as well as Michigan’s Wayne County, home to Detroit, are among the states and localities that have witnessed a reduction in crime and recidivism after shifting their juvenile justice systems “from centralized state-run facilities to local continuums of care.” “The general theory is people — kids, in this case — are better off close to home,” said Michael Jacobson, director of the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit reform organization. “When you look at the results of the kids who go up, who are not close to home, this would have to be pretty bad to be worse than that. ... It’s basically not mathematically possible.” A plan for keeping juvenile offenders within the city will not emerge until the Close to Home legislation has passed, according to Tia Waddy, a spokeswoman for the city’s Administration for Children’s Services, which oversees juvenile detention for the city. However, during a forum at The New School in Manhattan on Feb. 2, agency Commissioner Ron Richter expressed strong support for the proposal. Said Richter, “I don’t think that you can for a moment not stop and cherish the opportunity to have New York City’s youth moved hundreds of miles south to actually be conf ined — when necessary — in locations that are just miles away from their mothers and fathers and siblings to be Q rehabilitated.”

City to honor local businesses, groups Nominations for annual Neighborhood Achievement Awards are due March 9

Lily Gavin, owner of Dazie’s in Sunnyside, FILE PHOTO is a past award winner.

The city is asking its neighborhoods to show off the best and brightest of themselves. The city’s Department of Small Business Services is holding its annual Neighborhood Achievement Awards to reward community organizations and small businesses that have enhanced or highlighted the area they serve in some significant way. This year, the SBS has added two new categories to the eight that are already given out. The

BID Innovation Award will be given out for the the first time this year to the top business improvement district that “successfully revitalizes its community through partnerships that improve parks, schools, and the entire neighborhood.” The Enterepreneur Award, which is also being given out for the first time this year, commends successful start-up businesses that have opened within the past two years.

The Neighborhood Achievement Awards have been given out since 2002. Queens has had its fair share of winners over the past few years: the Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop in Flushing won the award for Small Business of the Year in 2011, and George Kaufman, chairman of Kaufman Astoria Studios, won the Leadership Award in 2010. Other notable past Queens winners include Bishop Mitchell Taylor, senior pastor of Hope Interna-

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Rego Park teacher charged in sex abuse PS 174 staffer had prior complaint substantiated in Brooklyn in 2000 by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

They knew. City education officials could have seen in their records that Wilbert Cortez had a substantiated complaint against him for inappropriately touching a student while teaching at Brooklyn’s PS 184 in 2000. But Karin Kelly, the principal at PS 174 in Rego Park, didn’t know. And on Feb. 16, Cortez, a computer teacher at PS 174 since being transferred there in September 2000, was arrested for allegedly touching two male students on multiple occasions in 2010 and 2011. The NYPD and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Cortez, 49, of Rego Park, was charged with two counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott met with parents at the school for nearly two hours on Feb. 17. He said Kelly was not principal when Cortez was hired at PS 174. “There was an understandable amount of anger,” Walcott said at a press conference outside the Dieterle Crescent school Friday morning. “As a grandparent and a parent I share their feelings.” Cortez was transferred to PS 174 six months after the initial claim in 2000. Published reports state that the only action taken against him was a letter in his personnel file, a letter that would not have

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott outside PS 174 on Feb. 17 following the arrest of a computer teacher on sexual abuse charges. Walcott met with parents at the school for nearly two hours, PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON answering questions and outlining new procedural safeguards for hiring. been available to his subsequent principals. No criminal charges were ever filed. Parents leaving the meeting declined to comment. In a letter he said was sent home last week with all children in the school system, Walcott assured parents that he and his staff make the safety of children their primary concern.

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“While these separate incidents were alleged to occur in just three of our 1,700 schools, this is three incidents too many,” Walcott wrote in the letter. “I am writing to convey to you how seriously I am taking these allegations.” Two school aides in the last month also have been accused of improper contact with students.

One of those two also had a prior complaint against him. Walcott said his off ice has begun a review of all personnel files dating back to 2000 to determine if there are other current employees who have substantiated cases of sexual or other inappropriate contact with students. He said those cases will be flagged and that from this point forward he will move to dismiss any employee against whom there is a substantiated charge. Education off icials last week were attributing the failure to let principals access such information to “a gap in the system.” The chancellor also said they have crisis teams at the affected schools to assist students, parents and staff with any questions or problems. He said additional resources, such as advice for having age-appropriate conversations with children on the matter, are available on the Department of Education’s website. Cortez was arraigned on Feb. 16 before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll. He was released on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be in court again on March 19. In a statement issued by his office on Feb. 16, Brown said Cortez could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on the new charges. The case is being investigated by Det. Carlos Almonte of the NYPD’s Queens Q Special Victims Squad.

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Sensors could better track water overflow from sewers, storm drains

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those sensors do not distinguish sewage overflow from tides, which also cause water levels to rise. The sensors are also unable to detect the amount of sewage dumped into bodies of water as a result of overflow. Dan Hendrick of the New York League of Conservation Voters spoke in support of the new plan, noting that sewage and stormwater overflow constitute the main problem with water quality in the city’s waterways. “The new sensors will definitely give the city a sense of where the real trouble spots are in regards to sewage overflow,” Hendrick said. “They will help pinpoint troublesome areas and assess what the overall effects are.” The city’s sewer system empties stormwater and sewage into waterways from 423 outflow locations. This happens when the city’s sewer system overflows during stormy weather. The sensors are projected to be installed and to start transmitting data by the end of 2012. If the program succeeds, the DEP said, it will install sensors in the upper East River and in Jamaica Bay. “First, we’d have to analyze the accuracy of the data collected by the sensors we’ve installed,” said Farrell Sklerov, a spokesman for the DEP. “If the data is accurate, we can then use it to inform the public about stormwater overflow in the city’s waterways.” “People can then use that information to make the best decision as to whether or not to use the city’s rivers and waterways for Q recreation,” Sklerov said.

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The Department of Environmental Protection is implementing a new program to track sewer and stormwater overflow into the city’s waterways. A system of remote sensors will be installed to track sewer overflows at five different locations in the city, including one at Hunter’s Point in Long Island City. The sensors are part of a trial run to see if sewage flow into major waterways can be tracked accurately in real time. In a statement issued to the press, DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland said the project is crucial to combat the issue of sewage overflow in the city and the ecological damage it causes. “We need better data so we can accurately measure when sewer overflows happen in real time,” Strickland said. “These new sensors should give us that critical information so that we can better quantify the environmental impact and inform the public as soon as they happen.” The move comes as activity along the city’s waterfronts, including that of Long Island City, has increased over the past few years. However, the issue of stormwater overflow has been a problem for the city for over a century. The issue has been the target of environmental agencies in recent years. In October, the DEP and the state Department of Environmental Conservation introduced a series of dredging and infrastructure projects to combat storm overflow. Those projects would overhaul sewage release systems in different parts of the city — including, in Queens, Jamaica Bay, Flushing Bay, Alley Creek and Newtown Creek. The Natural Resources Defense Council has noted that the DEC’s plan is similar to ones implemented in other cities with positive results. If it is successful, the new sensor program could do more to help the city bring sewage overflow under control. The city already has a sensor system of 108 units in place to detect water level elevation near sewage overflow locations, but

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Gary Carter dies at 57 HOF catcher for ’86 Mets succumbs to brain cancer by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Gary Carter, considered by many to be the missing piece that transformed the New York Mets from a rebuilding team into the 1986 world champions, died Feb. 16 after a nine-month bout with brain cancer. The 11-time All-Star catcher was 57. “On behalf of everyone at the Mets, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condo-

lences to Gar y’s f amily — his wife Sandy, daughters Christy and Kimmy and son D.J.,” said Mets owner Fred Wilpon, President Saul Katz and COO Jeff Wilpon in a statement issued by the team. “His nickname ‘The Kid’ captured how Gary approached life,” they said. “He did everything with enthusiasm and with gusto on and off the field. His smile was infectious. He guided our young pitching

Gary Carter stands at home plate before the last game at Shea Stadium.

PHOTO BY STEVE MALECKI

staff to the World Series title in 1986 and he devoted an equal amount of time and energy raising awareness for a multitude of charities and community causes. He was a Hall of Famer in everything he did.” Carter spent only five of his 19 years in the Major Leagues with the Mets, and his plaque in the Hall of Fame depicts him in a Montreal Expos cap. But he instantly became one of the faces of the franchise upon coming to Shea Stadium in a blockbuster trade in December 1984 for third baseman Hubie Brooks, catcher Mike Fitzgerald, outfielder Herm Winningham and pitcher Floyd Youmans. He was one of the leaders of the 1986 team, his overt exuberance serving in contrast to the more reserved Keith Hernandez. And with the Mets losing 5-3 with two out and none on in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, Carter came up and delivered a single to keep the inning alive, three batters before Mookie Wilson hit a ground ball that sent Bill Buckner down in baseball history, and extended the Curse of Babe Ruth over the Boston Red Sox for another 18 years. Carter’s 324 home runs in the majors ties him for 104th place on the all-time list with fellow catcher Lance Parish, and his 298 as a catcher ranks sixth all time. After leaving the Mets he had stints with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers before finishing back in Q Montreal for 95 games in 1992.

HB Kiwanis sponsors ‘A Night with the Fabulous Acchords’ The Howard Beach Kiwanis Club will sponsor “A Night with the Fabulous Acchords” singing songs of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s plus a special guest appearance by two Broadway performers on Saturday, March 3 at St. Helen, Father Dooley Hall, 157 Avenue and 84 Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts promptly at 8 p.m. Cost: $45 per person which includes a hot buffet during intermission and door prizes. Seats going quickly. Call now for tickets/reservations: Mike at (718) 570Q 6676 or Joe at (917) 567-7138.

Turner hosts office hours Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn) will host satellite office hours open to the public on Monday, Feb. 27 in Howard Beach and on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Ozone Park. The Feb. 27 meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Howard Beach Library, located at 92-06 156 Ave. The Ozone Park hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ozone Park Library, located at 92-24 Rockaway Blvd. Further information in available by Q calling (718) 426-5000.

GOT NEWS? SEND IT OUR WAY! EMAIL ANNA GUSTAFSON AT ANNAG@QCHRON.COM.

