Spring Guide 2013 by Queens Chronicle

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Spring Guide

2013

Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

Meriah Mozingo

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013 Page 2

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2013

GUIDE Where to go and what to do

Weill Music Institute

Free

Sponsored by

Neighborhood Concert

• Walking tours — history, food and ghosts ............ 4

Jasper String Quartet

• The Mets — a look at the 2013 season .............. 6

LaGuardia Performing Arts Center LaGuardia Community College | The Little Theatre 31-10 Thomson Avenue | Queens | (Alternate entrance at Building E on 47th Avenue and Van Dam Street) RSVP required: rsvp-lpac@lagcc.cuny.edu www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac | 718-482-5151 7EGMR

CARH-061041

Friday, April 26, 2013 at 8 PM

The exquisite Jasper String Quartet takes ensemble unity and expression to a whole new level of reﬁnement. Program includes works by Haydn, Hindemith, and Beethoven.

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

CONTENTS

• Gardening — how to hit the ground running ..........7 • Wine tasting — day trips up the Hudson ..............8 • Car clubs — sweet rides for show and tell.......... 10 • Edible herbage — eat your weedies, kids ............ 12 • Talkin’ baseball — Little Leagues for all.............. 14 • Sand and Sandy — the shape of the shore ......... 17 • Street fairs — sales and celebrations ................ 18 • Birdwatching — it’s spring migration time .......... 20 • Boating — tips, rules and resources ................. 21

Free concerts in all ﬁve boroughs!

• Museum exhibits — and one big expansion ......... 22

carnegiehall.org/CommunityPrograms

On the cover: Forest Hills Little Leaguers make a play on Opening Day, April 6. Photo by Rick Maiman. On this page: Software engineer Vy Lam tends to the daffodils in his Rego Park garden. Photo by Peter C. Mastrosimone. Supplement editor: Peter C. Mastrosimone; Design: Ella Jipescu; Editorial Layout: Terry Nusspickel.

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KEEPS ME

d e t c e n n o C

Page 3 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013

QUEENS LIBRARY

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SPRING GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ 2013

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Queens on foot

WALKING TOURS FOR EDUCATION AND EXERCISE Food and ghosts too! by Peter C. Mastrosimone he next time someone tells you to go take a hike, take him up on it! Weather permitting, you’re sure to have a good time, get some exercise, meet new people and learn some history — all without stepping foot outside of Queens. Depending on where you go and whom you go with, you might also get to sample some of the borough’s infinite variety of ethnic foods — enough so you might need another hike just to work off the calories — or even chase down ghosts with a group of true believers in the supernatural. All this and more awaits you on the many guided walking tours available in Queens, as well as much of the rest of the city. With wellknown urbanists leading the way, or in some cases foodies or ghost hunters, you can learn details about your home borough that you just can’t get driving around in a car or riding mass transit. Two weekends from now, you can join in one or more of the Jane’s Walks, free excursions organized by the Municipal Art Society in honor of Jane Jacobs, the anti-Robert Moses. Jacobs, a writer and activist who lived in Greenwich Village, fought development to protect distinct neighborhoods such as her own, changed the course of urban planning through her activism and her 1961 book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” and led the successful battle against Moses’ plans for an expressway in Lower Manhattan that would have cut through Washington Square Park. The walks honor her legacy.

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A Jane’s Walk down Bowne Among those who’ll be leading a Jane’s Walk the weekend of May 4 and 5 is Jack Eichenbaum, the Queens borough historian, who has been heading tours of communities here for decades. He’ll be leading one on Bowne Street in Flushing. “This is the first time I’m doing a Jane’s Walk,” Eichenbaum said. “It’s a new one for me, though it’s my own neighborhood.

“She was an urbanist who kind of changed New York from Robert Moses to something that’s a little softer, from master builder to a more neighborhood focus,” he explained. As Eichenbaum puts it, “Bowne Street is a pretty special street” — it’s historical and multiethnic and even has some interesting green space remaining, though it’s in the heart of Flushing. Among the main draws is of course the Bowne House, the 1661 residence that was the site of one of the most important Colonial actions asserting religious freedom in what would become the United States: John Bowne’s arrest in 1662 for allowing Quakers to meet at the home. Bowne was imprisoned and banished to Holland, but there he successfully argued for allowing those of all faiths to worship — establishing that principle in New York more than 100 years before it was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Also on Bowne Street is the Hindu Temple Society of North America, commonly known as the Ganesh Temple, an iconic piece of architecture that further reflected freedom of religion here when it was built more than 300 years after the Bowne House, and still does. And there’s even more to see, including historical Weeping Beech Park, with its majestic trees, right next to the Bowne homestead. The walk, called “Bowne Street, My Street,” will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. There is no fee and no registration is required. Participants will meet at the northwest corner of Main Street and 39th Avenue, outside St. George Episcopal Church. Jack Eichenbaum’s other tours Eichenbaum, a Queens native who grew up in Bayside and Flushing and has lived at the same address for the last 35 years, leads walks of all kinds around the borough. Most cost $15 and some require registration (his April 27 signature tour, “The World of the #7 Train,” is sold out). Some are sponsored by the MAS and some by the Queens Historical Society, and some are run solely by Eichenbaum.

A NoshWalk in Jackson Heights, with participants going from one ethnic eatery to another. He too learns new things on the walks. “If I haven’t been to a neighborhood in a couple of years, I’ll almost always see something that is new and unexpected,” he said. And those taking a tour of areas in flux, such as Long Island City and Flushing, will find them “unrecognizable” if they haven’t visited for a long time, he added. Eichenbaum will lead a tour called “What’s New in Long Island City?” from 5:45 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 17. Next will be “Daylight Loft Buildings in Long Island City,” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Following that will be “On and Off Jamaica Avenue,” a new tour, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22. Details on all of Eichenbaum’s walks are posted on his website, geognyc.com. He can be reached at (718) 961-8406 or jaconet@aol.com. Other Municipal Art Society walks If you don’t want to wait until May 22 to stroll Jamaica, the MAS is holding another Jane’s Walk there from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, in conjunction with the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning. Participants are promised 300 years of historic sites and public art on a tour led by mixed media artist Rejin Leys. Details are available at mas.org/programs/janeswalknyc. A week before the Jamaica tour, the MAS will host a walk around Queensbridge, the nation’s largest public housing complex. That tour, led by New School professor Joseph Heathcott, will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 and wrap up at

Borough Historian Jack Eichenbaum on tour.

FILE PHOTOS

Queensbridge Park, on the East River. For more information, or to sign up, visit mas.org and click the “tours” link. The MAS, which can be reached at (212) 9353960, sponsors walks all over the city. Kevin Walsh’s Forgotten New York So too does Kevin Walsh, author of the book “Forgotten New York” and master of the website forgotten-ny.com, which lays out the history of individual neighborhoods and streets like no other site. Walsh can point to a streetlamp and tell you which specific model it is and how common it is around the city — and make it all interesting to hear. Walsh’s next walk in Queens is a tour of Calvary Cemetery, set for noon on Saturday, May 4. Participants will meet at LaGuardia Community College, located at Thomson Avenue and Van Dam Street in Long Island City. Further details had not been posted as of Tuesday afternoon, but Walsh can be reached at either Kevin@forgottenny.com or erpietri@earthlink.net. Forgotten New York is associated with the Greater Astoria Historical Society. NoshWalks — yummy! But what if history, architecture, horticulture and infrastructure aren’t your thing? Maybe some of the more specialized walks offered around Queens would be more up your alley. We all eat, and of course the borough is renowned for its diversity of culinary delights — only natural given the diversity of its population. That’s where NoshWalks come in. “Nosh your way from Odessa to Bombay ... and never leave New York!” the organizers boast at noshwalks.com, and they aren’t kidding. Their next foodies’ walking tour in Queens is called “Crossing Continents in Elmhurst!” It will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, with participants meeting at the Pacific/Asian Supermarket at 75-01 Broadway in Jackson Heights. “Prepare your palate for the tastes of East and South Asia, as well as a side trip to Colombia,” the organizers say. “Elmhurst is renowned for New York’s best Thai food, but we’ll also have Indonesian, Chinese and possibly Korean specialties, as well as a taste of delicious baby corn arepas at a Colombian bakery.” The tour also includes stops at markets, where participants often buy seafood — you’re advised to bring a freezer bag. The walk costs $50 for adults, and tickets may be purchased at the NoshWalks website. continued on page 16

