Queens Chronicle South Edition 02-12-2012 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

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PHOTOS BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE; ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA JIPESCU

VOL. XXXV NO. 6

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

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QUEENSCHRONICLE.COM

Mayor proposes, once more, shuttering 20 fire companies in the city; Queens legislators gear up for a fight

AGAIN

PAGES 12-15

As he has done many times before, the mayor also proposes cuts to the Queens Library, community boards and after-school programs.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

BANKING

Residents pack hearing to slam proposed political lines

FINANCE

WORDS ACROSS BORDERS

PAGE 5

PAGES 30-35

SEE qboro, PAGE 41

and

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‘Albany gets it’ — Cuomo commish Adams says guv’s new budget plan can transform the state government by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

he president of the Empire State Development Corporation was in Queens on Feb. 2 promoting Gov. Cuomo’s budget proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year. And Kenneth Adams, who also serves as commissioner of the state’s Department of Economic Development, said the governor’s $132.5 billion proposal is not only a responsible budget, but a plan to transform New York State for the better. “We closed a $2 billion deficit,” Adams said in a meeting with the editorial board of the Chronicle. “It creates a set of reforms, and economic development initiatives are built into those reforms.” Adams said the plan builds on reforms Cuomo implemented last year in his first executive budget, such as eliminating automatic budget inflators in such areas as Medicare spending. “In your budget, you identify income and set spending,” Adams said. “Under Albany budgets, they would set the spending and then chase the revenue to catch up to it. That’s why you had so many one-shot gimmicks in the past.” Adams said last year’s reforms enabled Cuomo and the Legislature to close a $10 billion deficit. “This year it started out at $3.5 billion,”

he said. “And it was closed with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks.” That gap was closed by flat-funding state agencies that had budgeted 4.5 percent increases for $1.3 billion in savings, and another $700 million by increasing aid to cities and towns by 2.6 percent instead of the planned 3.9 percent. The remaining $1.5 billion comes from a new tax bracket that essentially extends the existing millionaires’ surcharge which sunseted this year. Adams also pointed out that the $132.5 billion for FY 2013 is $200 million lower than this year’s $132.7 billion; and $2.3 billion less than the year before that. “For two years in a row, state spending is lower,” he said. Adams said aside from balancing the budget, there are built-in reforms in terms of economic development initiatives, mandate relief, and plans for “reimagining government” and managing the education crisis. He said Cuomo is looking to use publicprivate business partnerships in order to secure infrastructure and promote economic growth with a minimal commitment of state cash or risk. He cited the example of Genting Americas, which is looking to spend $4 billion to create a convention center — and possibly casinos in the future — at Aqueduct Race Track. “A company with a history of success with these kinds of projects around the world

Kenneth Adams, Commissioner, NYS Dept. of Economic Development. wants to spend $4 billion of its own money,” he said. Another is the state’s attempt to get private companies to build high-capacity electrical lines capable of carrying electricity from where it is generated in upstate and the Canadian province of Quebec and get it to markets in New York City and on Long Island with their increasing demand for energy.

PHOTO BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE

“The government is not taking all the risk,” he said. As for managing and streamlining state government, Adams said spending reductions are just the beginning. He began by presenting the state organizational chart from 1927 under Gov. Alfred E. Smith, with 18 departments answering to the executive continued on page 39

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QUEENS NEWS

Hearing on district lines draws crowd Residents, pols slam state group for plan they say is vastly unfair by Anna Gustafson