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SQ page 23 Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

State Senate, court side with churches Bill to overturn DOE rule on school rentals moves as court restrains city by Kevin Korber

vague and so broad that a group like the American Nazi Party or the Ku Klux Klan Small churches won two victories in could claim the same privileges that the their fight against the Department of Edu- churches want,” Stavisky said. “The lancation after the state Senate passed a bill guage of the bill needs to be amended to overturning a citywide ban on religious ensure that this rule wouldn’t be abused.” groups renting out public schools. Then, The bill will now go to the state Assemthe U.S. District Court granted a restraining bly, where a vote has yet to be taken. order that temporarily allows a Bronx The Bronx Household of Faith and the church to continue to use a school building Alliance Defense Fund are currently suing for worship services. the city over the DOE rule that bans churchThe Senate bill, which was co-sponsored es and other religious organizations from by State Senator holding serivces and Malcolm Smith (Dmeetings in public St. Albans), passed The U.S. e will continue to fight schools. with a 52-7 vote on District Court’s decithe Senate floor after sion allows them to this battle relentlessly passing with a near continue to use the unanimous vote in until the city no longer Bronx school in the Senate Education which they currently unconstitutionally proCommittee. hold services. A spokesperson The restraining hibits activity for purely order for Smith said that is set to last he sponsored the bill for 10 days. Lawyers religious reasons.” because “it was the for the city are plan— Jordan Lorence, senior counsel, right thing to do.” ning to appeal the the Alliance Defense Fund State Senator court’s decision. Toby Ann Stavisky In a statement (D-Flushing), who had voted to advance issued to the press, ADF senior counsel Jorthe bill out of committee without giving it a dan Lorence said that “evicting churches recommendation, was the only Queens only hurts communities.” member of the chamber to vote against the Lorence, who argued the ADF’s case bill. Stavisky said that this was because she before the District Court, said the court’s felt the language of the bill was too broad. order is “a message of hope for fundamental “We certainly want to do our best to help freedoms in New York City because it means the churches, but the bill’s language is so that, for the time being, the city must welChronicle Contributor

“W

come churches as it does other groups.” “We will continue to fight this battle relentlessly until the city no longer unconstitutionally prohibits activity for purely religious reasons,” Lorence said. Robert Hall, one of the elders of the Bronx Household of Faith, said the court’s ruling would help stop the city from overstepping its legal boundaries. “The civil authority must remain religiously neutral,” Hall said. “They are not allowed to take on the role of theologian, determining whether our religious activity crosses that dreaded line into the — dare I say — forbidden territory of religious worship.” The churches have had strong support from a number of City Council members, most notably Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), who led a demonstration against the DOE’s ruling during Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address. The mayor has previously expressed his support of the DOE on this issue. Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), who co-sponsored a resolution with Cabrera that condemned the DOE ruling, said that both the court decision and the Senate vote were encouraging, but that there was still work to be done. “We have to wait for the Assembly now to amend their bill and address any concerns that they may have,” Wills said. “Obviously, there are legitimate concerns about what organizations use these facilities that the Assembly wants to address and

City Councilman Ruben Wills is among the strongest suppor ters of allowing religious organizations to rent spaces in schools as other FILE PHOTO groups are able to do. we respect that.” “However, we’d like to highlight the good work that these religious groups do for the community,” Wills added. “The DOE’s negative implications for allowing these groups to use school buildings after Q hours are just silly.”

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SQ page 24

RICHMOND HILL HS SPOTLIGHT Senior class trip

he Richmond Hill High School Class of 2012 had their senior trip on Friday, February 3 through Sunday, February 5 to the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonksen, New York. Over 120 seniors were accompanied by ten chaperones and spent the weekend participating in such activities as paintball, swimming, tennis, billiards, roller skating, arcade games and eating gourmet food. Students also had supervised parties each evening and had a great time. Special thanks go to Ms. F. Segall, the RHHS senior advisor, for coordinating this trip.

Key Club News

Seniors pose at breakfast during their trip to the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa.

The Richmond Hill HS Key Club is at it again. The Key Clubbers had many opportunities this term to serve their community, build character and develop their leadership skills. They started off the school year with “Strides for Cancer Week” in Corona Park. The students raised well over $1,000 to help f ind a cure for cancer. Last October, the RHHS Key Clubbers raised money for Project Eliminate, an organization that strives to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. This year, the RHHS Key Club officers revamped the “Adopt-A-Key Clubber” program. Teachers at Richmond Hill High School were able to “adopt” a Key Clubber (or two) for a certain amount of time to have the students help them during the teachers’ preparation or lunch periods. The students performed such tasks as tutoring students, helping to create bulletin boards and decorate classrooms and also helping with organizing classrooms. Teachers paid the RHHS Key Club five dollars per week for these services. All proceeds went towards helping to fund Key Clubs philanthropic endeavors. The program has been very successful and has raised a great deal of money. The RHHS Key Club continues to be one of the most active clubs at Richmond Hill High School. With over 40

Seniors engage in a jousting match during the RHHS senior trip.

(Left to Right) Bottom row: DaShon Hines, Nora Mendez, Poonam Persaud and Mrs. Olsen. Second row: Chaz Woods, Elizabeth Pooran, Christina Jagdeo and Mrs. Laraque. Third row: Mr. Smith, Mr. Epstein, Sunil Hoolas, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Brown.

RHHS students Christina Jagdeo and Javier Roman strike a pose during the RHHS senior trip.

members attending each meeting and many more attending afterschool and weekend activities, the Key Club helps students at Richmond Hill HS make the community a better place. Each district in New York holds a divisional meeting ever y month during which Key Club officers and members can receive updates about the latest projects and events. The RHHS Key Club is part of division 8-A. The divisional meeting for the month of January was held at Richmond Hill HS for the first time in several years. This is a testament to the strength of the program at RHHS. Aside from other projects, the Key Club was also involved with the annual RHHS Penny Har vest, the annual RHHS Canned Food Drive and other charitable endeavors. The Key Club not only teaches students about the importance of community service, but also about leadership. The Key Club is currently running elections for new officers and during the spring semester, the current officers, Elizabeth Pooran (President), Poonam Persaud (Vice-President), Christina Jagdeo (Secretary), DaShon Hines (Treasurer), Nora Mendez (Editor) and Sunil Hoolas (Webmaster) will be training the new officers in their positions.

Students frolic on inflated mats during the RHHS senior trip.

PHOTOS COURTESY RICHMOND HILL HIGH SCHOOL

ATTENTION PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED ON OUR SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT PAGE, CALL LISA LICAUSI, EDUCATION COORDINATOR, AT (718) 205-8000, EXT. 110.

C M SQ page 25 Y K

Last weekend’s Great Backyard Bird Count was again a great success in New York, as fans of our feathered friends across Queens, the city and state joined in the national effort to report how many avians of various species they observed. So far, participants in the state have reported seeing 166 species, while 603 were seen nationwide. The Empire State birders submitted 1,561 lists of their sightings, among the 84,871 sent in nationwide. Among those who kept their eyes on the skies was Steve Fisher of Middle Village, a retired architect and hobby photographer who read about the informal bird census in last week’s Queens Chronicle. Fisher recorded his sightings in Juniper Valley Park and his own backyard — and took the extra step of sending in some fine shots of his favorites. Combined with the unusually warm weather we’ve been having this winter, all the bird sightings here remind us that spring is just a Q month away. — Peter C. Mastrosimone with Liz Rhoades

Two of our more colorful friends, the northern cardinal and blue jay, appear at odds over who owns this particular tree in Middle Village.PHOTOS BY STEVE FISHER At the top left, a hawk soars above the city, while a pair of grackles revel in their iridescence, and a house sparrow gets up close and personal as he puffs his feathers out.

Check out more of Steve Fisher’s bird count ar t pictures online at qchron.com.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 26

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Dolan’s memory lives on at library Kew Gardens Hills branch honors late civic leader with a plaque by Will Sammon Chronicle Contributor

Everyone who took the podium at a tribute to Pat Dolan at the Kew Gardens Hills Library on Feb. 15 recalled her as a relentless civic advocate who kept her teeth firmly clenched on the ankles of politicians. Then there was Norma Stegmaier, who also remembered Dolan as her neighbor, best friend and library buddy. The two would take weekly strolls down Main Street, where Dolan would note the graffiti and litter around the neighborhood. Afterward, they would head to the library to check out new books. Even in her “non-civic” recreational time, Dolan absorbed as much practical information as she possibly could, in an effort to help improve her community. “Her books would be ‘New York City and Zoning’ or ‘The Tenements of the 1830s,’” said Stegmaier, a member of the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association. “And this was some of her lighter reading.” Although Dolan frequented the Kew Garden Hills Library, as head of the KGHCA, she had argued for years that the facility was overcrowded and outdated. A month after her death in November, a $7.3 million expansion plan that will add 3,000 square feet to the library and include separate areas for adults, teens and children, was approved by city officials. Befittingly, a memorial plaque, which was unveiled at the library last week, will

With a memorial plaque honoring Pat Dolan at the Kew Gardens Hills Library are Norma Stegmaier, left, a friend of the late civic activist, Borough President Helen Marshall and Harold PHOTO BY WILL SAMMON Baron, board chairman of the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association. forever showcase Dolan’s skeptical scowl and enlighten future library visitors about who is credited with moving the project. Area elected officials and civic leaders were on hand at the event to share their favorite stories about Dolan, who died at age 72 when she was struck by a car while on her

way to a Community Board 8 meeting. The elected officials, including Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), all shared their personal tales of repeated phone calls from Dolan, meetings — and even threats. But, they all said, they

had a profound respect for her passion about her community. A longtime civic activist in her community and throughout Queens, Dolan moved to the borough with her parents as a toddler and lived in the family home in Kew Gardens Hills the rest of her life. She was president of the Queens Civic Congress, an umbrella group of more than 100 community organizations, a founder and president of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Conservancy, a founding member of the 1,000 Friends of NYC Parks and served on the Borough Traffic Safety Board. Dolan was also an active member of CB 8 for 20 years, serving on several of its committees. Dolan had worked for the Queens Community House since 1991, serving as its director of Queens Connection, a transportation system for seniors. In recent years she focused on alleviating the hardships imposed on some seniors by the MTA’s Access-A-Ride service. “Certainly the world is better because Pat Dolan was a part of it,” said CB 8 District Manager Marie Adam-Ovide. “As civic-minded individuals, we are better, because we had Pat as a role model to us, and we can only aspire to be like her.” Marc Haken, chair man of CB 8’s library, youth and education committees, worked closely with Dolan over many years. Adjectives that he used to describe his late friend included: “witty, coy, continued on page 34

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Jamaica Hosp. board meets Nancy DiCroce, fourth from front left, and the Jamaica Hospital Board members of the Ambulatory Care Unit and the Ozone Park Kiwanis met with DOT Assistant Commissioner for Education and Outreach Kim Wiley-Schwartz, center, on Feb. 13.

Rosemary Ciulla-Frisone, fourth from front right, a community coordinator at the DOT and a member of the Ozone Park Kiwanis, was also present. The groups main topic of discussion was a bicycle safety program for children.

C M SQ page 27 Y K

With the new year under way, you may be thinking about needed home improvements and how you’ll use your credit to fund them. While it’s important to understand your credit before making major home improvement decisions, you should also consider another kind of credit — tax credits for energy-eff icient home improvements. For the past few years, the federal gover nment has offered tax credits for cer tain home improvements aimed at increasing a home’s energy eff iciency. While the most popular and generous tax credits, such as the one that allowed you to claim up to 30 percent of improvements such as a new roof or hot water heater, have expired, you can still get credit for other significant energy-efficient improvements. According to EnergyStar.gov, you can claim a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of installing a geothermal heat pump, small wind turbine or solar energy system in your home. The credit has no upper limit and applies to both existing homes and new construction, but not to rental properties. This credit is good until Dec. 31, 2016. You can also get a credit of up to 30

percent of the cost of residential fuel cells, up to $500 per .5kW of power capacity, EnergyStar.gov says. This credit is also available until Dec. 31, 2016. While the initial cost of these improvements may seem significant, they can dramatically decrease home energy bills in the long run. Depending on the type of home improvement or repair you undertake, you may also be able to claim a deduction on your taxes. Before launching a significant home repair or improvement, it may pay to consult with your tax accountant to see what, if any, portion of the cost may be deductible. And, as you do home repairs throughout the year, keep receipts and discuss the improvements and possible deductions with your accountant when he or she is preparing your tax return. Knowing ahead of time which, if any, tax credits or deductions your home improvement may qualify for can help you make a better decision about how to use credit to fund the work. Since how you use credit affects your overall credit score, knowing the cost of a project before starting it can help you better manage your credit. If you’re unsure how a home improvement project may affect your credit

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Home improvement tax and energy credits

Knowing ahead of time which, if any, tax credits or deductions your home improvement may quality for can help you make a better decision about how much to fund for the work. PHOTO COURTESY SHUTTERSTOCK

score, websites like freecreditscore.com can help you understand your credit. The site offers members a Credit Score Estimator that can help you understand how big financial decisions, like applying for a home improvement loan, may affect your credit score.