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Baseball

METS OUTLOOK Waiting for d’Arnaud (and Wheeler too) by Lloyd Carroll ets fans have not had much to cheer about in recent years, and it’s fairly safe to say that even the most optimistic can’t picture the boys in Flushing competing for a post-season berth this year. But while the team’s 2013 record will probably be abysmal, there is hope down on the farm. The Mets traded their Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, RA Dickey, to the Toronto Blue Jays during the winter, as they did not want to obligate themselves to a long-term, multimillion dollar contract with a 39 year-old knuckleball pitcher. Normally the fans and media would be up in arms against Mets management for thinking yet again like a parsimonious small-market team, but the reaction was fairly muted. The key reason everyone seemed willing to take a wait-and-see attitude was the gain of the two young players the Mets received in return: pitcher Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Syndergaard appears to be at least a full year away, and more likely two, from making the big league team. The timetable for d’Arnaud’s arrival in Flushing is more imminent. He would probably have been the Opening Day catcher except that the Mets understandably want to delay his ability to demand both arbitration and free agency, so they’re stashing him away in their Las Vegas AAA team until late spring. If scouting reports are accurate, d’Arnaud will be the best catcher the Mets have had since Mike Piazza served as their backstop from 1998 through 2006. That doesn’t mean, of course, that d’Arnaud will be the second coming of Piazza. Most Mets fans will be content if he is as good as John Stearns, a fine catcher who played in Queens from the mid’70s until the early ’80s. Even though he has not played one game in the majors, d’Arnaud must be a pretty good prospect. He came up through the Phillies organization and was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. As mentioned previously, he was the key component in the RA Dickey deal. Sandy Alderson’s first big move as Mets general manager

was obtaining pitching prospect Zach Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants in 2011 in exchange for Carlos Beltran, whose contract with the Mets would have expired in two more months anyway. Wheeler is probably ready for prime time right now, but he’s in the same boat as d’Arnaud. The Mets know they are not going to be winning anything this year, so they might as well have both of these young prospects under their control, with fewer economic rights, for as long as possible. Mets manager Terry Collins shouldn’t have trouble slotting Wheeler into the starting rotation once he’s called up from Las Vegas. For one, Johan Santana, who missed all of the 2011 season with shoulder surgery, badly struggled with arm problems following his no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 1, 2012. His was the first no-hitter in the Mets’ 50-year history, and it must have angered the baseball gods. Santana was ineffective afterwards, pummeled in six straight starts before the Mets decided to put him on the disabled list in August. Team executives fantasized that Santana, who would be earning $25.5 million in the final year of his current deal with the Mets, would do what Ponce de Leon couldn’t; namely discover the Fountain of Youth. Unfortunately, that was not to be. Santana was understandably treating his left arm, his livelihood, with extreme caution when he reported to the Mets spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. A frustrated Alderson groused about his ace not being in pitching shape. Santana, a man of understandable pride, did not take kindly to the criticism and started throwing hard sooner than he probably should have. We’ll never know if Alderson’s stinging comments were to blame, but the end result is that Santana reinjured his left shoulder and will probably miss the entire 2013 season. His career is clearly in jeopardy. The Mets starting pitching staff, while not great, is not terrible either. Matt Harvey will be entering his sophomore season, and he’s shown that he’s able to dominate hitters with his fastball and curve. Jonathon Niese basically has been a .500 pitcher through his first three years in the majors. Of course, given

Mets manager Terry Collins, left, is likely to continue giving Queens native Mike Baxter a lot of playing time, while David Wright remains the face of the franchise and is now the team captain, only the fourth the Amazin’s have had in their history.

Zach Wheeler is likely ready for the be pitching AAA ball for a while yet. big leagues, but will PHOT OS COURTESY NY METS

the Mets’ inept play during that time, you can make an argument that Niese has been an All-Star. Dillon Gee missed the second half of the 2012 season with a blood clot in his right arm. Gee was great in 2011, going 13-6, but he struggled in the second half that year, and was mediocre in the first half of 2012. And he didn’t inspire confidence in spring training, as opposing hitters smacked him around. Shawn Marcum was a rare free agent for whom the Mets opened their wallets. Marcum was a very good pitcher, though far from dominating, in his seven-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. Marcum was on the DL during 2012 with an injured elbow. During spring training, his elbow was fine but his neck wasn’t. Marcum will start the 2013 season where he ended the 2012 campaign — on the sidelines. If the Mets’ starting pitching is questionable, their bullpen is an even bigger mystery. Since they probably won’t have that many ninth-inning leads to protect this year, their bullpen has not received a lot of scrutiny. Nominal closer Frank Francisco was a disaster last year, and this year he starts the season on the DL with an injured elbow. Bobby Parnell, who routinely got beaten up like a piñata in the ninth inning, finally showed that he could handle the pressures of the final frame late last season and will be the closer for now, according to Collins. Newly acquired Brandon Lyon, the other “big” Mets free agent signing, should be getting a lot of eighthinning work. The rest of the relief corps is composed of obscure journeymen such as Scott Atchison, Greg Burke, Scott Rice and one-time Yankees pitcher LaTroy Hawkins. At least Mets fans won’t have to face a summer of asking themselves will happen to the face of the franchise. In their most significant move of the off-season, the Mets signed David Wright to an eight-year, $160 million contract. And last month the perennial All-Star third baseman was named as the fourth captain in Mets history. Wright has long been the de facto team leader but the official recognition of those skills by Mets management is a smart thing. This year, however, David may be sounding as if he is auditioning for “Annie,” as he’ll surely spend a lot of time after every loss reassuring fans that the sun will come out tomorrow — and there will be a lot of them. Given all the bad news for the Mets’ 2013 season, let me emphasize one very important upbeat note. First baseman Ike Davis is completely healthy. In the past two years Davis has battled both leg injuries and valley fever, which sapped his strength, continued on page 16

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Green thumbs QUEENS, HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? by Domenick Rafter store, he advises regular gardeners to keep their own compost pile somewhere nearby. He also stresses not to use peat moss because it can be too acidic and the removal of peat moss from its natural locations can harm the environment. There are two main types of plants: perennials, which will come back each year with the right care, and annuals, which are planted just once and die when the first frost comes. For flowers, Gerber said hardier species, such as marigolds, can be planted now, but it is too early for some more tender annuals, such as petunias and impatiens. “We could still get nights where it drops down into the 30s,” he warns. Impatiens are a group of popular planting flowers for small pots or gardens with little space that often have long durations of shade. They come in a variety of colors, from bright whites to deep reds and purples. They are fairly easy to take care of, needing to be kept well watered, fed and out of direct sunlight for long periods of time — especially on the hottest summer days. With the right care, impatiens can balloon to over a foot tall. But this year, gardeners who rely on them will have to find another flower to beautify their property. A blight has killed off much of the impatien populations and led to most garden sellers pulling them from their stock. The disease — a form of mildew — has no cure and has been ravaging impatiens since last summer. Gerber suggests vinca, a flower similar to impatiens, as a substitute. “The flowers look like impatiens and are more resistant to drying out,” he said. New Guinea impatiens, petunias, begonias or coleuses — the last of which are not flowers, but do have colorful leaves — are also some suggestions for impatiens substitutes. It isn’t too early for Crops, such as these peppers in a Howard Beach backyard, war- marigolds, Gerber said. rant a commitment, and often require planting as early as February The hearty flower, often and cultivating until as late as November. yellow or gold in color, ueens has a lot to brag about. But what it doesn’t have much of is open space. Perhaps that’s why denizens with green thumbs seek out any plot of dirt to plant colorful flowers and grow hearty vegetables. It’s still early in the year. Trees have barely bloomed and the ground has only recently thawed. The first flowers of the year — daffodils, forsythias and tulips — have begun blooming, but there’s still a wait for the roses, rhododendrons and irises that color the green spaces across the city and flower pots outside windows and on fire escapes and porches. For those preparing their garden, the most important initial step to take is to make sure you have good soil. Fred Gerber, director of education emeritus at the Queens Botanical Garden, advises gardeners to test the soil’s pH levels before doing any planting. “The soil is important,” Gerber explained. “Most garden plants need the soil to be slightly acidic.” Test kits are available at any garden supply store and give details on how to test the soil’s acidity or alkalinity and what steps are needed to make the earth perfect. Gerber also suggests that the soil should include some form of organic matter, such as compost. While compost is available at any

Flower gardens, like this one, are popular at homes around Queens with a small amount of FILE PHOTO greenspace. “This is very good if you’re away for a long weekend and there’s hot weather,” he said. For new trees or shrubs, there are certain steps you should take when planting, Gerber said. “For every two-thirds of soil, mix in about a third of compost, then fill the hole back up,” he explained. “You should never plant something deeper than it was growing in the nursery and you should leave several inches from the base of the trunk.” Gerber recommends using general purpose fertilizer for all plants, especially a 5-10-5 variety — 5 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus and 5 percent potassium. It’s best to feed most plants and crops when they are planted and again in late June or early July. The Queens Botanical Garden offers help for people who tend gardens at home, including workshops and classes that offer tips on fertilizing and composting. And the garden will host an Arbor Fest on Sunday, April 28 from 2 to 3 p.m., which will feature workshops on composting. Queens Botanical Garden Executive Director Susan Lacerte will lead a tour of the garden, along with arborist and Vice President and Division Manager David McMaster of Bartlett Tree Experts, a leading scientific tree-and-shrub-care company. “This will be a terrific opportunity for people to hear from a top expert,” said Darcy Hector, spokeswoman for the Queens Botanical Garden. McMaster will also discuss tree and plant damage pertaining to Hurricane Sandy. Residents and business owners with lingering concerns and those affected by damaged or downed trees are encouraged to attend this special tour. The even is free with garden admission, which is $4 for adults; $3 for seniors or $2 for children ages 3 through 12 and students with ID. It is free for QBG members. No registraQ tion is required.