To learn more about tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements, visit EnergyStar.gov. To learn more about tax deductions, visit IRS.gov. You can find a list of regional tax credits, rebates and savQ ings at energy.gov/savings. — ARAcontent

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Upgrading the kitchen is on many homeowners’ “to do” list. And for good reason. A minor kitchen remodel ranks fourth on the list of the top 10 home improvement projects that deliver return on investment, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report. But whether you’re in it for the investment, or just to freshen up the space in your home where people spend the most time, a new kitchen look could be a fun, impactful improvement to your house. Some may start with a weekend project and a $40 can of paint, while others will jump into a $50,000plus remodel. Either way, one thing is for sure — you can’t go wrong with a beautiful, highly functional kitchen.

A simple refresh If time or budget constraints limit you to changing just a few basic elements of the kitchen, focus on things that make the most impact. Even novice do-it-yourself homeowners can complete many of these items on their own: • Paint the walls. Painting always tops the to-do list when a mini makeover is in order. It’s an affordable, high-impact way to change the decor of a kitchen. If you are keeping your old cabinets or countertops, be sure to select a color that complements those major elements. • Add new accessories. Replacing the small decor details in a kitchen can make the room feel entirely new. Maybe it’s replacing bar stools at the island, reupholstering pillows or a bench cushion, or even hanging a few new pieces of art or photos on the wall. • Change the faucet. Often underestimated, the kitchen faucet has a lot of influence in the overall style of the room. Choosing a more up-to-date pull-down or pull-out faucet not only improves the look of the room, but can add significant convenience and functionality. “Faucets in the kitchen are much more than what they

used to be,” says Kevin McJoynt of Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing faucets and fixtures. “They play an important role in setting the decor and focal points of any kitchen.”

A full remodel Homeowners throughout the country are staying in their homes longer than in the recent past. Because of that, significant remodeling projects tend to rise to the top of the priority list. If you’re in it for the long haul (or even to ensure you get that return on investment), a complete kitchen remodel could be for you. When the entire room footprint is your canvas, the possibilities are exciting. While a contractor is recommended for most of these projects, make sure you’re involved in exploring the options that will help you use this space as wisely as possible (yet provide beautiful decor in the process): • Install display shelves. This hot kitchen trend is an eye-catching alternative to hanging wall cabinets. Taking down cabinets is a pretty simple task for two and hanging the shelves is even easier. • Evaluate the flow of the workspaces. Adding more water sources to your room could improve efficiency and ease. Consider a simple, yet beautiful faucet on the island for prep, a pot filler by the stove to help while cooking, and a hard-working faucet at the main sink for clean-up. • Mix and match your surfaces. Replacing countertops is one of the most noticeable changes to any kitchen venue. Quartz surfaces are a popular choice, providing a unique combination of quality, hygiene and a look of natural stone. Selecting a lighter color surface for the perimeter and a darker, bolder color for the island is a great way to add another design element to the room. “With today’s growing popularity in cooking and a rise in the number of at-home chefs, kitchen flow and workspace

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

Planning your new kitchen — renew or redo?

In a time of budget constraints with people staying in their homes longer, sometimes a simple fix — such as a new pull-out faucet — not only improves the look of the room, but can add significant PHOTO COURTESY ARACONTENT convenience and functionality. needs are critical aspects to consider when completely remodeling your kitchen,” adds McJoynt. “The sink and faucet choices for each of these areas can play a big role in the functionality and enjoyment of the space.” Major manufacturers offer a wide range of faucet styles in various functional designs, according to McJoynt. So, whether you’re looking to enhance a traditional decor, add sleekness to a contemporary professional-grade room, or something in between, leveraging faucets and other elements Q can help set the tone for the entire room. — ARAcontent

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that, there is the added benefit of spending more time with my family,” he said. He also said that a shop-at-home business Steve Haimowitz, owner of Classic Windows, Inc., has always delivered service with a structure can afford him more time to deal smile (and a laugh). A fixture in the Forest with clients, “as opposed to being in the shop Hills community for years, his custom win- all day and then running around and having dow treatments company started off as a 50,000 different things on my mind. “I have more access to the Internet, more small, home-based business and then was transformed into a storefront designer show- access to customers via my phone.” The change in business model hasn’t made room and workroom on Metropolitan Avenue Haimowitz let go of his close in 1985. Today, over 26 years ties to the community. Not letlater, the company has ting anything go to waste, he returned to its roots as a donates merchandise and fabshop-at-home business. ric that others can use. “It’s like the circle of life, “We would donate to the going back to the beginning. Jewish centers, the churches, Our customers know we’re just a phone call away and for projects they were doing: that they will still get the things that the neighborhood could use, that could make finest quality products and people happy, especially the service they always have — older people in the neighboras well as a good laugh or hood,” he said. He mentioned two,” Haimowitz said. that when there are arts and “Though I do miss the crafts projects at schools or avenue, current technology at senior centers, his door is has made it easier now to operate a home-based business than when our open to lend a helping hand with materials, and later noted that he had recently provided company first started.” Haimowitz cited two reasons for the a good deal of fabric to an area church. For a small family-run business to last as change: the economy and his family. “Admittedly, the recent economic chal- long as Classic Windows has is an impreslenges facing many small business owners sive feat, especially when going up against are what prompted us to take a closer look major retailers such as Home Depot and at returning to shop-at-home but beyond Macy’s. Haimowitz attributes the longevity to never sacrificing the quality of his products. “What we did was work basically on quality. Our quality control was unsur passed. It wasn’t a production line,” he said. “A lot of places in my industry will just get fabrics, roll it out on a table and cut it. And once you cut it you own it.” Classic Windows, Inc., continues to provide all types of custom window treatments and interior design services for designers, decorators, and the general public. You Classic Windows, Inc., provides all types of custom window treatments can visit them on the web and interior design services such as the Hunter Douglas roller at classicwindows.com or PHOTO COURTESY CLASSIC WINDOWS call (718) 793-9615. Q shades with clutch shown above. Chronicle Contributor

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SQ page 31

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Thanks to a whole new crop of outdoor living conveniences, homeowners now crave all the comforts of indoor spaces — only outdoors. Today’s diverse lifestyles dictate what families want to add to patio plans. Among these are open-air kitchens, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits and what are commonly referred to as “outdoor rooms.” One factor that can easily raise the budget is the cost connected with installation, especially where quality, as it should be, is of paramount importance. As a manufacturer in the concrete pavingstone and wall systems industry, Cambridge Pavers has always helped do-it-yourselfers, landscape designers and professional contractors to address current trends in outdoor living and to turn “wish lists” into reality. Cambridge Pavingstones with Armortec® and Cambridge Wallstones offer a comprehensive line of products for outdoor lifestyles that combine unmistaken quality, natural beauty and value with design versatility. However, Cambridge Pavers has eased the design/build factor with all-inclusive, pre-packaged

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The Cambridge pre-packaged bar module made of Cambridge Wallstones comes as a ready to install kit and includes a fully functional and well-appointed, stainless steel bar center package and a genuine granite countertop.

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

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SQ page 32

Still not flushing in Elmhurst Park $2.3M restroom building on time and on budget for June opening by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Elmhurst Park opened to much fanfare in June 2011, with Mayor Bloomberg himself showing up to cut the ribbon on the six acres that once housed the Elmhurst gas tanks famed in song, story and morning drive-time radio traffic reports. But eight months later, some residents are questioning why they still are using portable toilets while the $2.3 million restroom building remains under construction at the park’s north end — and just why it is costing $2.3 million. “I wonder why it wasn’t done when the park was completed,” asked Maspeth resident Rita Buckley, one of several moms with young children at the park’s playground on Tuesday. She said when her son had to use the toilet, they had no choice but to head to the south end of the park where the portables still are located. “It’s inconvenient, but there’s no other place to go around here, so you have no choice,” Buckley said. “And they haven’t been changed, so it wasn’t really clean.” A spokesman for the city’s Parks Department said in a statement issued Tuesday that the restrooms are scheduled, under contract, to be completed this summer. The spokesman said the park was “universally praised by local elected officials,

civic leaders and community advocates when its second phase opened in June.” The statement said the comfort station, considered phase three, is expected to be on time and within budget “at a cost per square foot that is comparable to other public works facilities.” The statement also said work on the building could only begin after construction of the park itself was completed, with the land properly graded and new utility lines for electricity, water and sewers run to the property. The Parks Department statement included a copy of the Certificate to Proceed on the restroom project from the city’s Office of Management and Budget. The certificate, dated July 7, 2010, sets a construction cost limit for the restrooms at $1.98 million. While the spokesman did not comment further, the certificate does not include costs for things like design work, engineering and other related items. Bob Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, was one of the leaders of the effort to turn the property into a park when then-owners Key-Span Energy intended to sell it for retail and business space anchored by a Home Depot. And while Holden also praises the park, he does not quite take the Parks Department’s explanations for the time and money

Construction workers press ahead to ready the Elmhurst Park comfort station by this coming summer, one year after the six-acre, $20 million park opened on the former site of the old Elmhurst PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON gas tanks. Portable facilities are in place at the park’s southernmost end. involved at face value. Not that he was looking for the restroom facilities to be just some inexpensive Spartan structure of brick and cinderblock. “I would have liked something that reminded people of the gas tanks,” Holden said nostalgically. “But $2 million, $2.3 million is out of line. Parks will tell you they have to do things like utilities. It’s not the Parks Department — the city has to abide by rules and regulations it puts into

place and the costs soar out of whack.” He cited an example from about 10 years ago when the JPCA contacted the city about building a two-car garage-type structure to house Juniper Valley Park equipment, and was told it would cost $1.1 million. “So we built a steel garage for $50,000, and included netting to protect the playground from batted balls,” he said. “The city said the netting alone would cost Q $50,000. We’re used to this.”

All Queens post offices now off chopping block Holliswood, Rosedale, Rockaway Beach are the latest to be saved by AnnMarie Costella Assistant Editor

Safe! Those who were worried after the United States Postal Service released a tentative list late last year of five branches in Queens that were slated for possible closure can rest easy, at least for the time being, as they have all been taken off the list. But the USPS is still in dire financial straits and will have to f ind the money somewhere to continue operating. Stations in Astoria and Arverne were removed from the list in November and news that the remaining three — Holliswood, Rosedale and Rockaway Beach — would be spared was announced by the USPS this week. The fate of the Whitestone processing facility, which is being considered for consolidation or closure resulting in the loss of about 7,000 jobs, has still not been decided, Connie Chirichello, a spokeswoman for the USPS said in an email Tuesday. In order to cut costs, the USPS is considering shutting down thousands of branches nationwide, because the agency says it has lost billions in recent years due to increased use of the Internet. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens, Nassau), who had written a letter to postal officials in support of keeping the Holliswood branch open citing its financial success and necessity in the community, was pleased to hear it would not be closing its doors. “The decision to keep the Holliswood

The Holliswood Post Office and others in Queens have been spared from closure. Post Office open is terrific news,” Ackerman said in a prepared statement. “Now local residents can continue to take advantage of the convenience and important postal services that this neighborhood branch provides.” In his letter, written last September, Ackerman stated that closing the facility would adversely affect hundreds of customers, particularly senior citizens, about 200 of whom utilize the branch each day.

FILE PHOTO

“While the proximity of other post offices may appear as practical alternatives, they simply will not be sufficient to meet the needs of these seniors who would be forced to take public transportation to the next nearest office; some that would be required to take two buses each way,” Ackerman wrote. “This option would be unacceptable as some individuals are constrained by medical and financial restrictions.” The lawmaker also said that there were

thousands of other post offices that make significantly less money than Holliswood, which generated $520,725 in revenue the 2010 fiscal year. The Postal Regulatory Commission lists that 2,825 post offices earn less than $27,000 per year, according to Ackerman. After conducting feasibility studies, which are done on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as an analysis of current office needs, customer access to postal products and services, the condition of the facility, lease terms, retail transactions and community input, the Queens stations were saved. “We look at this data and the overall impact to customers and the local community, employees, the environment and the actual cost savings before any decision is made,” Chirichello said in an email. “The input from our customers who use the station on a regular basis, as well as the community, employees and elected officials is an essential part of the process.” The USPS has a retail network of nearly 32,000 facilities, but with more people using alternate sources to communicate, and technology is sending the traditional letter the way of the dinosaur, the agency can not sustain, nor does it need, such a large network, Chirichello said. As part of its contining effort to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, the agency will study stations that can be consolidated or closed without affecting cusQ tomer service, Chirichello added.

SQ page 33

continued from page 2

nearly a quarter quit by the end of their second year. About 42 percent of those hired in the same time period left within five years. Attrition of new teachers was highest in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. It was lowest in Staten Island, followed by districts 25 and 26 in Queens. Referring to a gym and health program implemented by the city in 2005, physical education teacher Kevin Revell said, “Fitnessgram is so time consuming that most of the fourth- and fifth-graders spend their time doing test prep while others are doing meaningful physical activity.” Revell added that the “strong emphasis on collecting data” has “gutted physical education.” Walcott bypassed RevellÕs criticism of the testing, saying he has “never heard any negative feedback about Fitnessgram.” “I’m a big believer in Fitnessgram,” Walcott said. “With obesity in our schools, I’m a big proponent of it.” Sue Kimmel, a graduate of Martin Van Buren and retired teacher who spent more than 30 years in the public school system, said the overcrowding seems especially problematic. “Some classes have 30, 32 children in them,” she said. “You cannot tell me one teacher can persevere and do everything without the help of someone else in that classroom.” Susan Kahan, a teacher in District 26, said she has “never been quite as

frightened about our school system” as now because she’s worried about the city’s plan to soon integrate many of the system’s special education students into general education classes. Kahan said she’s worried not because of the idea of integration, but because she believes the city will not allocate the needed staff or resources to help general education teachers to accommodate the influx of students who often need more attention. “I believe it will be a success,” Walcott said. “Integrating our students is an ideal goal.” Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) criticized the city for closing large high schools, such as Jamaica High School, his alma mater, saying students from the shuttered institutions then flow into other already-crowded area schools. “We have Cardozo, and it’s probably one of the most overcrowded high schools in the city,” Weprin said. Walcott defended the city’s policy, saying “by closing poor performing schools and putting in higher performing schools, we feel it gives parents more options to choose from.” He added that the opening of Maspeth High School next year will help to alleviate overcrowding. “Maspeth will be a popular school, Queens Metropolitan will be a popular school as it grows,” Walcott said. “I’m not at the point where I say, ‘We’ll cap these schools like Cardozo and Francis Q Lewis.’”

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Ex-Mets clubhouse mgr. admits he is guilty to pay restitution of $20,843 to the state Department of Taxation and Finance, $14,738.35 to the city Department of Finance, $24,955 to Sterling Mets, L.P. (which does business as the New York Mets) and to pay $15,000 in forfeiture to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, Samuels is banned from Citi Field, the New York Mets’ minor league park in Brooklyn, and their spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Sentencing is scheduled for April 16, at which time he is expected to be sentenced to five years’ probation. According to the guilty plea, Samuels knowingly possessed hundreds of autographed and unsigned New York Mets jerseys, baseballs, bats, helmets and other equipment between Sept. 1, 2007, and Nov. 13, 2007, that had been Q stolen from Sterling Mets, L.P..

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Charles Samuels, the former longtime clubhouse manager for the New York Mets, has pleaded guilty to criminally possessing almost $2.3 million worth of on-field and game-used Mets memorabilia and collectibles — including autographed jerseys, bats and baseballs — belonging to the Mets organization and to evading city and state taxes. Samuels, 55, of Arverne, began his career with the New York Mets in 1976, was made equipment manager in 1983 and became the clubhouse manager and traveling secretary. He was terminated by the Mets organization in November 2010. Samuels, who has been free on $75,000 bail since his arrest in May 2011, appeared Tuesday before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron and pleaded guilty. As part of his guilty plea, Samuels agreed

Dolan honored continued from page 26

manipulative, brash and abrasive.” “She was the very epitome of a civic leader. Her goal was to get things accomplished,” Haken said. To demonstrate her style, Haken recalled one time years ago when the city planned to construct a rail line that would connect Astoria to LaGuardia Airport and then run to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Dolan led a group of community leaders to see Councilman Morton Povman and asked Haken to join. “Within about four minutes, Pat threatened him and said, ‘If this happens, you are not going to be councilman anymore,’” Haken recalled. “I couldn’t believe it. I had been working with elected officials for years and they don’t respond to threats. In Pat’s case there was a response. Notice, there is no AirTrain that connects Astoria to LaGuardia Airport then down to Kennedy.” The library renovation, known as Dolan’s “baby,” is slated for completion by the end of 2014 and, Stegmaier said she would make sure her best friend’s project does not stall. “It’s not like, when are we going to have this library?” she said. “I’m going to be like Pat. In two years we are going to be coming here to cut that ribbon.” The city is also honoring Dolan with a street renaming in the future Q near the library.

Study says interracial marriage less taboo More accepted than it was in the ’80s by AnnMarie Costella Assistant Editor

Americans are more accepting of interracial marriage than they were more than two decades ago, according to a new study released last week by the Pew Research Center, which called it the “fading of a taboo.” Thirty five percent of the people surveyed said that they have a member of their immediate family or a close relative that is married to someone of another race and 63 percent said it “would be fine” with them if a member of their own family were to marry someone outside their own racial or ethnic group. But this was not the case in 1986. Back then the public was heavily divided on this issue, the Pew Center discovered, with only one-third of the public approving of marriages between people of different races or ethnicities. Three in ten Americans found interracial marriage completely unacceptable. Ben Sandler, who owns the Kickshaw restaurant in Astoria with his wife, Jennifer Lim, said he had no qualms about marrying outside his race — he is of eastern European descent and his wife is Asian — and they have not experi-

enced any racism since they took their wedding vows in 2009, he said. “I grew up in New York City with its multiculturalism, so intellectually it was not a concern,” Sandler said Wednesday. “My father was a hippie.” When asked why he thinks people have become more accepting of mixed marriages, as the Pew study indicates, Sandler replied, “Time is working its magic. There are a lot of amazing people out there making progress on these issues.” In 2010, about 15 percent of all new marriages nationwide were between people of different races or ethnic origins — that’s double the amount it was in 1980. Some 28 percent of Asians, 26 percent of Hispanics, 17 percent of blacks and 9 percent of whites married outside their race, according to the study. The public remains divided, however, when it comes to less traditional family arrangements. More than 43 percent of people said unmarried couples living together is bad for society — the same amount that agrees that more same-sex or unmarried couples Q shouldn’t raise children.

Howard Beach Relay for Life kicks off The Howard Beach Relay for Life will hold its kick-off party on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Lenny’s Pizzeria and Restaurant located at 164-02 Cross Bay Blvd. Food and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to (718) 261-1092 extension 5511, or via email at HowardBeachRelay@aol.com, by Monday, Feb. 27, at 12 p.m. The relay raises awareness about cancer, as well as funds for the American Cancer Society. The fourth annual Relay for Life of Howard Beach will take place on Saturday, June 9 through Sunday, June 10 at Frank M. Charles Memorial Park. Visit relayforlife.org/howardeachNY Q for more information.

MetroCard van visits State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) will sponsor visits by the MetroCard van on Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Howard Beach Senior Center located at 156-45 84 St. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stop&Shop parking lot at 64-66 Myrtle Ave. in GlenQ dale.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 34

SQ page 34

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

IMAGE COURTESY FAIYAZ JAFRI

OUT OF THIS WORLD A still from the animated short "Hello Bambi," by Jackson Heights resident Faiyaz Jafri, screening at the Queens World Film Festival on March 3. Nearly 130 films will be shown from March 1 through 4.

Queens film festival features works from around the corner, and the globe by Paula Neudorf While Sundance, the Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes and other glittering, star-studded movie events are nothing to sneeze at, Katha Cato, director of the Queens World Film Festival, thinks her homegrown fest has just as much to offer. “Goodie bags, red carpets, all of that does not make a great festival,” Cato said. “We have worldclass facilities here,” she said of Queens, adding, “we have worldclass films.” Between March 1 and 4, 127 films will be shown at several locations in Queens, all handpicked by Cato and her husband, Don Cato, himself a filmmaker. The result is an eclectic mix of narrative and documentary shorts and features, both live action and animated, from countries including Iran, Spain, Germany, Romania and the United States.

Eleven Queens filmmakers are included in the mix. “We feel that our niche is challenging film from around the world, and from around the corner,” Cato said. The films have been slotted into different “blocks,” or categories, including “Occupy This,” a group of continued on page 39

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

February 23, 2012

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 36

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qb boro

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

EXHIBITS

MEETINGS

An art exhibition with the Mardi Gras theme will run March 1-31 at the National Art League, 44-21 Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston. Gallery hours: Monday through Thursday and Saturday 1-4 p.m. Admission is free.

The Flushing AARP Chapter No. 1405 holds its meetings at the Bowne Street Community Church, 143-11 Roosevelt Ave., on Mondays at 1 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Feb 27. New members welcome.

The Center for Culture, the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, presents an art exhibit opening and free poetry reading featuring the works of Samantha on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. at the APT Cafe on 17609 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica.

Queens Best Toastmakers Club meets the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elmhurst Hospital Center, Conference Room, 79-01 Broadway. You Gotta Believe, a community-based older child adoption agency, is looking for families who would be willing to provide love and nurturing to a child in the foster care system. To learn more join the agency every Sunday at 4 p.m. at Little Flower Children’s Services, 89-12 162 St., Jamaica.

Ralph Weiss Photographs are on view through April 22 at the Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38 Ave., Flushing. Gallery hours: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Reception: Saturday, March 24 from 2-4 p.m. Small Works Members’ Exhibition runs through March 6 at the National Art League, 44-21 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston. Gallery hours: 1-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Admission is free. Continuing through April 24 the second of a twopart exhibition on the evolution of art will be on view at the Queens College Art Center, Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library, Level Six, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. Gallery hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free and open to the public. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, will exhibit the photography of documentary photographer Audrey Gottlieb now through May 19. “Vignettes from the Queens Project” is a photo collection that celebrates the diversity of the Queens community. The exhibit, “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World,” has been extended through March 4 at the Museum of Moving Image at 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria. The work of the internationally renowned puppeteer, filmmaker and television pioneer is explored in this Smithsonian traveling exhibition which features more than 120 artifacts, including drawings, storyboards, props, video material and 15 iconic original puppets of such characters as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Bert and Ernie. Hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday to 8 p.m. and weekends to 7 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and students, $6 for children 3-18. Joseph LoGuirato’s sketched collection of historic structures around the city will run through June 30 at the Poppenhusen Institute, 114-04 14 Rd., College Point. Call for hours: (718) 358-0067. Dorsky Gallery, 11-03 45 Ave., Long Island City, announces that “Video<>Object,” will remain on view through March 18. It explores the relationships between video-art and narcissism. Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), and by appointment. For further information contact David Dorsky at (718) 937-6317 or via email: david@dorsky.org. “Long Island City Works,” a photo exhibit by students, will run now through Feb. 29 at the LaGuardia Community College Gallery of Photographic Arts, in the college’s B-building, 3rd floor at 30-20 Thompson Ave., Long Island City. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CLASSES A photograph on display at the Queens Botanical Garden by photographer Audrey Gottlieb. PHOTO COURTESY THE QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN

AUDITIONS

MUSIC

The AARP Queens Chorus performs at Queens nursing homes and rehab/senior centers. If interested in joining call (718) 523-1330 for audition dates.