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

can withstand those late-spring chills and often grow well into the fall, sometimes flowering as late as November. Salvias are also a popular flower, especially in pots. They thrive in sunlight and often don’t bloom until later in the summer, when they can grow tall, colorful stalks. For those planning on building an edible garden, depending on what you want, you possibly should have already started it. Gerber said some crops should have had their seeds planted months ago, as early as the first week of February. However, for novice gardeners, he suggests buying starter plants, which can be purchased now and planted. Lettuce, onions and carrots are among the vegetables that can go in the ground now, along with herbs like parsley and basil. Summer crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers, should not be placed into the ground until next month. “They shouldn’t go in until May 15,” Gerber suggests. “If you put them in early, and they get cooled, it sets them back.” But seeds can be planted now in pots indoors and in a well-lit place. For summer crops, Gerber suggests large containers — about five gallons in size. Eggplant and cucumbers require containers even bigger than that. “If you are using containers, make sure to purchase seeds that are made for containers,” he said. If you are using pots to plant your flowers or crops, Gerber warns, keep in mind the amount of commitment you will have to give to the plants. “If you have something in a little pot, you have to water it every day and twice a day,” he said. “The bigger the pot is, the better,” Herbs are perfect for pots because they can survive drying out for a time. Gerber also suggests investing in selfwatering pots.

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Day tripping A TASTE OF HUDSON VALLEY WINERIES by Tess McRae modern-day wines are. But this particular grape can only be grown in Ulster County, and not in Rensselaer County, despite the areas being a mere 45 minutes apart. It is because of this climate spectrum that the Valley can produce a wide variety of wines, both red and white. A five-degree temperature difference can make for a bitter and sparse harvest or a juicy and flavorful crop of grapes. But it is because of the region’s varied cli- Possibly America’s oldest, Brotherhood Winery, just one hour from Queens, is one of 43 wineries in mates that Gardy and other wine aficionados the Hudson Valley that offer wine tastings and host special events. say the vineyards of Hudson Valley produce PHOTOS COURTESY HUDSON VALLEY WINE COUNTRY some of the best quality wine in the country. To compare, Long Island, which also has a popular is traditionally European; so there’s that famil“Of course, if there is a particular wine that wine culture, is best for producing red wines. iarity and appreciation there.” you enjoyed, you can have a second taste but The Finger Lakes region yields mostly riesling. In fact, when the French were going through half of an ounce is the perfect amount,” Gardy “Because of all of these microclimates, their revolution, most, if not all of the grape- said. “I’ve been to some tastings where they when you go to a wine tasting in the Hudson vines in France were destroyed. In order to serve an ounce and a half of each sampling. Valley, you are going to sample a much wider repopulate the vineyards, the French went to Over-pouring takes away from the experience variety of wines than you would on Long Island the Hudson Valley, which they had once colo- because, if you are going to three or four wineror the Finger Lakes,” nized, and used some ies and are being served large portions, by the Gardy said. time you get to the third or fourth stop, you of those vines. Winemaking is a H u d s o n v a l l e y - won’t be enjoying yourself any more.” delicate process that Two wineries that come highly recommendwinecountry.org, the requires patience and a ed by Gardy are Brotherhood in Washingofficial website for the n the Hudson Valley, strong taste palate. organization, has a tonville and Oak Summit in Millbrook. Cornell University, Brotherhood Winery boasts of being the oldplan-a-tour feature that you’re going to sample a which played an active allows visitors to est vineyard in the country and is a one-hour wider variety of wines … .” choose from a list of drive from the city. role in supporting the Valley’s vineyards, Oak Summit serves pinot noir exclusively. wineries to tour. — Karen Gardy of Hudson Valley Wine Country even offers a degree in “This feature allows But what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in enology, the study of people to pick and quality. winemaking. “They only grow the one type but it’s phechoose which wineries There are 43 winerthey would like to go nomenal there,” Gardy said. “They really are ies in the Hudson Valley, located as far north as to and creates an itinerary with directions to the standard for pinot noir in Millbrook.” Clinton Corners and as far south as Warwick. While Brotherhood and Oak Summit are each location,” Gardy said. “It’s really a handy Though each winery hosts individual wine- tool and can help people choose the winery that favored, each winery in the region offers an tasting sessions, the most popular option is to will best suit them.” original and flavorful experience. take a tour of the region and visit several winerIn addition to ordinary tastings, wineries Though the wines served at each winery difies in one day. fer, Gardy said the experience is relatively the host special festivals that feature an array of “I highly recommend sam- same at each. food and speciality wines. pling wine at more than one winIn June, the Shawangunk Hudson Valley Generally, when guests arrive, they will be ery,” Gardy said. “One area in greeted by either the owner or the winemaker Wine Trail will be hosting an international food the Hudson Valley will specialize or, depending on the time of year, an attendant festival. Attendees will receive a “passport” and in specific kinds of wine and who is well versed in wine. tasting ticket for the weekend that will grant then another winery will offer “After welcoming you, they would hand you access to each of the wineries on the trail, with something completely different.” what we call a tasting sheet,” Gardy said. “Each each stop representing a different country. What gives the Hudson Valley tasting sheet will list all of the wines the winery As wine is an alcoholic beverage, having a an edge, aside from its microcli- has to offer, as well as some notes on the over- designated driver is always recommended. And mates and various grape species, all taste of each wine.” to ensure that the sober members in your party is that the region can produce Taste sheets act as guides for those who are have an enjoyable experience as well, many many other fruits. not familiar with the wine culture. Words such wineries offer “designated driver deals,” provid“We make a lot of fruit wine,” as “full-bodied” and “woody” are used to ing munchies and nonalcoholic beverages at Gardy said. “In fact, an apple describe the taste and feel of each drink. significantly lower prices. wine that was produced here The Hudson Valley Wine Country website Typical wine tastings include four to six won Best Wine in 2007. And half-ounce samplings. While half an ounce may lays out information on all the wineries in with the production of fruit not seem like a lot, Gardy said it is the perfect the region and descriptions of what they prowine, we often see many Euro- portion for visitors to get a good sense of the duce, along with a history of winemaking in Bottles on display at Baldwin Winery in Pine Bush. pean tourists because fruit wine wine without sloshing their way through a tour. Q the area. lanning a vacation can be stressful. The tedious process of booking flights, hotels and activities almost deflates the excitement one initially has when deciding to take one. To avoid that stress, many people have been turning to day-long getaways or “daycations.” These daycations require little planning and naturally run cheaper than a week-long cruise to the Bahamas, and though a 24-hour excursion may not be as glamorous as spending spring break on the Cape, it can provide some quick-fix fun. One way to take advantage of a beautiful day is to visit the Hudson Valley wineries. Though most associate American wine with Napa Valley in California, some of the country’s oldest vineyards can be found a couple hours north of the city, wineries such as those established by the French Hugenots, who planted the first vines in 1677 in what is now New Paltz, nearly one hundred years before any vines were planted in California. What makes the Valley a great place for vineyards is the unique combination of soil, climate and sun that results in ideal grape-growing conditions. The region runs long, from northern Westchester County to the city of Troy, making for a wide spectrum of temperatures and climates. “Each county has its own little area and its own microclimate,” said Karen Gardy, a board member for the Hudson Valley Wine Country collective. “On the lower end of the Valley, the temperature can get about 10 degrees lower, earlier in the year. That lends itself to a wider variety of grapes and a wider variety of wines.” For example, gamay noir, described as a medium-bodied red wine, is a clone of pinot noir and is made with a hybrid grape, as most

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All revved up AMERICAN MUSCLE & MORE Classic cars on display all spring long

Members of the East Coast Car Association, a charitable 501(c)3 organization, gathering for their first show of the season. COURTESY PHOTO

by Joseph Orovic here’s a nostalgic breed roaming the streets of Queens. They rumble by on a sunny day. They usually spot you at a red light, nod, then leave the acrid smell of burned rubber behind them. They’re car junkies, the sort of untamed motor-heads who care more about horsepower than miles per gallon, and during the spring you can f ind them rattling your windows and shaking your walls as they blast down stretches of Northern Boulevard, tackle a turn

T Classic American muscle is always on full display when the borough’s car COURTESY PHOTO clubs gather.