Paul Yeon Lee, composer-in-residence at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., will perform “Scattered Wind” on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., free.

The Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra has openings in oboe, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and bass sections. Auditions will be held during the regular rehearsals of the orchestra on Wednesday from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, 10606 Queens Blvd. Interested players should contact the conductor, Franklin Verbsky at (718) 374-1627 or (516) 785-2532.

The Barry Harris Trio with a special appearance of the Barry Harris Jazz Chorus will perform on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Tickets are $40/32 members/$20 students. Call (718) 463-7000 ext. 222.

THEATRE St. Gregory’s Theatre Group presents Broadway’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (the revival) in Gregorian Hall, 244-44 87 Ave., Bellerose. Show dates are Feb. 24 at 8 p.m., Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $18 adults, $15 seniors, $7 children if reserved in advance and an additional $2 if you buy at the door. Call (718) 9892451 or email tickets@sgtg.org. “Tango 5 Senses” will be presented through March 18 at Thalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30, students and seniors $27, Fridays only $25. Call (718) 7293880 or visit thaliatheatre.org. Parkside Players at 103-15 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills, presents the comedy “The Man Who Came to Dinner” on Fridays, Feb. 24 and March 2 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb. 25 and March 3 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Admission is $14/$12 for seniors. For tickets call (718) 353-7388.

DANCE The Kupferberg Center and the QC Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance present a free performance of the Year of Turkey: Exploring Past, Present and Future on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in Goldstein Theatre.

A concert tribute to Odysseus Elytis, the Nobel Prize winner in literature 1979, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Tony Bennett Concert Hall, 35-12 35 Ave. in Astoria. Tickets range from $25 to $45. For tickets call (718) 726-7329 or reservations@greekculturalcenter.org Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra will perform Smetana: Overture to the Bartered Bride; Haydn: Symphony #93 in D “The Bell”; Rossini: William Tell Overture and Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors citizens and students.

LECTURES Su Zheng explores 150 years of Chinese music in NYC on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. It’s free. A lecture on “How to Make Good Money During Bad Times,” featuring Byron Perry, Sherise Patterson and Hanif Russel will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. at Afrikan Poetry Theatre, 176-09 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica. Cost is $10. Join World’s Fair historian Pierre Montiel for a look at “People at the Fair.” From those working behind the scenes at the rides and attractions to the visitors that enjoyed the fair, he will examine the influence the World’s Fair had on their lives on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. at the Queens Historical Society, 143-35 37 Ave., Flushing. Cost is $5 members/$8 nonmembers.

A beginner’s Hebrew class is held on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. through March 29 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, 41-60 Kissena Blvd. Registration required. Cost for nonmembers is $5 per session. Prepayment of 10 classes is $40. Free onsite parking. For more information call (718) 961-0030 or freesynagogue.org. The Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal-Prince Street Senior Center at 45-25 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing offers a series of computer classes geared towards seniors. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced computer user, there is a class for you. Sign up now for winter classes. For information call John at (718) 559-4329. A class on how to look at modern art will run Tuesdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m. through March 6 at the Central Queens YM&YWHA, 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills. The cost is $45.50 members, $56 nonmembers. Call (718) 268-5011, ext. 151. Tai Chi classes sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation of NYC will run through Feb. 24, for people with arthritis or limited mobility, Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Cost is $25. Register at (718) 463- 7700 x222 or flushingtownhall.org. Dance with instructions at the Italian Charities of America, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, every Monday and Friday, 7:15 to 8 p.m., followed by a dance social. Music by Sal Escott. Admission $10. The Jackson Heights Art Club offers art classes, all mediums. Daytime and evening adult classes are offered Monday-Friday; daytime children’s classes are offered during the weekend. Classes are held at St. Mark’s Church, 82nd Street and 34th Avenue. Cost: $75 for adults, for four sessions, $75 for children for eight sessions. Membership available. For information, call Geraldine at (718) 446-4709. The Greek Cultural Center, 26-80 30 St., Astoria, offers classes in Greek folk dance for adults and teens every Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-noon. The fee is $20 monthly or $150 for the whole year. Bouzouki lessons are also available every Saturday from 12:30-2 p.m. Registration is open to beginners as well as advanced players of all ages. Students are recommended to bring their own instruments to class. The fee is $40 to enroll and $60 monthly. For more information, call (718) 726-7329.

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

SQ page 37

Photos capture Queens under construction by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

It’s a common refrain: Long Island City is “up and coming.” But as photos from a recent exhibit in LIC prove, Queens as a whole has almost always been in the process of transforming. The 19 images, on view at the LIC office of realtor Modern Spaces, show this change, thanks to a company called Bernstein Associates. Since the ’50s, Bernstein’s photographers, working with the construction industry, have taken pictures of project sites, buildings and architecture, largely for documentation purposes. But Bernstein’s shutterbugs have done more than just document. “We get to see things from a different

Photo exhibit at Modern Spaces When: Daily, through March 6 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: 47-42 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City Information: (718) 784-1110 modernspacesnyc.com

perspective,” said Laurie Donald, a partner at the photography company. “Sometimes the changes are upsetting, sometimes they’re exciting.” The oldest photo on view is from 1964, of Shea Stadium. Other images include a shot from 1986 of the Citicorp tower being built, another of the Citylights building, a highrise co-op, under construction, and a view of the Long Island City waterfront completely development-free. To Eric Benaim, president of Modern Spaces — which handles rentals and sales for many of the new condos in the area — the photos offer a glimpse of “the rise of LIC.” He pointed out Bernstein’s photos of the old Pepsi-Cola sign, which was moved to facilitate views from the condo aptly named The View. “We handle one of [The View’s] buildings exclusively,” he said. Since moving to the area almost five years ago, Benaim echoed the common sentiment. There have been “a lot of changes.” But Donald did note that since Sept. 11 and the recession, the construction industry has withstood “the biggest down cycle that I’ve ever experienced.” “All that seems to be happening building-wise are infrastructure projects,” she said. “Everything has pretty

Now and then: Long Island City in 2011, top, with the Citicorp building at left, and the tower under construction in 1986. IMAGES COURTESY BERNSTEIN ASSOCIATES; 2011 PHOTO BY SHAWN LYNCH

much slowed down.” Donald runs Bernstein, which is based in Westchester, with a partner, Alan Kazin. The office has a full-time staff of 12, with photographers who live in Brooklyn, New Jersey and elsewhere. They shoot around the city, in upstate New York, New Jersey,

Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts. Many of the photos at the Modern Spaces exhibit are undeniably beautiful. Donald said she enjoys her job and the view it affords her of the ever-changing urban landscape. “It’s just being a part of it,” she said. Q

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 38

SQ page 38

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An odyssey and ode to Greek culture by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It celebrates the Greek landscape, the sun, the blue, the sea,â&#x20AC;? said Kalliopi Giannatos, a board member of the Greek Cultural Center, conjuring up a vivid portrait as she praised the Greek poem â&#x20AC;&#x153;To Axion Esti.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece,â&#x20AC;? Giannatos said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To Axion Esti,â&#x20AC;? translated as â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is Worthy,â&#x20AC;? was written by Odysseus Elytis in 1959. Full of references to Greeceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich cultural heritage, the work traces one manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey as he witnesses the horrors of World War II, then struggles to find beauty afterward. Elytis became Greeceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-ever Nobel laureate in literature when he was awarded the prize in 1979. Now, more than 100 years since he was born in Greek singer Vasilis Lekkas will perform at the Feb. 1911 on the island of Crete, the 25 concert. He has traveled from Greece for the GCC will be celebrating his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show. PHOTO COURTESY GREEK CULTURAL CENTER work with a special tribute concert on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Astoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Xarhakos and others. The actual pieces, however, will not be announced until the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. During the show, excerpts from â&#x20AC;&#x153;To day of the concert, according to the Axion Esti,â&#x20AC;? set to music composed Greek Cultural Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, in order to specifically for the poem by Mikis maintain an element of surprise. Organizing the show required bringing Theodorakis in 1960, will be sung by Vasilis Lekkas, whom the GCC has com- a total of four musicians, aside from missioned from Greece especially for the Lekkas, from Greece, according to Toumaras: Stathis Savvidis, Apostolos concert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All Greek composers have put Tsardakas, Ioannis Filipoupolitis and [Elytisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; words] into music,â&#x20AC;? explained Panos Bousalis. In addition, local drumAnita Toumaras, the Greek organiza- mer George Maniatis is slated to perform tionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasurer. Giannatos said the work along with a 10-person choir organized touches a nerve for every Greek, as it is by the GCC especially for the concert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a lot of work,â&#x20AC;? Toumaras about â&#x20AC;&#x153;the struggle to maintain and said. The cost of the show has been covpreserve our culture.â&#x20AC;? Feb. 25â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two and a half-hour concert ered by and large by private donations, will take place in the FSSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tony Ben- she explained. The Greek organization is nett Concert Hall, which seats 800 peo- putting together a commemorative book ple. In what is perhaps a sign of Elytisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that will include the names of all those enduring popularity, or the enduring who made donations. The GCC is also presenting a play, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instrength of Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Greek Community, the show is almost sold out as of this laws from Tirana,â&#x20AC;? that will premiere on week. There are two dozen or so tickets March 9 and run through April 29. English subtitles will accompany the Greek left, Toumaras said The idea for the concert was formed work, about Albanian-Greek relations. Q 10 months ago, but work didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t begin in earnest until the summer, according to Giannatos and Toumaras. While most of the show will take place in Greek, Toumaras thinks even non-Greek speakers can enjoy the works. When: Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music is an international language,â&#x20AC;? Where: Frank Sinatra School of the she said. Arts, Tony Bennett Concert In addition to Theodorakisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; musical Hall, 35-12 35 Ave., Astoria version of â&#x20AC;&#x153;To Axion Esti,â&#x20AC;? other works Tickets: $25-$45 that set Elytisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; words to music will also be (718) 726-7329 performed, by composers including greekculturalcenter.org Manos Hatzidakis, Manos Loizos, Stavros

C M SQ page 39 Y K

A world film festival here at home continued continued from from page page 35 00

films on the Occupy movement; “Old Spice,” featuring works on the elderly; and “LGBT,” sponsored by Queens Pride House. Tickets cost $12 per block, and can be bought by visiting queensworldfilmfestival.com and clicking on “QWFF store.” A full schedule is viewable by clicking on “The Festival” and then “Schedule.” All showings include Q & A sessions with filmmakers involved. For Jackson Heights animator Faiyaz Jafri, whose six-minute film “Hello Bambi” is showing as part of the fest’s “Alternate Styles” block, one of the best parts of the event is being able to walk to his own screening. Originally from Holland, Jafri

‘Queens World Film Festival’ When: March 1-4, various times Where: Museum of the Moving Image, Jackson Heights Cinema, Renaissance Charter School and PS 69 Tickets: $12 per themed block of films, $25 suggested donation for opening night queensworldfilmfestival.com