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on Frannie Lew or even risk the odd speeding ticket on Queens Boulevard. But within that faction of muscle car aficionados, a kinder, gentler variety gathers at parking lots around the borough. They show up to chat and share stories, gawk at each other’s carburetors or tailgate as pedestrians stare. They are members of Queens’ car clubs, and you’ll find them on a random weekend gathering and dispersing at their leisure. In the meantime, they allow us unlucky

pedestrian sedan-owners the chance to gawk at their crushed velvet interiors, V-8 4.0-liter engines and chrome bumpers. You don’t have to be rich or a master at restoring cars to appreciate American muscle from the 1960s and ’70s. Take, for example, the Bow Wow Boys, named after the now-gone meetup spot in Howard Beach, The Big Bow Wow. According to President Frank Tanzi, the group is composed of continued on next page

C M SPR GUIDE page 11 Y K Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013

Queens’ car clubs continued from previous page

mostly southern-Queens members, usually from Howard Beach. They gather every Thursday at the Home Depot on Woodhaven Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue in Glendale. The club is filled with classic American muscle cars, including Tanzi’s 1971 Monte Carlo. And you’re more than welcome to come and take a peek. “Just show up,” Tanzi said. “You only really have to have a classic car to be in the club.” Sounds anathema to the whole point, doesn’t it? But it’s true. Nearly every car club in Queens has the odd late-year model among its chrome tailpipes. And to jarring effect. But for Tanzi and his members, it’s not about that. It’s about community and getting together to talk about four wheels and the open road. “We just gather together and show the cars; that’s all,” he said. Their next big hurrah will be on Sunday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a car show at 8212 151 Ave. in Lindenwood. There is, however, one rule: “Don’t touch. Look but please don’t touch.”

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The Bow Wow Boys also occasionally gather donations for various charities and veterans associations. Which leads to another surprising, or perhaps not-so sur prising tr uth about many of these car clubs: more than pea-cocking, the groups usually come with a charitable bent. The East Coast Car Association, for example, is unique in its designation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The group is a partner of Toys for Tots and raises funds for St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside. It holds various events throughout the year, raising funds for the charity and ultimately the kids. Yes, you could possibly catch the odd Mustang lover throwing wanton peeks at another member’s Pontiac (sacrilege!), but the group gathers throughout the spring and summer to raise money. It all started with the association’s founder, Eddie Walter, in 1999. He dedicated time to developing the club, with cruise nights and fairs and shows galore. Funds generated at the events all went to the hospital, and toys were given to Toys for Tots.

Got a classic car you want to see up close? There are no penalties for taking a gander, though the owners would PHOTO COURTESY ECCA probably prefer you avoid bouncing in the driver’s seat while making “vroom” noises. Eddie even helped establish the club’s coup de grace, the end-of-season ECCA Annual Toy Run. The group bands together, usually over 100 cars, stuffs the vehicles with toys and makes its way to St. Mary’s with the help of a police escort to hand out the gifts to the kids. Eddie died on Feb. 26, 2007, but his organization thrives on after

him thanks to its current members and president Bob Widdows. To date, the car association has raised over $100,000 for St. Mary’s. “We don’t pay dues or anything like that,” Widdows said. “We just volunteer our time. All the members we have, they’re all dedicated the same way.” The makeup of the cruise nights

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Foraging

BACK TO NATURE

Steve “Wildman” Brill with the poisonous Star of Bethlehem that looks deceivingly like the edible field onion. PHOTOS BY JOSEY BARTLETT

Steve ‘Wildman’ Brill takes groups on Forest Park tours by Josey Bartlett ost New Yorkers will never need to forage nor want to, and maybe some think it’s a ludicrous activity for an urbanite. But for some it’s a novelty, or at least an interesting party trick to be able to know the difference between the Star of Bethlehem — a poisonous plant that looks like field onion, but has no smell and flat leaves — and the edible field onion, a tastey plant with tubular leaves and succulent bulbs. Steve “Wildman” Brill has taken this knowledge to another level — a career in fact. The Wildman takes packs of New Yorkers and tourists on weekend excursions through the city’s parks. This Sunday, April 21, he will show tour goers where to find burdock root, sassafras and black birch, among other edibles, in Forest Park. Check out wildmanstevebrill.com for details beyond where to meet (the stone wall at Union Turnpike and Park Lane), how much (suggested donation of $20, $10 for kids) and how to sign up (call [914] 835-2153).

the safest place to be back then. When Bob saw Brill on Facebook sometime this year, he decided he had to come and see the Wildman at work. As he said this, the professional forager began to serenade a couple who was celebrating an anniversary. He used his cupped hands and cheeks to perform a song that sounded somewhere between banging on empty buckets and blowing into a bottle. “He’s a wild man,” Bob said with a grin. And then the tour began. The Wildman took the group up a hill noting he only forages in disturbed habitats that are accustomed to regenerating quickly, such as a mound that decades ago had been upturned by a tornado. Each year he forages on the hill and each following year it is covered with a new supply of edible weeds and shrubs. Greater celandine was the f irst plant Brill plucked from the ground. The leaves have a garlic taste, which protects it from insects “unless the insects are Italian,” Brill said, while ◆◆◆ the roots taste like horseradish. Last Saturday Brill took about 40 As the sun peeked out, Brill tightindividuals from Long Island, upstate, This plant that grew hardily in Central Park ened the strap on his safari hat and New Jersey and the city on a foraging can kill a person with just one bite. relayed an encyclopedia of knowltour of Central Park. edge peppered with jokes and even Bob, a native Astorian who now lives in Orange County, the story of his 1986 arrest for “defoliating Central Park” The Wildman has progressed into the 21st century with an remembers when Brill had his own show on Queens public after eating a dandelion in front of two undercover Parks extensive app for foraging. ONLINE IMAGE access television. It was filmed in a bare room with samples of Department employees. his findings all filmed with a camera that produced a grainy He pointed out more edibles such as violets; mica caps, a picture. He described the show as interesting as well as sheer type of mushroom that makes a “nice dip”; bitter dock, a The $8 app displays pages upon pages of trees, shrubs, nuts, entertainment. Bob used to play hooky from high school and leafy green that is tasty cooked but “pretty gross otherwise”; seeds — all edible. Click on the ginkgo tree and find out how it come up to Central Park — but “never this far” he said, adding and all of this was only in the first hour of the four-hour tour. smells, “like rotting flesh,” and recipes how to eat the disgustDuring lunch he passed out samples of curried sunflower ing-smelling, delicious-tasting nuts. that the park up at 103rd Street, where the group started, wasn’t seeds he had foraged as well as truffles made with wild coffee There are also sketches and photographs, all created by Brill. beans he had found growing in Central Park last year. One feature of the app narrows down edibles. Pick the area where one sees the plant — in a park or in a forest — then pick ◆◆◆ the type of plant — tree or shrub, etcetera — and pick what part Beyond sifting through the variable produce aisles offered by of the plant is useful. A handful of images and possible matches city parks Brill has progressed mightily into the 21st century will appear on the screen. with an app for iPads and iPhones. All are aimed to identify the edible in front of the app It’s one of the most comprehensive apps on the Internet, with holder’s face. A very modern take on the centuries old task an encyclopedia of knowledge. of foraging. “I’ve been putting together this information my whole life,” There’s even a section that shows pictures of what look like Brill said. edible plants but are definitely not. Brill started foraging in the late ’70s with field guides used Brill has never made a wrong foraging move, although once to identify wildflowers. He graduated university with a psychol- two reporters ate some bad deli food before coming on a tour ogy degree, but he said it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. years ago. So his knowledge — an impressive talent of naming almost “Five minutes later it would have been blamed on the foragevery edible handed to him on a tour as well as creating vegan ing,” Brill said with a laugh, never missing an opportunity to recipes for all his wild goodies — is all self-taught. Q Foragers took bags of edibles home with them last Saturday. make a slightly awkward but endearing joke.