The film, which is having its moved to New York in 1998 and settled in world premiere on the fest’s openJackson Heights several years ago. “Hello Bambi” is Jafri’s 10th animated ing night, tells the story of a grievfilm. A rewriting of a well-known fairy tale ing widower whose wife’s ghost ending, it depicts Snow White’s hallucina- tries to help him move on by setting tory dream after eating the poisoned apple, him up with a neighbor. “I wanted to shoot something as she travels to an emergency room in a entirely in my own apartment buildglass coffin hitched to a silver train. The pyschedelic ride features an evil ing,” Uhlig said. “Can’t Dance” is queen in a Darth Vader mask, a trip in a Uhlig’s first foray into directing, DeLorean and more. It has already though he has written two Hollyscreened at several festivals, and won the wood screenplays as well as two “Best Animation” prize at last year’s Big novels. Originally from Kansas, Uhlig and his wife lived in Manhattan Apple Film Festival. Jafri, whose daughter Vega is 6 years before moving to Queens with their Terrence Markovich, Catherine Wolf, center, and young children. old, said the idea of Karen Lynn Gorney star in “Can’t Dance,” premiering “I fell in love March 1. toying with the fairy PHOTO BY CAHILL CONNOLLY with the place,” tale came about in part he said. “It’s easier to Gorney (of “Saturday Night Fever” fame) because he didn’t want talk to people, I felt and Catherine Wolf. Uhlig said “Can’t Vega “to become that more creative than I Dance” just recently found a distributor. girl who is waiting for ever did in Manhattan.” A sign of the festival’s both global and her prince.” He became interested, local focus, the opening night at the Muse“The world is not that he added, in how his um of the Moving Image on March 1 will beautiful, I guess, or that building is a “micro- feature not only Uhlig’s Jackson Heights film, innocent,” he said. cosm of society.” but also a 20-minute film from Iran that is Another Jackson The film, he said, banned in that country called “War Story,” Heights film, “Can’t “was kind of based directed by Davood Moradian. The film, Dance,” directed by on elderly couples according to Cato, is a protest against war. Richard Uhlig, also has who I saw in our build- Its screening will include a statement from a fantastical element, though the live action A still from “Hello Bambi,” screening ing.” It stars Terrence Moradian, who lives in Iran. Referring to short is rooted in reality. at the festival. PHOTO COURTESY FAIYAZ JAFRI Markovich, Karen Lynn 41 continued on page 00

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 40

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Ice Jewelry: where the owners can relate to their clients

WW W.I CE JEW EL RY BU YIN G SER

boro CLASSES The Flushing Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Flushing Hospital, enter at 45th Avenue and Burling Street on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of the month. For information, visit flushingcameraclub.org. Italian Charities of America at 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, offers Italian classes for adults and children beginning this month. Adult classes are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. Children’s classes are on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. The course is for 14 weeks. Price: adult — $80, children — $75 for first child, $50 for second and third child. Call (718) 478-3100.

VIC E.C OM

Yoga with Lorain at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd. Drop in and start anytime. Six week series $60 members/ $80 nonmembers. Single class $15 members/ $20 nonmembers. Classes are held on Wednesdays, one at 6 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. The first class will be complimentary. Call (718) 263-7000 ext. 200.

We Pay 15x Face Value For Coins 1964 and Below

Ongoing drawing class every Wednesday 1-4 p.m. at the National Art League, 44-21 Douglaston Pkwy, Douglaston. Instructor, Marc Jasloff. Call (516) 223-7659. Fee: $25 per class. A one-hour auto clinic for women is held the third saturday of every month at 3:30 p.m. at Great Bear Auto Repair Shop, 164-16 Sanford Ave., Flushing. Call to reserve at (718) 762-6212.

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

PHOTO BY DENIS DECK

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

by Denis Deck

- ADVERTORIAL -

ICEJ-051568

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES The Wednesday Night Singles Group of the SFY Adult Center, 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, invites you to social evenings with special guest speakers on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7-9 p.m. Fee: $7 Adult Center members, $9 nonmembers.

SPECIAL EVENTS A community health fair will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 3-8 p.m. at Reality House, 34-51 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City. RSVP Yvette Taylor, (212) 281-6004 ext. 311. Custom-designed services for Native Americans and veterans home from Iraq. The Queens Alliance Baseball League and the Queens Kiwanis Baseball League have combined to provide recreational baseball, as well as tournaments in the RBI, Pony, Federation and Greater N.Y. Sandlot. Any teams or players looking to play baseball in a local competitive league can call (718) 3667717 or (718) 821-4487 for more information.

SUPPORT GROUPS The Queens Counseling services and LISUN of the Foundation of Religion and Mental Health announces a mourning and bereavement group forming on March 3 to be held on Saturdays form 1-2 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 14-15 Clintonville St., Whitestone. For further information call (718) 461-6393.

Problem with cocaine or other mind-altering substances? For local Cocaine Anonymous meetings call: 1-(212) COCAINE. Drug problem? Call Narcotics Anonymous Helpline at (718) 962-6244 or visit westernqueensna.com. Meetings are held seven days a week. Co-dependents Anonymous (women only) meets every Friday at 10 a.m. at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral Center, 85-18 61st Road, Rego Park. Nar-Anon is a self-help support group or anyone affected by a loved one’s use/abuse of drugs. The group meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the basement lounge at the Church in the Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills. For information, call 1(800) 984-0066, or go to nar-anon.org. Schizophrenics Anonymous meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at L.I. Consultation Center, 97-29 64th Road, Rego Park.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES The Peter Cardella Senior Citizen Center, 68-52 Fresh Pond Road, Ridgewood, welcomes all seniors age 60 or above. Enjoy a daily healthy meal at noon. On Fridays there is a free lunch. They offer an array of activities such as bingo, movies, exercise, oil painting, yoga, line dancing classes, dancing to a live band, sing-alongs, health presentations, blood pressure checks, and monthly birthday celebration and theme parties. Suggested contribution is $1.25. Meals-on-Wheels program is offered also. Call (718) 497-2908. The Woodhaven Senior Center, 78-15 Jamaica Ave., announces free exercise classes at the center. Stay Well on Monday includes stress reduction; yoga on Thursday includes meditation time. The center is open five days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Ridgewood Older Adult Center, 59-14 70 Ave., is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The center offers a variety of activities and exercise classes including Wii sports, billiards, bingo, computer classes and monthly bus trips. For information, call Karen at (718) 456-2000. The Samuel Field YWHA, 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy., Little Neck, is seeking individuals who would like to volunteer their time to teach a class in the older adult services or computer department. Applicants should have some experience either teaching or working in their field of interest, but those with a specific hobby they would like to share are welcome to apply. To volunteer, call (718) 225-6750, ext. 233. The Howard Beach Senior Center invites seniors aged 60 and older to become members. The center offers exercise, yoga and tai chi classes, billiards, creative writing, crafts, weekly dances with a DJ, painting and sketching classes, bingo, ballroom and line dancing, Wii bowling and computer classes. The center also takes many trips, including a monthly excursion to Atlantic City. It is located at 156-45 84th St., use the 85th St. entrance, open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. For more information, call (718) 738-8100, or visit their new website at\ howardbeachseniorcenter.org.

The Queens Counseling Services of the Foundation for Religion and Mental Health announces a free Women’s Support Group on alternate Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Kissena Jewish Center, 43-43 Bowne St., Flushing. If you are experiencing anxiety, fear or stress and are searching for a venue that can provide understanding, compassion and respect, call to register at (718) 461-6393.

The Rockaway Boulevard Senior Center, 123-10 143 St., South Ozone Park, offers service programs Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. lunch is at noon with a suggested donation of $1.50. Exercise programs include: tai chi stretch, dance groups, choral group, ceramic, camera class, computer classes, trips, birthday parties and more. For more information, call (718) 657-6752.

Free caregiver support groups at Queens Community House, Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road. Call (718) 226-5960 Ext. 226 for details.

A leisure group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing, for area seniors.

C M SQ page 41 Y K

World film festival continued continuedfrom frompage page35 00

King Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Break suddenly 5 $ dispenser 8 Actress Sorvino 12 Luxurious 13 Carnival city 14 Prayer ending 15 Not domestic 17 Bridge 18 Checked out 19 Old Portuguese money 21 Praise in verse 22 Carpet style 23 Sapporo sash 26 Lab goings-on (Abbr.) 28 Dada artist Max 31 Weaponry 33 Antiquated 35 Of planes and such 36 Phi Beta 38 Meadow 40 Rotation duration 41 Steals from 43 Latin 101 word 45 Sesame Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oscar, e.g. 47 Super-active person 51 Guns the engine 52 Begged 54 Sheltered 55 By way of 56 Locate

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his work and two other banned movies appearing in the fest, Cato said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;These filmmakers have risked everything to get their films to us.â&#x20AC;? Opening night will also honor Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) for his â&#x20AC;&#x153;unflinching devotion to all New York citizens,â&#x20AC;? according to Cato, and Lloyd Kaufman, the president of Troma, a horror film production company based in Queens and well-known to that genreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fans around the globe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Bricks,â&#x20AC;? a feature-length described as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;heavy metal rock murder musicalâ&#x20AC;? and produced by Troma, will have its New York premiere at the fest on March 2. And a set of films in a block titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tortured and Twisted,â&#x20AC;? screening the same day, will also feature horror films. Flushing resident Andrea Verdura stars in one of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tortured and Twistedâ&#x20AC;? picks, a narrative short called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Walk Home.â&#x20AC;? She described it as a campy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;thrillerishâ&#x20AC;? work about â&#x20AC;&#x153;being careful what you wish for.â&#x20AC;? Verdura, who appeared in a small part in the recent remake of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arthur,â&#x20AC;? plays a character in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Walk Homeâ&#x20AC;? named Law. Edie Monroy and Dawn Del Orbe directed the film, which was shot just around the corner from Monroyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elmhurst home. Verdura said she is excited to be part of the festival, and noted she loves short

films. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re great vehicles to start, to get different ideas out there.â&#x20AC;? Films in the Queens World Film Festival have the chance to win a variety of prizes, with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;transparent jury system,â&#x20AC;? according to Cato. Jury members include people who work in the industry at organizations like IdeaRocket, a motion graphics and animation company based in Queens, as well as Cavu Pictures, Kino Lorber Films and the Queens Council on the Arts. Cato and her husband are locals themselves, having lived in Jackson Heights for 22 years. Though the festival may lack the bells, whistles and frills of some, Cato said money had been spent where it was most necessary. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sixty percent of our budget goes to the projectionists and all of the equipment,â&#x20AC;? she noted. What a filmmaker truly wants, she added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;are people there to see his film.â&#x20AC;? Q

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Page 41 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

boro

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 42

C M SQ page 42 Y K

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C M SQ page 43 Y K

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Page 43 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

REPAIRS

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 44

C M SQ page 44 Y K

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EverythingHomeGallery.com EverythingHome@aol.com PROBATE CITATION File No. 2011-439 SURROGATE’S COURT - QUEENS COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: Public Administrator, Queens County, Attorney General of New York State To the heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of Elena L. Solomon deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence A petition having been duty filed by Alice Martin who is domiciled at 33-45 82nd Street, #2 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on 22nd day of March, 2012 at 9:30 A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Elena L. Solomon lately domiciled at 35-45 82nd Street, #32, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 admitting to probate a Will dated September 23, 2010 a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Elena L. Solomon deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: Alice Martin JAN 20, 2012 HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate MARGARET M. GRIBBON, Chief Clerk Strauch & Kiernan LLP, Attorney for Petitioner, Address of Attorney 34-21 87th Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372, Telephone Number 718-478-6744 Note: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. lf you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you. ORDER OF PUBLICATION File No. 2011-1696 At the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Queens on February 3, 2012 HON PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate PROBATE PROCEEDING, WILL OF DESIREE VENTURA, a/k/a DESIREE M. VENTURA, Deceased. A citation having been-issued or to be issued in the above entitled proceeding, and the petitioner having produced proof to the satisfaction of the Surrogate that the heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of DESIREE VENTURA, a/k/a DESIREE M. VENTURA, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence, are persons required to be cited upon the above entitled proceeding of said deceased, and that the case is one of those specified. in Section 307 of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, and that personal service of the citation cannot with due diligence be made upon him/her/ them within the State, it is ORDERED that the service of the Citation herein upon said heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of DESIREE VENTURA, a/k/a DESIREE M. VENTURA, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence, be made by publication thereof in one newspaper, to wit: The Queens Chronicle, being a newspaper published and/or circulated in the County of Queens, State of New York, once in each of four successive weeks, which is the time the Surrogate deems reasonable. HON. PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate