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Activities for youngsters

FIELD OF QUEENS Little League for all ages and skills by Michael Gannon he crack of the bat long ago was The parents and volunteers were out long replaced by the ping of aluminum. before the kids, getting the fields into playing Over the decades, Little League shape, mowing the grass and raking away the Baseball has added girls, night stones that can cause those tricky bad hops. games and teams from six continents, and “We’ve been working on the fields for over a sold TV rights to its annual championship month,” Reid said. “All our fields are city-owned tournament to cable television. fields. We have a couple of trailers on site. We have tools, equipment, two lawn mowers. But Bob Reid, president of the Bayside We were the pilot program with the Little League, said one thing that Parks Department for that, because remains the same is the look on chilthey just don’t have the people.” dren’s faces when they go to their coach’s home or crowd around his And just as hard work and car in late March or early April to dedication on the part of the pick up their caps and jerseys. kids pay off, the people who serve as coaches-schedulers“The kids still smile from ear groundskeepers-umpires-first to ear,” he said, one day before aid attendants-batting practice Bayside’s annual inaugural pitchers also can have their day parade up Bell Boulevard to in the sun. Crocheron Park on April 13. Boys and girls from 5 to 17 have Emblematic this year is Phil Frastar ted playing throughout gale, honored on April 6 by the Phil Fragale Queens with dreams of being Forest Hills Little League at its the next David Wright or Matt Harvey. annual opening day ceremonies. There will be parades much like the one in “He’s been helping us out for about 35 Bayside. And players who signed up in the cold years,” said Larry Berkowitz, executive of winter and are now wearing sweatshirts director of the league, speaking from their beneath their uniforms will be playing in a few field complex on Fleet Street. “We thought it weeks in T-shirts amid 75-degree temperatures. was time to do something for him.” While there are other baseball organizations in the borough, it is the official Little League groups that have the most members, organization and cache. Forest Hills has 675 players ages 5 to 12 this year. They also have more than 100 girls participating on nine softball teams. Reid said Bayside has agreements with programs in neighboring areas for girls wanting to play softball. He said their baseball enrollment, with seven divisions for children 5 to 17, is one of the largest in the area, with almost 800 players. Bayside has a pair of alums who have made it to the big leagues. Mike Baxter is still playing baseball in Queens, roaming the outfield and basepaths at Citi Field as a member of the New York Mets. Dave Valle, a commentator for the MLB Network and the Seattle Mariners, played 13 seasons in the majors between 1984 and 1996 as a catcher for the Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. Keep your eye on the ball and take a level Primarily considered a defensive catcher, PHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN swing. Valle hit 77 career home runs.

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

“Throw to first!” Enthusiastic infielders swarm a ground ball on opening day for the Forest Hills LitPHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN tle League. Two local political figures also made that march up Bell Boulevard, including Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), and Austin Shafran, who is running as a Democrat for the City Council. No word on how good Braunstein was at going to his right on a batted ball, while Shafran played minor league ball. Forest Hills, more of a tennis neighborhood when Little League Baseball came to town in 1954, first got its own field in 1964, according to Berkowitz, the forerunner to the multifield complex the league now enjoys. FHLL has not had players graduate to Major League Baseball yet.

Reid said the Bayside program was founded in 1951. “A very good year for baseball in New York City,” he noted, one that included a historic pennant struggle between the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, culminating with Bobby Thompson’s “shot heard ’round the world” before the Giants bowed in the World Series to the Yankees. Reid, with the league since 1986, comes from the Elmhurst baseball program. “In those days you had to try out to make a team,” he said. “Some boys didn’t make it. Today, everyone who signs up makes a team. Q The idea is for the kids to have fun.”

YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAMS IN QUEENS Bayside Little League Website: eteamz.com/baysidelittleleague College Point Little League Website: collegepointll.org RRivera@collegepointll.org. Phone: 718-460-8408 or 718-640-8022. Elmjack Little League (Elmhurst and Jackson Heights): Website: leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp? cmenuid=1&url=elmjack e-mail: elmjackll@aol.com 79-10 19th Ave. Jackson Heights, NY 11370 Phone: 718-932-6627 Fax: 718-932-6162 Forest Hills Little League Website: fhll.org Phone: 718-544-2296

Hollis-Bellaire-Queens VillageBellerose-Athletic Association Website: hbqvbaa.org Ozone Howard Little League Website: eteamz.com/OzoneHoward Ridgewood-GlendaleMiddle Village-Maspeth Little League Website eteamz.com/rgmvm/ Rochdale Village Little League 169-65 137th Ave Queens, NY 11434? (718) 341-0908 WORKS Little League (Richmond Hill and Woodhaven) Website: eteamz.com/WORKS

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Walkabouts continued from page 4 The Ghost Doctors If you want to take a walk on the wild side and seek out those things that go bump in the night, there’s another set of tours just for you, offered by the Ghost Doctors — Dr. Pete and Dr. Stew. Their website, ghostdoctors.com, says of the pair: “Longtime natives of NYC, they have scoured the streets of this amazing city and unearthed the supernatural underbelly of the Big Apple, from ghostly orbs and apparitions, actual voices from beyond (electronic voice phenomena) to

Mets outlook continued from page 6

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but now he’s strong. Davis is the Mets’ best power hitter in a lineup with little pop, so the odds are that opposing pitchers will not give him much to hit. Ike will have to be patient when batting. Another player who will have to learn the art of patience at the plate is leftfielder Lucas Duda. He reminds many Mets fans of Dave Kingman, a guy who couldn’t field and struck out with great frequency but would occasionally get hold of a fastball and hit it a country mile. Duda’s lone asset of belting home runs did not make up for his liabilities last season, and he was sent down to the Mets’AAA Buffalo Bisons farm club. An argument can be made that Daniel Murphy is the best pure hitter in the Mets lineup. He missed most of spring training with a mysterious injury but appears to be OK now. Given the Mets’ puny offense, Collins has no choice but to accept Murphy’s fielding errors at second base in order to have his bat in the lineup. In fairness to Murphy, he has worked hard at the position, and hasn’t been the egregious liability out there that many feared. There was a lot of anger emanating from fans at the end of 2011 when the Mets chose not to make their star shortstop and free agent-to-be, Jose Reyes, even a nominal offer to stay in Flushing. But the truth is that while the team may have been awful last year, no one could fault Reyes’s understudy, Ruben

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the detection of EMFs (electromagnetic f ields) [and] wraiths and phantoms that pass in the night.” Their next event in Queens is an investigation of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, set to start at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Briefly summarizing the history of the park, the Ghost Doctors’ website says it “still retains many of its past remnants, and possibly those spirits who just never felt like leaving.” They promise participants will learn how to use “authentic ghost hunting tools,” and advise bringing a camera. You can reach them at (347) 502-7352 or mail@ghostdoctors.com. Of course, depending on what’s discovered, this could be the one Queens walk that Q turns into a run.

Tejada, who did a fine job both in the field and on offense last season. Tejada struggled at the plate this past spring however. A lot has been written about the flimsy Mets outfield. Duda will be in left while 35year-old veteran Marlon Byrd, who was suspended for 50 games in 2012 for using a substance that Major League Baseball frowns upon, will be in right. Not much is known about centerfielder Colin Cowgill, a castoff from the Oakland Athletics. At least Whitestone native and Molloy High School alum Mike Baxter is still on the team, and he should see a lot of playing time. The Mets are excited about Jordany Valdespin, who can play both infield and outfield positions and possesses home run power. Valdespin, though, is frequently guilty of poor decision-making in the field and at the plate. He became an easy joke for comedians during spring training when he was hit by a fastball in the groin while not wearing proper protection. The Mets will surely improve in coming years, but odds are Collins will not be around to enjoy them. He’s done as good a job as can be expected with the limited talent that he’s had available, but attendance and interest in the team have been down nonetheless, and the odds are that Mets CEO Fred Wilpon and his son, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon, will want to have longtime manager-in-waiting Wally Backman, a member of the Amazin’s 1986 World Series-winning team, at the helm next year. As Collins and most Mets fans know, life Q is not always fair.

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Life’s a beach

SHORELINE COMES BACK Queens oceanfront open for business five months after Hurricane Sandy by Domenick Rafter fter a long winter indoors, it’s fairly common that a bad case of cabin fever will set in. But never fear, no matter where you are in Queens, you’re not too far from the shore. And the communities on the oceanfront want everyone to know that they are back in business — or at least close to it — after the devastating blow they took from Hurricane Sandy. The recovery has been steady and much of the shore is open for those looking to enjoy the outdoors this spring. In the hurricane relief aid bill passed in January, $160 million was allocated for storm recovery at Gateway National Recreation Area, according to a brochure of spring events released by the National Park Service last month. “We have an aggressive plan in place in order to reopen most areas of the park by Memorial Day weekend,” the brochure says. A slew of events are planned through springtime at Gateway

Workers pour concrete at a “boardwalk island” near Beach 85th Street, one of the sections of the Rockaway boardwalk destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, that PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER will reopen this summer.

The Rockaways, the borough’s community hardest hit by Sandy, is welcoming those who are looking to enjoy the beach. National Recreation Area, especially at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Broad Channel, which was badly affected by Sandy. A section of the nature trail that loops around West Pond was washed out in the storm when Jamaica Bay breached into the pond. Though significant damage was done to that section of the trail and the bird habitat in the bay, the trails are passable and open and shorebirds, like the woodcock, can be seen in the park. The rest of the trail is still open

Bike Tour, which wil be held on Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Rockaway’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, May 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. As far as the future, a permanent solution for a new boardwalk is being looked into, with the possibility of the entire length rebuilt from concrete being tossed around as a possibility. The heavily eroded beachfront is also being restored with mountains of sand, sifted through in another location and then being poured back onto the beach. After the storm, much of the sand was washed into the residential streets of the Rockaways and the beach was eroded right up to the boardwalk pilings. Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) says he expects a study to commence on how to better protect the shoreline from the catastrophic erosion caused by storms such as Sandy and also by recent nor’easters. Among the ideas being thrown around are the possibilities of building more jetties along the coast. The oceanfront east of Beach 90th Street was hit far less hard than the western part of the peninsula and some attributed that to the presence of rock jetties on that part of the beach. “Finally, the world sees what we’ve seen for so many years,” Goldfeder said. For more information on events going on at the shore, including at Gateway National Recreation Area and at Rockaway Beach, visit Q nps.gov/gate and nycparks.gov.

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

A view of Manhattan at dusk from the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

to the public and popular shorebirds, such as egrets and woodcocks, are still zipping through the skies over Jamaica Bay. A number of spring birding and nature events are planned including a nature hike to watch horseshoe crabs lay their eggs at the beach on the south end of Broad Channel near the ball fields. It will be held on May 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. According to the NPS, other areas of the park, including Canarsie Pier and Floyd Bennet Field in Brooklyn, are also open, as is Charles Park in Howard Beach. Sandy practically destroyed most of the city’s oceanfront, including much of the Rockaway Beach boardwalk, as well as homes and businesses on the peninsula and other shoreline communities. Rockaway Beach took a catastrophic hit from Sandy. The storm surge eroded away much of the beach east of Arverne, leaving little to no beachfront. The boardwalk is almost completely gone and plans to rebuild it are still in the early stages. Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowksi said at a meeting of the borough board in December that the plan is for parts of the beach to be open this summer, along with “boardwalk islands” — sections of the boardwalk rebuilt

around the concrete concession buildings, which were relatively unaffected structurally by Sandy’s storm surge, while sections of the boardwalk that were not badly damaged have or will soon be reopened. In fact, the section of the boardwalk at Beach 59th Street is slated to host Rockaway’s Earth Day celebrations on May 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. As of April 1, crews are already pouring concrete for one of the boardwalk islands at Beach 85th Street and work was beginning on another island to be built at Beach 98th Street, where one of the larger concession buildings stands, which is also being renovated. Elsewhere in the Rockaways, the Parks Department is planning on having most of the beach open by Memorial Day. Only areas of Fort Tilden’s beach are expected to remain closed at least through the spring. Less than a block from the beach, the Museum of Modern Art PS 1 museum in Long Island City installed a white dome at Beach 95th Street and Shore Front Parkway, similar to the one at PS 1 except it has a translucent window overlooking the ocean. The dome will be hosting arts events through the middle of May, including screening of “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors,” a f ilm by Rockawaybased director Sam Fleischner about a teenage austic boy who gets lost on the subway. That screening will be held Saturday, April 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. The dome will also be the meeting point for the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance’s Rockspot Historical

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013 Page 18

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Festivals SUN, FUN AND FARE AT QUEENS’ FAIRS by Joseph Orovic hey’re often lamented by unsus- street fairs, festivals and sidewalk sales that pecting drivers and residents are worth the trip out of your nabe. One of the borough’s oldest street festiwith short memories. Can’t turn down the expected street, which vals will make a return this year on June 8. is blocked off by police barri- All Saints Church’s Strawberry Fair will share this June 8 with the Kiwanis Club’s cades. But there is no crime. In their wake, a sea of corncobs and bar- Flag Day parade — the only one in Queens. For over 50 years, becue skewers lay the church has put strewn across the together a multiculstreet. But not a tural bonanza of worry, the aftermath food and fun suitis usually biodegradable for all ages to able. And sometimes, follow the parade. they leave your hands “It tends to be covered in grease and community-orientyour face cached in ed,” said All Saints white powder. Church’s Father Yet somehow, you Joseph Jerome. “It’s a rarely regret visiting wonderful time in one. Sunnyside because Load up your walmost people expect lets with cash and that day because it’s get the wet-naps ready for you and Meat, including chorizo (sausages) at a Jackson the same every year.” The fair includes your kids, because Heights street fair. PHOTO BY DAVID BERKOWITZ/FLICKR international cuisine, street fair and sidecultural music and dancing performances. walk sale season is upon us. Father Jerome speculated about the From the bouncy castles funded by your local religious institution to the zeppoles source of the fair’s namesake, pointing to upon zeppoles upon zeppoles (and some the spring-time bounty that leaves taste deep-fried oreos), Queens is loaded with buds dancing.

Queens’ street fairs are a haven for delicious treats suitable for any sweet tooth. PHOTO BY M.J. MONEYMAKER/FLICKR

“It probably started with eating strawberries and people look at it that way,” he said. The fair has become the the unofficial transition from late spring into summer for many. Queens’ spring will be strewn with festivals and sidewalk sales throughout the next few months. Here’s a list of where you can get cheap bed sheets, nail clippers and a massage while chewing on a corn dog, and probably take in a live performance or two:

SPRING SIDEWALK SALE April 18-21, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Myrtle Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Fresh Pond Road Ridgewood

STEINWAY STREET SALES DAYS May 17-19, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Steinway Street between 28th Avenue and 35th Avenue Astoria

PS 150 QUEENS SPRING CARNIVAL May 18, noon-6 p.m. 41st Street between 43rd and Skillman Avenues Sunnyside

ASTORIA SPRING FESTIVAL May 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 31st Street between Ditmars Boulevard and 21st Avenue Astoria

MOTHER’S DAY SIDEWALK SALE May 9-12, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Myrtle Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Fresh Pond Road Ridgewood

JAMAICA AVENUE SIDEWALK SALES DAY May 23-26, 9 a.m.-8 p.m Jamaica Avenue between 169th Street and Sutphin Boulevard Jamaica

SPRING FESTIVAL June 1, noon-6 p.m. 92nd Avenue between 216th and 217th Street Queens Village

STRAWBERRY FAIR June 8, noon-6 p.m. 46th Street between Queens Boulevard and 43rd Avenue Sunnyside

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

FATHER’S DAY SIDEWALK SALE June 13-16, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Myrtle Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Fresh Pond Road Ridgewood

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Street sales such as Austin Street’s annual gathering are a good place to load up on sunglasses, cell phone cases, snacks, as well as run into old PHOTO BY JOE SHLABOTNIK/FLICKR neighborhood friends.

June 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Zion Episcopal Church 243-01 Northern Blvd. Douglaston

C M SPR GUIDE page 19 Y K

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013 Page 20

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Birding

QUEENS: A ‘FANTASTIC PLACE’ FOR BIRDWATCHING A by Laura A. Shepard

SPRING GUIDE • 2013

s temperatures warm and the people of Queens venture out to our parks, beaches and playgrounds, many of our feathered friends are doing the same as they return from their winter homes in Central America and the Caribbean. For a number of species, Queens is their first landfall as they head north. “Queens is a fantastic place for birdwatching,” said Arie Gilbert, the president of the Queens County Bird Club. “Alley Pond, Forest Park, Cunningham Park, Forest Park and Jamaica Bay are major places where birdwatchers congregate for the spring migration.” The love of birds and their habitats has united a community of birders from all over Queens. While some are binocular-touting lifelong enthusiasts who get excited about rare appearances of the Bicknell’s thrush, many are casual observers looking to expand their repertoire of outdoor activities and learn new things. “On our field trips, many people know about all sorts of things, it’s not just only about the birds,” Gilbert said. “New members are often surprised. They get a kick out of the way we explore everything.” The QCBC appeals to people young and old, Gilbert noted, and

many members are also interested in butterflies, dragonflies, wildflowers and trees. The club, which welcomes the public to its meetings, gathers at Alley Pond Park on the third Wednesday of the month, 10 months out of the year. Often, members or guest speakers discuss topics such as why bird eggs are different colors, or how to identify different species of warblers. The club organizes trips to parks in New Jersey, Long Island and upstate, as well as excursions here in Queens. Not all of the Big Apple is a concrete jungle — and the city sits on the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major bird migration routes that cross the United States. “New York City has quite a lot of nature, and it’s quite important nature,” said Glenn Phillips, the executive director of the New York City Audubon Society, an independent conservation group whose mission is to protect birds. The society uses birding to engage the public and offers free weekly birdwatching walks in Forest Park. Jamaica Bay and the beaches of the Rockaway Peninsula are critical bird areas, Phillips noted, as they are the home to many endangered species and a stopover for significant aggregations of migrating birds,

Glossy ibises are wading birds that live in and around Jamaica Bay.