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At an I.A., Part 22g of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Queens, held at the Supreme Court located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on the 2 day of February, 2012. Index No. 22331/08 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE PRESENT: HON. LEE A. MAYERSOHN, JUSTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS In the Matter of the Application of MICHAEL DAVIDOV, as Guardian of the property of REGINA BARRY, an Incapacitated Person to sell certain real property belonging to said Incapacitated Person Upon the annexed petition of MICHAEL DAVIDOV, ESQ. duly verified the 30th day of January 2012 and upon all other papers grid proceedings heretofore had herein and due deliberation having been had, it is in the discretion of the Court, ORDERED, that the Incapacitated Person, REGINA BARRY, JOSEPH SCHAD, co-owner, the Administrator of New Glen Oaks Nursing Home, WESTERN SURITY COMPANY, the Surety on the property guardian’s bond, VERONICA SCHAD, ANN BURKE, CAROL POWELL, RICHARD SPIVAK, JAY WEINSTEIN, the COURT EXAMINER, ELLIOT S. SCHLISSEL, Esq., attorney for Joseph Schad, and JOHN SCHAD, show cause at a I. A. Part 22G for the 11th Judicial District of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, held in and for the County of Queens at the General Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY on the 20th day of March, 2012 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, why a judgment should not be rendered: 1. Granting the relief prayed for in the petition; 2. Authorizing and directing the sale of the REGINA BARRY’s real property described in the petition in accordance with the statute and rules of this court by way of an auction at the Courthouse; 3. Granting permission to Petitioner as Property Guardian to make the conveyance and carry out these proceedings; 4. Direct that a hearing be held before the Court as to the merits of the application; 5. Granting such other and further relief, both cumulative and in alternative, as to the Court may seem just and proper, and it is further, ORDERED, that Brian McCaffrey, 73-26 263rd St., Fl. 2, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, (516) 445-4447, a licensed Real Estate Appraiser, be and is hereby appointed to go upon the premises and to make an appraisal thereof, reporting the same under oath, in writing to the Court and orally by testimony before the Court, and is further ORDERED, that the Property Guardian comply with section 1722 subdivision 5 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, advertising once a week for four consecutive weeks, except that the posting of a “For Sale” sign is waived, and it is further ORDERED, that service of a copy of this order and the papers on which it is based be made upon REGINA BARRY, JOSEPH SCHAD, co-owner, the Administrator of New Glen Oaks Nursing Home, WESTERN SURITY COMPANY, the Surety on the property guardian’s bond, VERONICA SCHAD, ANN BURKE, CAROL POWELL, RICHARD SPIVAK, JAY WEINSTEIN, the COURT EXAMINER, ELLIOT S. SCHLISSEL, Esq., attorney for Joseph Schad, and JOHN SCHAD either personally or by certified mail at least thirteen (13) days prior to the return date herein, be deemed sufficient service. Enter, Hon. Lee A. Mayersohn, J.S.C.

File No.: 2011-187/A CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT To: NYC Human Resources Administration Department of Social Services, Attorney General of the State of New York, The unknown distributees, legatees, devisees, heirs at law and assignees of GOLDIE JACOBSON, deceased, or their estates, if any there be, whose names, places of residence and post office addresses are unknown to the petitioner and cannot with due diligence be ascertained. Being the persons interested as creditors, legatees, distributees or otherwise in the Estate of GOLDIE JACOBSON, deceased, who at the time of death was a resident of 69-70 Grand Central Parkway, Forest Hills, in the County of Queens, State of New York. SEND GREETING: Upon the petition of LOIS M. ROSENBLATT, Public Administrator of Queens County, who maintains her office at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York 11435, as Administrator of the Estate of GOLDIE JACOBSON, deceased, you and each of you are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate at the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Queens, to be held at the Queens General Courthouse, 6th Floor, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, City and State of New York, on the 5th day of April, 2012 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon, why the Account of Proceedings of the Public Administrator of Queens County, as Administrator of the Estate of said deceased, a copy of which is attached, should not be judicially settled, and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow a reasonable amount of compensation to GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., for legal services rendered to petitioner herein in the amount of $13,890.84 and that the Court fix the fair and reasonable additional fee for any services to be rendered by GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., hereafter in connection with proceedings on kinship, claims etc., prior to entry of a final Decree on this accounting in the amount of 6% of assets or income collected after the date of the within accounting; and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow an amount equal to one percent on said Schedules of the total assets on Schedules A, A1, and A2 plus any additional monies received subsequent to the date of this account, as the fair and reasonable amount payable to the Office of the Public Administrator for the expenses of said office pursuant to S.C.P.A. §1106(4); and why the claim from NYC Human Resources Administration, Department of Social Services in the amount of $352,214.98 should not be paid to the extent of the net residuary estate, Dated, Attested and Sealed, 10th day of February, 2012, HON. PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate, Queens County; Margaret M. Gribbon, Clerk of the Surrogate’s Court; GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., (718) 459-9000, 95-25 Queens Boulevard, 11th Floor Rego Park, New York 11374 This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not obliged to appear in person. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested unless you file formal legal, verified objections. You have a right to have an attorney-at-law appear for you. Accounting Citation

Page 45 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

LOMBARDI

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 46

SQ page 46

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SQ page 47 CHELSEA CONSTRUCTION LLC a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/15/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 64-70 Maurice Ave., Maspeth, NY 11378. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company. Name: COUTIQUE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/03/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 11 Soundview Drive, Bayville, NY 11709. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: SAKZEN44, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/09/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 31-44 48th Street, Long Island City, NY 11103. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

PHYSIOMOTION PHYSICAL THERAPY PLLC, a Prof. LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/01/2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 221-59 Horace Harding Exp., 2nd Fl., Oakland Gardens, NY 11364. Purpose: To practice the profession of physical therapy.

Notice is hereby given that a license, number 1260918, for beer & wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer and wine at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 42-02A Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104 for on premises consumption. Thai Origin Advance Inc. t/a Thai Origin

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: 8305 3RD AVE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/30/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 23-15 24th Ave., Astoria, NY 11102. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: LAW OFFICES OF JJAIS A. FORDE, ESQ., ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR-AT-LAW, PLLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/18/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 115-63 232nd STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411-1432. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

25-05 24TH AVENUE REALTY LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/24/2012. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 25-05 24th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11102, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Prime Development 194 LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/12/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 25-77 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: 85-22 JAMAICA AVE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/30/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 23-15 24th Ave., Astoria, NY 11102. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: MARINA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/23/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Joel Bondy, 29-44 215th Place, Bayside, NY 11360. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: FERNEL REALTY LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/18/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 161-40 Normal Road, Jamaica, NY 11432. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose. Latest date upon which LLC is to dissolve: No specific date.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: OKFOCUS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/27/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to OKFocus, 4332 22nd Street, #401-2, Long Island City, NY. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of MESSI EQUITIES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/21/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 140-25 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435. Purpose: any lawful activity.

HILLSIDE 218 MULTI SERVICE LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/12/2012. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 21814 Hillside Ave., Queens Village, NY 11427. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: WONDERLAND ARCHIVES, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/30/2011. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to BOYD SHROPSHIRE, 35-27 62nd Street, First Floor, Woodside, NY 11377. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: TIAN NIAN HEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/09/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 41-61 Kissena Boulevard, Concourse Level, Suite 35, Flushing, New York 11355. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: BELAIR PARK 5 LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/06/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 166-07 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, New York 11432. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

CW FAMILY REALTY LLC a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/6/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 75-36 65th Dr., Middle Village, NY 11379. General Purposes.

Soukkary Realty LLC filed Articles of Organizatgion to be an LLC on November 17, 2011. The Secretary of State is designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The address of the LLC in NY is 108-16 63rd Road, Forest Hills, NY 11375 in Queens County. The purpose of the LLC is real estate investment and management.

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IF YOU USED YAZ/ YAZMIN/ OCELLA BIRTH CONTROL PILLS OR A NuvaRING VAGINAL RING CONTRACEPTIVE between 2001 and the present and developed blood clots, suffered a stroke, heart attack or required gall bladder removal you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727

Legal Notices AJF PROPERTIES LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/09/2010. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 51-46 65 St., Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. Having a garage sale? Let everyone know about it by advertising in the Queens Classifieds. Call 718-205-8000 and place the ad!

For Legal Notice Rates & Information,

Call 718-205-8000

Page 47 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: 29 NORMAN AVE. REALTY LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/5/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LEVY, STOPOL & CAMELO, LLP, 1425 RXR PLAZA, NY 11556. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 48

SQ page 48

LEGAL NOTICES To Advertise Call 718-205-8000 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Index No.: 18835/11 D/O/F: February 2, 2012 Block: 09299 Lot: 0033 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS NYCTL 2010-A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN FOR THE NYCTL 2010-A TRUST, Plaintiffs, -against- ANTHONY LAINO; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANACE; UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE LATE PHYLLIS LAINO, IF THEY BE LIVING OR DEAD, THEIR SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, if living, or if either or all be dead, their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE LATE PHYLLIS LAINO, IF THEY BE LIVING OR DEAD, THEIR SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widows or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Amended Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Amended Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiffs’ Attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed on January 11, 2012, and filed with supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, State of New York. The nature of this action is to foreclose a tax lien certificate recorded against said premises. The Tax Lien Certificate was dated August 5, 2010 and recorded on August 12, 2010 as CRFN: 2010000272817. Said premises being known as and by 87-87 109TH STREET, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11427, which is more fully described as Block: 09299; Lot: 0033. Dated: November 18, 2011, Batavia, New York, Virginia Grapensteter, Esq., OSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., Attorneys for Plaintiffs, Batavia Office 26 Harvester Avenue, Batavia, NY 14020, 585.815.0288 Help For Homeowners In Foreclosure New York State Law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. Mortgage foreclosure is a complex process. Some people may approach you about “saving” your home. You should be extremely careful about any such promises. The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. There are government agencies, legal aid entities and other non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about foreclosure while you are working with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877-BANKNYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the Department’s website at www.banking.state.ny.us. The State does not guarantee the advice of these agencies.

Chronicle REAL ESTATE

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Real Estate

Co-ops For Sale

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

HOWARD BEACH LINDENWOOD 2 Fl, Newly renovated 1 BR, New Kit & Bath, Hardwood floors thruout, Low maint incls electric, Small pets ok, Asking $119K OWNER 917-407-1279 NO BROKERS PLEASE

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Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 1 BR, Co-op wanted! Qualified buyer no smoking/pets, credit ck & refs req, $1,000/mo, incl G&E, 917- with small dog looking to deal directly with owner to purchase a 496-8305 studio/1BR co-op in Forest Hills Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 3 BRs, or Kew Gardens, parking pre1 1/2 baths, w/terr, 2 fl, credit ck, ferred. Low $100’s. No brokers! $1,600/mo. Owner, 718-845-6077 Leave detailed message @ 917Maspeth, 59 St., 5 rms, 2 fl, new 324-3452 KIT & bath, $3,500 deposit, $1,500/mo. 1 fl, 2 rms, separate ent, $2,000 deposit, $800/mo, utils incl. Refs req. David 845- NAPLES FLORIDA AREA! Bank Acquired Luxury Condos. Brand 807-8600 Maspeth, excel cond, 3 1/2 rms, 1 new 2BR/2BA, only $239,900. BR, no smoking/pets, $1,000/mo, Same unit sold for $624,771. Own incls heat & hot water, proof of for below builder cost in warm, income & credit check/ref’s. sunny SW Florida! High-end community - walk to over 20 restauOwner 917-747-7835 rants/ 100 shops! Must see. Call Ozone Park, 2 BR, no pets/smok- 1-866-959-2825, x 43 ing. $1,275/mo, near all. Call 718848-7256

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Ozone Park, garage avail, 1 BR, 3 rms, near all, $850/mo, refs req. Owner, 917-520-7902 Ozone Park, Lafayette St, studio apt, pvt ent, $800/mo, G&E incl, no pets/smoking, call 718-843-4564 Ozone Park, studio, $900/mo. Call 718-738-1045 Woodhaven, 2 BRs, also Ozone Park, garage avail, 1 BR, $850/mo, refs req. Owner 917520-7902 Our Classifieds Reach Over 400,000 Readers. Call 718-2058000 to advertise.