Birder Adriana Martinez views migratory species at Jamaica Bay. some of which fly as far as Alaska. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is full of wading birds, such as egrets, herons and ibises, and shorebirds, which fly back in April and May, as well as ducks and geese. The ospreys, which nest on platforms near the water, are already back. Some species are declining due to habitat loss and development, while others that are more adaptable to urban environments — including the familiar redtail hawks, Canada geese, robins and cardinals — are doing better, according to Don Riepe of Broad Channel, president of the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society. The coastal conservation group performs beach cleanups and offers birding tours and sunset ecology cruises on the bay. All Queens parks, including Alley Pond, Cunningham and Forest, are stopovers for migrating songbirds, Phillips said. The black-throated blue warbler winters in Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic and flies through Queens on its way to Canada and the far northeastern United States. Another tropical migrant is the wood thrush, which makes its return from Central America, but its numbers are declining dramatically due to disturbances to its foresting grounds and problems with migrations. The Bicknell’s thrush, an even more unusual sight, passes through on its return to roost in the highest

A great egret flaunts its majesty over the waters of Jamaica Bay. PHOTOS BY DON RIEPE

peaks of the Adirondacks and the White Mountains. The corridor of green that cuts across Queens, surrounded by so much development, concentrates the birds, Gilbert noted, which makes it easier to see more of them. According to Gilbert, birders have spotted many rarities in Queens, including the f irst recorded East Coast sighting of a broadbilled sandpiper. Last November, a club member located and identified a Virginia’s warbler, which despite its name is a western bird, in Alley Pond Park. “Rarities end up here because of circumstances,” Gilbert said. Sometimes birds get caught in storms or migrate the wrong way. Birders document rarities and report them to the state Ornithological Association. Hurricane Sandy, the great destroyer of the Northeast, also made a lot of changes to the landscape that affected avian life. Thousands of trees toppled over in the parks, destroying a lot of the birds’ habitats. “Time will tell,” Gilbert said of the storm’s full impact. “Sometimes when environments change it’s better for birding, but not for the birds.” Hurricane Sandy reshaped the coastal landscape and the ponds on Broad Channel were breached. While the East Pond was repaired by MTA crews working to restore A train service, the West Pond is still infiltrated by saltwater. The main trail, which once looped all the way around, no longer connects. But the hurricane did not damage the marshes, according to Riepe. Some changes to the beaches of the Rockaways are good for birds, Phillips said. For example, the piping plover, a small, endangered shorebird (there are only 8,000 left) nests on the beaches. When the birds return from the Bahamas in March, the beaches are empty, but before the

young have fledged, beach season hits. The crowds and trucks harm the birds. The piping plover thrives on wide beaches, where there is more distance between the high tide line and the first dunes. While the amount of foredune had declined in the last decade, Sandy increased it, which bodes well for the birds. “The habitat has been altered,” Phillips said. “Hurricanes are part of the natural cycle. That’s why we don’t have 3,000-year-old trees in the northeast.” Phillips noted that most spots on the bay are open to the public, but that people should check with the National Park Service to be sure their destination is open before setting out. One way to be sure is to go with an organized group. Below are just a few of the birding events that are coming up soon. Many more, in Queens and beyond, are listed on the sponsoring organizations’ websites, along with information for nonorganized birdwatching.

SPRING MIGRATION WORKSHOP Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Slideshow and hike to view spring migrants. Meet at Jamaica Bay Ecology Center. Information: Don Riepe, American Littoral Society — (917) 371-8577, alsnyc.org/trips.html.

FOREST PARK TRIP Sunday, May 5, all day. Called the best spot in Queens to see spring migrants. Information: Jean Loscalzo, Queens County Bird Club — (917) 575-6824, qcbirdclub.org.

QUEENS BIG DAY Saturday, May 11, all day. Birders try to amass the biggest list of species seen across the borough. Followed by a compilation dinner. Information: Queens County Bird Club — (718) 229-4000, qcbirdclub.org. Q

C M SPR GUIDE page 21 Y K

From kayaks to harbor cruises borough offers something for all by Michael Gannon ew York City has 578 miles of coastline, with much of it in Queens. And the borough has about as many ways to enjoy water recreation as there are arguments about who in the borough makes the best pizza. Kayak and canoe enthusiasts have 10 sites in Queens and nine in Brooklyn where they can launch their crafts. Some sites are operated by the city Department of Parks and Recreation while others are run by private organizations, but a lot of the regulations remain the same. No craft can be launched without a $15 permit obtained form the Parks Department. In Queens permits can be obtained in the Passerelle Building across from he outdoor tennis courts at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The phone number is (718) 393-7272. For those living closer to Brooklyn it may be more conve-

nient to go to Litchfield Villa at 95 Prospect Park West and 5th Street. The phone number there is (718) 965-8919. Launch sites in Queens include Bayside Marina, Little Bay ParkFort Totten, Francis Lewis Park, the World’s Fair Marina, Hallet’s Cove, Manhattan Avenue, Newtown Creek, North Channel Beach in Gateway National Park, Bayswater and Idlewild. Brooklyn sites include Brooklyn Bridge Park, Governor’s Island, Louis J. Valentino Park, the Gowanus Canal, Plumb Beach, the Salt Marsh Nature Center at Gerritsen Inlet, Floyd Bennett Field, the Mill Basin Marina and the Sebago Canoe Club at Paerdegat Basin. Power and sailboat launches in Queens are limited to the World’s Fair Marina on Flushing Bay and Bayside Marina on Little Neck Bay. An interactive map of New

York City’s water trail is available on the internet at nycparks. gov.org/facilities/kayak. A permittee may have more than one boat listed on his or her permit, but each canoe or kayak must carry a permittee. All persons must wear a personal floatation device, and no canoes or kayaks may be launched before sunrise or complete a trip after sunset. All federal, state and local boating regulations apply. For those who are not do-ityourselfers, lists of party boats and charter f ishing vessels are available online from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation at nycgovparks.org, and sites such as nycfishing.com There also are regular party and passenger ships that take passengers on signtseeing or dinner cruises, such as the Skyline Princess ships that sail from the continued on page 23

Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013

ON THE WATER

Offshore thrilling

A water skier plies his craft on the waters of Little Neck Bay. Queens has nearly a dozen sites on New York City’s Interactive Water Trail, and a host of public agencies and private groups stand ready to help recreational water users have fun safely. PHOTO BY DOMINICK RAFTER

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Art & Culture

A DAY AT THE MUSEUMS by Mark Lord he Queens Museum of Art, the expanded space, which will include the former exhibit and education center located site of the park’s ice-skating rink: Pedro Reyes’ in what had been the New York City “The People’s UN,” which will feature mock Building during the 1939-40 and assemblies and performances which reference 1964-65 World’s Fairs, is in the the building’s history of hosting the United midst of an expansion that, upon completion, Nations General Assembly between 1946 and 1950; “Peter Schumann: Black and White,” the will double its size to 105,000 square feet. Throughout the museum’s history in Flushing first solo museum exhibit of the Bread and PupMeadows Corona Park, where it was established pet Theatre founder; “Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao: in 1972, its crown jewel has been the world- The New York City Building,” which will feafamous Panorama of the City of New York, a ture a series of large-scale photographs chroni9,335-square-foot model built for the 1964-65 cling the edifice’s transformation; and “Queens World’s Fair and featuring some 895,000 minia- International 2013,” the sixth edition of a bienture structures. The little Big Apple still draws nial exhibition of artists from around the world. Finkelpearl is particularly excited about the crowds of amazed onlookers today. Also currently on exhibit are the long-run- museum’s plan to open eight artist’s studios ning Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass beginning in August, allowing them to ply their and, through June 1, the Arte Util Lab, a pre- crafts during one- or two-year residencies. “People love to see artists working,” he said. sentation designed to test hypotheses on the “It brings tremendous energy to the building.” usefulness of art. Staffing will also grow. The museum has 37 When the expansion is complete, there’ll be full-time employees, as well as 15 part-time room for much, much more. According to Executive Director Tom Finkel- educators and an additional 15 volunteers. Finkelpearl said he plans to pearl, preliminary work on the hire 10 more full-time employrenovations began four years ees once the museum reopens. ago, with a groundbreaking “We are going to have a held in April 2011. The ribbonplace to execute our mission cutting ceremony to celebrate much more efficiently and on a the expanded museum’s bigger scale,” he said. reopening is scheduled for According to project managOctober of this year. er Ken Petrocca, some 50 indiThe QMA, which is also viduals have been working both rebranding itself as just the on site and off to make the conQueens Museum, has remained struction plans a reality. open throughout the expansion During a recent advance process so far. “We did everyhard-hat tour, Finkelpearl thing we could to keep it open. pointed at the construction My gut was to stay open as late workers pouring fresh concrete as possible. We’ve been very Queens Museum Executive — perfectly — and said, busy,” Finkelpearl said. But beginning June 2, the Director Tom Finkelpearl wears “These guys are real artists.” The museum’s hours are building will be temporarily a hard hat during a recent tour Wednesday to Sunday, noon to closed as the finishing touches of the expanding facility. PHOTO BY MARK LORD 6 p.m. Admission is by sugare applied to the $68 million gested donation: $8 (adults), project. Upon reopening, the museum will boast a $4 (seniors, students and children). For more suite of new galleries, artist studios, flexible information, call (718) 592-9700. Other museum highlights around the borpublic and special event spaces, classrooms, a ough this spring include: cafe and other visitor amenities. The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, The west facade, facing the Grand Central Parkway, has been redesigned with a new founded in 1985 in a converted industrial buildentrance and drop-off plaza. A 200-foot-long ing, presents through April 28 “Hammer, Chisglass wall 27 feet high will announce the muse- el, Drill — Noguchi’s Studio Practice,” an um to the hundreds of thousands of motorists exhibit that explores famed Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi’s work practices in his stupassing by each day. Several exhibitions and performances are dios from the 1940s through the 1980s. It planned to coincide with the opening of the includes photographs and select sculptures as

The new look of the Queens Museum, which will be closed from June 2 through October due to its RENDERING COURTESY GRIMSHAW / QUEENS MUSEUM ongoing renovation and expansion. well as a selection of the artist’s tools. Located at 9-01 33 Road in Long Island City, the Noguchi is open Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $10; $5 (seniors and students); children under 12 free. The number is (718) 204-7088. Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria, in conjunction with the Noguchi Museum, presents Kite Flight, the park’s 11th annual kite-making workshop, on May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Using recycled materials, children and their families will build and decorate kites, then fly them in the park. Supplies will be provided. Artist Miguel Luciano will lead a workshop on Caribbean kite traditions. Performances of opera, dance and theater will be presented throughout the summer. Located at 32-05 Vernon Blvd., the park is free and open every day from 10 a.m. to sunset. The office can be reached at (718) 956-1819. The New York Hall of Science in Flushing, built as a pavilion for the 1964-65 World’s Fair, is a hands-on science and technology center featuring 450 interactive exhibits. Now through June 30, the museum offers 3D Theater Presentations, including “The Last Reef,” “Space Junk 3D” and “Legends of Flight.” Visitors also may explore the Science Playground, an outdoor exhibit that explains the principles of motion, balance and simple machines, as well as Rocket Park Mini Golf, an attraction themed around the science of space flight. The hall is located at 47-01 111 St. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Hours (through Aug. 31) are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $11 (adults); $8 (children, students, and seniors). Some attractions require additional admission fees. It can be reached at (718) 699-0005. The Museum of the Moving Image, in Astoria, the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique and technology of the moving image in all its forms, offers, in addition to its core exhibits, a new attraction through June 16, “Spectacle: The Music Video,” which celebrates the art and history of the music video and features 300 videos, artifacts and interactive installations. Located at 36-01 35 Ave., in Astoria, the museum’s hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8

p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $12 (adults); $9 (seniors, students); $6 (children 3-12), and the number is (718) 777-6888. The Queens County Farm Museum, in Glen Oaks, dating back to 1697, is the only working historical farm in the city. Spread over 47 acres, its attractions include historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock and orchards. A children’s carnival will be a special attraction on April 20 and 21, with rides, games, hayrides and more. On May 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., “Celebrate Queens Farm” will include special tours highlighting sheep shearing. Located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Glen Oaks, the farm’s outdoor visiting hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farmhouse tours are offered Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is free. Fees are charged for special attractions, and details can be had at (718) 347-3276. MoMA PS1, in Long Island City, an exhibition space that highlights experimental art, presents “Michelangelo Frammartino: Alberi,” from April 18-27, exploring the Italian filmmaker’s take on the theme of eternal transformation and reincarnation. The film takes audiences on a journey “through reveries of mystic appearances.” Beginning May 12, the space presents “Expo 1: New York.” Located at 22-25 Jackson Ave., PS1’s hours are Thursday to Monday, noon to 6 p.m. Suggested admission is $10; $5 (students, seniors), and it can be reached at (718) 784-2084. The Louis Armstrong House Museum, in Corona, maintains the jazz master’s home and furnishings as they were when he and his wife lived there. Visitors may tour the house, see exhibits, hear recordings and stroll through Armstrong’s Japanese-inspired garden. Museum goers can celebrate “Jazz Appreciation Month with Louis!” through April 30, highlighting his famed concert at Freedomland USA and featuring artifacts and photos that paint an intimate portrait of the artist. Located at 34-56 107 St., in Corona, the house museum’s hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10; $7 (seniors, students, children). Operated by Queens College, the museum can be reached at (718) 478-8297 — which, aside from the area code, was the ArmQ strongs’ number when they lived there.

C M SPR GUIDE page 23 Y K

continued from page 21

World’s Fair Marina. Venturing further to the west people can enjoy partial and full trips around Manhattan on the venerable Circle Line at 42nd Street and 12th Avenue on the west aide of Manhattan near the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Other companies offer sightseeing and dinner cruises on New York Harbor and up the Hudson River to Bear Mountain. The United States Coast Guard tackles safety issues from ocean liners serving American waters down to kayakers in Queens. Lt. Jeff Janaro of the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound said in a telephone interview last week that even experienced boaters should take every safety precaution seriously. He also said that one or more of three factors usually play major roles in most of the fatalities the service responds to. The lieutenant said a serious danger in April and early May can be deceivingly and dangerously cold water temperatures. In a news release issued on April 9, the Coast Guard stated that boaters should not be fooled by warmer air temperatures. “The water is still very, very cold,” the statement said. “It can be a beautiful day with an air temperature of 75 degrees, but the water temperature may be 45,” Janaro added. “And if you get submerged in 45-degree water, a lot can go wrong very quickly.” Hypothermia, a potentially fatal lowering of body temperature, can begin when the body’s core

Boating rules of the road nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/ facilities/marinas/pdf/boating_rules_ of_the_road.pdf

temperature falls from the normal 98.6 degrees to 95 degrees or lower. The statement said even mild cases can impair physical and mental capabilities, thus increasing the possiblities for an accident. Janaro said all boaters or people planning on being just passengers should be mindful of the water temperature, the weather for the time and places they will be out, and the possibility of strong tides, fog or factors that could make for choppy or unpredictable water conditions. Second, he said, is the failure to use lifejackets or similar personal floatation devices, or sometimes just the failure to use them properly. “And if you look fatal accidents on the water, more than half of them involve alcohol,” Janaro said. “We get a lot of calls where some guys have been drinking on the beach, it’s 10 at night and somebody decides to go kayaking. And they don’t come back.” The Coast Guard has press releases on coldwater boating at uscgnews.com. A full range of helpful tips for both children and adults is available at the Coast Guard’s Boater Safety Resource Center at uscgboating.org. New York State offers lists of boater safety courses through the Department of Environmental Conservation on the web at nysparks.com. All courses require a $10 fee for a boater safety permit. Some also require an additional fee for the instructor. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department also offers a list of some of basic boating’s “rules of the Q road” on its website at nycparks.org.

Boating and Marinas nycgovparks.org/facilities/boating/ New York City Interactive Water Trail map nycgovparks.org/facilities/kayak Kayak and canoe launch permits nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/56/Kayak_Launch_Permit.pdf Power and sailboat launches nyc.gov/parks Bayside Marina (718) 229-0097 World’s Fair Marina (718) 478-0480 Kayak and canoe regulations nycgovparks.org/rules/section-2-06

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013

RECREATIONAL BOATING TIPS AND RESOURCES

Qns. is the place for fun in the water

Charter boats and fishing trips nycgovparks.org/facilities/boattrips nycfishing.com New York State boater safety courses in Queens nysparks.com/recreation/boating/safety-courses. aspx?cnty=Queens&sort=1 United States Coast Guard Boater Safety Resource Center uscgboating.org/safety/boating_safety_courses_.aspx uscgnews.com Boating safety and equipment recommendations nyc.gov/parks

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SPRING GUIDE • 2013

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 18, 2013 Page 24

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