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C M SQ page 49 Y K

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

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

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

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

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

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Rich wood cabinets, granite countertops and ceramic brick make Tito Soto’s kitchen more inviting than it’s ever been. dow that gives the home’s curb appeal a major boost. Since there’s nothing like a first impression, that window alone will have a big impact on prospective buyers. “It’s a tremendous, tremendous difference,” he said. “Without a doubt, just seeing it adds value to the house.” Like many HRA clients, Soto found out about the program through a card that came in the mail. Deciding it was worth checking out, he called and met with HRA representatives, who explained how the program works. “They were very amiable,” he said. “They make you feel

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

Page 49 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

A new level of style and comfort

SPORTS

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Chase: a bank whose roots trace back to 1799 by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Chase is one of the largest and oldest banks continuously operating in the borough of Queens. Originally known as the Bank of Manhattan — established in 1799 by Aaron Burr — and now the banking arm of JP Morgan Chase Co., it boasted dozens of branches at the height of the Depression, when many other banks were folding up and closing. One branch, at old No. 804 Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, served the area’s large German-American community. Just a short distance up the block at 66-73 Fresh Pond were Henry Schloh The Bank of Manhattan at old No. 804 Fresh Real Estate and the Rego Construction Pond Road, later No. 66-58, in 1925. and Henry Otterstedt Construction companies. The humble looking bank in 1996 Chemical Bank purchased Chase shown here loaned the money to German- Manhattan. Chemical decided to retain Americans Schloh and Otterstedt for what the Chase Manhattan name as it was betlater became the start of a new community ter known. Four years later, the investcalled Rego Park. ment house JP Morgan bought the firm, The bank was re-numbered 66-58 soon creating today’s JPMorgan Chase — the after, and later expanded to a larger cor- largest bank in the United States as meaner office at 66-60 — today home to a sured by assets since last October. branch of Maspeth Federal Savings. Since 2004, the f inancial giant has In 1955 The Bank Of Manhattan been headed by Jamie Dimon, a native of merged with Chase National Bank, thus Jackson Heights whose grandfather came Q becoming Chase Manhattan Bank. Then to the United States from Greece.

HB y t l a e R

BEAT

Remembering Gary Carter by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Gary Carter, the Hall of Famer and key member of the 1986 world champion New York Mets, was, to use a Yiddish expression, a mensch in every sense of the word. Unlike many top athletes and sports public relations honchos who try to create a caste system among the media, Gary found time to talk to you no matter how big or small your outlet was. He truly enjoyed meeting fans and not because he considered it part of his job. The last time I spoke with Carter was at the Baseball Assistance Team Dinner just over a year ago. He regretted that he never got to manage in the majors and was still hurt over how the media pilloried him in 2007 for campaigning for the Mets’ managerial post while Willie Randolph was still on the job. Gary claimed he had just said yes to a reporter’s question about whether he’d be interested. He admitted that he made a mistake by turning down the Mets’ offer to manage their Binghamton AA team after he had won the Florida State League championship managing the Port St. Lucie Mets. At the time he felt that accomplishment, combined with his stellar playing career, should have been enough to promote him to a coaching spot in Flushing. The St. John’s University men’s basketball team showed resiliency after their St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, when Seton Hall beat them by 30 points, by knocking off UCLA at Madison Square Garden last Saturday. This has not been an easy year for the Red

Storm. Their head coach, Steve Lavin, has been off the sidelines as he recovers from cancer. Junior point guard Malik Stith surprisingly left the team two weeks ago for reasons that have not been made public. And a number of nagging injuries have hit key players. Veteran NBA forward Lamar Odom, who grew up in South Jamaica and played at Christ the King HS, was in town last Sunday as his team, the Dallas Mavericks, visited to take on the Knicks. Odom is married to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian (yes, sister of Kim) and is well-known to viewers of cable’s E! Network. “My wife was surprised about how great Queens is,” Lamar said with pride. “Khloe did not know that New York City was more than just Manhattan. She was surprised to discover all of the different ethnic neighborhoods here. She also likes the small shops on Jamaica Avenue.” Queens Borough President Helen Marshall couldn’t ask for a better ambassador. You have to feel for veteran Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Julie Henderson, who has now appeared in SI’s biggest-selling issue for the sixth straight year but has yet to grace its cover. Henderson showed a nice sense of humor about herself when she concurred with my assessment that she is modeling’s answer to actress Parker Posey — always in a supporting role but never the lead. She indicated this may be her last SI go-round, saying, “I would like to follow Kathy Ireland’s example and start my own fashion and cosmetics brand.” Ireland was profiled last month in Forbes for Q her multimillion dollar business empire.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 50

C M SQ page 50 Y K

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HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK One of a kind custom colonial, 72x100 Totally redone in 2008, 4 BRs, 3 Baths, Radiant Heat, Security Cameras, Alarm, IGS, Unique Cabinetry, Huge Rooms, $1,199,000

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Cape on 50x100 lot, 4 BRs, 2 Full Baths, Full Basement. Large Backyard, Private Driveway. Asking $589K

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HOWARD BEACH/HAMILTON BEACH A hole in the abandoned project site at 44-02 Vernon Blvd. has filled with water, leading it to be PHOTO BY PAULA NEUDORF called “Lake Vernon.”

by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

Nestled between a Department of Education office and a Con Edison building on Vernon Boulevard, hidden behind graffitied plywood fencing, is an enormous abandoned lot with a water-filled hole which Community Board 2 says people have dubbed “Lake Vernon.” The lake has a million-dollar view — or in this case, multi-million-dollar view — that was originally intended for the residents of a massive development project called “River East.” The project, at 44-02 Vernon Blvd., was to have included two 29story towers and smaller properties accommodating nearly a thousand apartments, according to published reports. But the project has long since stalled and its developers are mired in foreclosure litigation, according to a spokesman for Durst Fetner Residential, which owns a $32 million note on the project. CB 2 would like the city to take over. In its Fiscal Year 2013 request to the

Borough President’s Off ice, the board wrote that the site is “a serious threat to the safety and quality of life to all those who live and work in close proximity.” CB 2 would like the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to seize control of the site, with the ultimate goal of transforming it into affordable housing. But Durst Fetner still has hopes of buying the property outright. “We would like to own the site,” said Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for the company. However, the foreclosure proceeding is “just winding its way through the courts.” He estimated it would be more than a year until the case is settled. The owners of the project — Baruch Singer and Marshall Weisman — were involved in legal squabbles with each other, according to court documents. They’ve declared bankruptcy, according to Barowitz and CB 2. Weisman, who runs several companies, including H&C Development and others, Q could not be reached for comment.

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Move in Condition! Bright & Sunny living room w/skylight, Hardwood floors, Colonial, New Kitchen, Updated Electric. Full-finished basement. Asking Only $365K Asking Only $549K

HOWARD BEACH CO-OPS

• Studio, Move-in Cond ..... $65K • Hi-Rise 1 BR Co-op ......... $89K • Hi-Rise, 1 BR ................. $100K • 1 BR Garden "Courtyard" $100K • HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK 1 BR w/Terrace .........$114,900 Large Hi-Ranch, 27x53 on 40x100 • JR4, Hi-Rise ...................$119K Lot, 4 BRs, 3 Full Baths, Beautiful • 2 BR, Garden w/DR ........$136K Hardwood Floors Under Carpet, • Hi-Rise, 1st Fl, 1 BR Mint $149K 2 Car Pvt Dvwy, 1 Car Garage + Large Walk-in. Asking $649K • Immaculate Garden 2 BR $155K • One-of-a-Kind 1 BR w/Terrace, REDUCED $459K Custom Throughout.........$159K • 2 BR, 2 Bath Hi-Rise ......$165K • 3 BR 1 Bath Garden, Dogs OK .. $154,500 • Brand New 2 Brs w/Terr, New Ceramic Tiled Bath, Granite Kit WAKEFIELD w/Wood Cabinets...........$176K (114 Street Vicinity) Beautiful 1 family • 2 BR 2 Baths, New Kit ww/ 3 BRs, 2.5 baths, Walk up attic. Updated kit with breakfast nook, 3 Granite & S/S Appliances, New skylights. Pvt dvwy, fully det. $459K Master Bath, H/W Fls.....$179K OUR EXCLUSIVE! • 2 BR, 2 Baths, Terrace, Move-in Condition! ........$189K • Beautiful 2 BR, 2 Bath, Terrace .......................... $215K • 2 BR Garden w/Dining Rm, New Kit/Bath, Washer/Dryer.. $225K

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

HOWARD BEACH OLD SIDE

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Move-in Condition Hi-Ranch 40x100, New Kitchen, Updated Baths, New Carpeting, 5 BRs, 2 Baths, Asking only $659K

U ED

HOWARD BEACH CONDOS

2 Family Brick/Vinyl, 41x100, 6 over 6. • 2 BR, 2 Bath................ $199K Basement Sheetrocked with High Hats. • GreenTree 3 BR, 2 Bath $335K High Ceilings. Asking $649K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Lg Unique Hi-ranch with Bsmnt, Top fl: 3 BRs, 2 Baths, EIK, Lg LR, All H/W Fl. 2 BR Walk-in. Bsmnt: Lg, Open Unfinished, 8' Ceilings. New roof, Well water for sprinklers. Asking only $769K

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE Lg Cape on 42X100, Updated windows, H/W fls on 1st fl, Updated EIK w/9' ceilings and access to bkyd. Det 2 car gar w/pvt dvwy, Full fin top fl & bsmnt, Pavers in backyard. Asking $669K

MASPETH X Large Brick 2 Family on Beautiful Tree Lined Street, 2 BR over 2 BR, Full Bsmnt w/Sep Entrance, Needs TLC. Asking $549K

Page 51 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012

A lake where a building would do

“Perfection Is Not An Accident” SPRAY BOOTH USI ITALIA

Sonn onnyy’s

No Job Too Big or Too Small

COLLISION SPECIALISTS We Only Use ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED PARTS

Where perfection is not an accident... And at Sonny’s Collision Specialists that’s what we offer our customers - PERFECTION! We know how stressful it can be when you are without your vehicle. At Sonny’s you will never be dissatisfied - in fact we’re so sure, that we offer you a rental vehicle

at our expense if you’re not completely satisfied with our work when we return your vehicle.

OUR LIFETIME GUARANTEE IS UNLIMITED. SPECIALIZING IN COLLISION AND THEFT REPAIRS

OUR UNLIMITED LIFETIME GUARANTEE “If You Are Not Completely Satisfied We Will Put You in A Rental Vehicle at Our Own Expense Until We Satisfy You!”

• FREE 24 Hour Towing with any Collision Repair • We will deliver your vehicle upon completion • Rental Cars available • Paintless Dent Removal • Computer Color Matching • Laser measured Unibody Straightening • Full down draft European Heated SPRAY BOOTH USI ITALIA

1- 888-4SONNYS Tel: 718-738-6721 • Fax: 718-846-7755

106 -12 ATLANTIC AVE. RICHMOND HILL

We are not only a State Of The Art Repair facility, Our On Staff Insurance Adjusters Will Help Settle Your Claim & Insure Prompt Service Reporting Your Claim

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 23, 2012 Page 52

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