“We say today in a loud and clear voice to our governor, ‘Just say no to the LATFOR he group of state legislators that drew proposal,’” Gadsden said. “As citizens of this the proposed district lines for the state, we call on you to keep your word and Assembly and Senate should be exiled veto LATFOR’s lines. The mere proposal of to New Jersey after creating areas resembling this voter disenfranchisement and dilution bill Rorschach ink blots that split apart communi- renders LATFOR without credit or merit and ties and dilute minority voters’ power — or, at they should be disbanded immediately.” the very least, be sent back to the drawing Those speaking at the rally took particular board — irate residents and legislators said at issue with state Republicans for creating a a hearing in Queens this week. 63rd Senate District, which does not currently Hundreds of people packed a room at exist, upstate, which they said is an attempt to Queens Borough Hall on Tuesday for a hear- gain a conservative, predominantly white dising held by the Legislative Task Force on trict as opposed to creating a minority district Demographic Research and Reapportionment, in New York City or on Long Island. often referred to as LATFOR. Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) LATFOR, made up mostly of legislators, called the plan “borderline racism.” including the majority leaders from each “When you look at southeastern Queens, chamber, released its proposed district lines the community has been spread around four for the state Assembly and Senate late last Senate districts,” Wills said. “Senate District month as part of the redistricting process that 10 was drawn from Addisleigh Park all the occurs once every 10 years after the federal way to Far Rockaway. We have no idea how Census numbers are released. that could’ve been done.” “You knew what the right thing to do was, According to many residents at the forum, and you still didn’t do it,” said Ali Najmi, an the proposed lines divide communities of attorney with SEVA, a Richmond Hill-based interest and pit Democrats against Democrats, nonprofit that works with South Asian and including removing state Sen. Toby Stavisky’s West Indian populations in Queens. “This task (D-Whitestone) home from the area she repreforce has failed the people of New York, and sents, the 16th Senate District, placing it in the you should all be exiled to New Jersey.” 11th Senate District, represented by state Sen. More than 125 people signed up to speak Tony Avella (D-Bayside), meaning Stavisky during the hearing, which was chaired by state would have to run against Avella if the boundSen. Michael Nozzolio (R-Seneca Falls) and aries were adopted. Assemblyman John McEneny (D-Albany). “Gentlemen, I’m here to help you draw the Many of those who spoke lambasted the task lines,” Stavisky said at the hearing, garnering force for its proposed lines, which, if they are laughter and applause from the audience. to be implemented, must be passed by the state “They have to be better than the lines you’ve Legislature and approved by Gov. Cuomo — started out with.” who has promised to veto the proposal if it “We cannot wait another 10 years for faircomes before him as proposed. ness and equality,” Stavisky continued. More than 100 people also rallied against While Republican leaders have said they the proposed lines outside Borough Hall just changed the areas represented by Stavisky and prior to the hearing, including Leroy Gads- Avella to create the first-ever Asian-American den, president of the Jamaica branch of the majority district in the Senate, minority NAACP; Democratic District Leaders Costa groups criticized the lines. Constantinides, of Astoria, and Martha Tay“The current proposal, groundbreaking as it lor, of Jamaica Estates; the Rev. Charles is, divides the neighborhood of Flushing,” said Norris, pastor of Bethesda Missionary Bap- James Hong, of the Flushing-based Asian tist Church in Jamaica; Councilman Danny American Community Coalition on RedistrictDromm (D-Jackson Heights); and Archie ing and Democracy. Spigner, a former councilman representing Jerry Vattamala, a staff attorney at the much of Southeast Queens. Democracy Program for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said while his organization is pleased with a number of the proposed Asian majority Assembly districts, it is not happy with Senate District 16. “This proposed district could be improved by eliminating the northern appendage that captures Bay Terrace,” Vattamala said. “This portion has a population of roughly 16,000 people. We recommend that an equal number of people be added from Flushing.” Bay Terrace Community Alliance President Warren Schreiber agreed, Residents crowded into a room in Borough Hall to voice their opposition saying his neighborhood to the proposed redistricting lines. more strongly identifies Senior Editor

More than 100 people gathered outside Borough Hall on Tuesday to rally against the proposed redistricting lines, including Councilman Danny Dromm, left, civil rights activist Leroy Gadsden, PHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON and Democratic District Leader Costa Constantinides. with Bayside than Flushing and should be in Senate District 11, not 16. “To my friends in the Asian community, let’s work together,” Schreiber said. “They want to use the tactic of divide and conquer — let’s not let that happen.” “The process of setting district lines is self-serving and entirely serves the politicians,” Schreiber continued. “We are not part of Flushing; we are part of the community of Bayside. We always have been and always will be.” Like Stavisky, Avella took the task force to, well, task. “The exclusion of Bay Terrace from the 11th Senatorial District, which is surrounded by the communities of Whitestone and Bayside that are in the 11th Senatorial District, demonstrates that this Republican plan is politically motivated,” Avella said. “In fact, Bay Terrace was appropriately included in the 11th Senatorial District until it was gerrymandered out of the district 20 years ago through the same type of overtly partisan redistricting process.” Avella and Nozziolo sparred during his testimony, with the Queens politician asking Nozziolo to “pay attention” when the upstate senator began speaking with another task force member while Avella was talking. “This attitude goes to show why we’re here — the Republicans have drawn a totally partisan plan to protect themselves,” Avella said to Nozziolo. “You should be ashamed of yourself.” Nozziolo retaliated, saying the panel had not received Avella’s written testimony and for the Bayside legislator to tell him “specifically” with which maps he had a problem. “You know, senator, you know,” Avella said. “Senator, this is a disgrace.” “The proposed lines more closely resemble jigsaw puzzle pieces and Rorschach ink blots, as opposed to contiguous and compact district lines drawn to protect voter rights and represent the common social and economic

interests of local residents,” Avella continued. The proposal would also place state Sen. Michael Gianaris’ (D-Astoria) house in northeast Astoria in state Sen. Jose Peralta’s (DJackson Heights) district. “Today you are being called out — called out for your disgraceful manipulation of the democratic process to prevent communities throughout this state from achieving the representation their numbers warrant,” Gianaris said. A large number of South Asian organizations said LATFOR cracked their community lines. “You had the audacity to chop us up,” Vishnu Mahadeo, president of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Corporation, said of the Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park area, which is proposed to be divided among five Assembly districts. “You’re disenfranchising a very large community.” State Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) agreed with Mahadeo. “The map would thus divide Richmond Hill, cracking the South Asian community,” said Weprin, who would lose Fresh Meadows, most of Bellerose and parts of Bayside and Glen Oaks while picking up portions of Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens. “From just looking at the map you can see the different shape. It would be long and thin and barely meets the criteria for being contiguous, as compared to my current district, which is more rectangular in shape and compact.” Bob Friedrich, the president of Glen Oaks Village Co-op and a civic activist who has long advocated for a fair redistricting process, also criticized plans for District 24, as well as other Assembly districts in northeast Queens. “The new legislative lines are an abomination,” Friedrich said. “You have taken the 24th Assembly District and sliced and diced communities haphazardly along a Q narrow corridor.”

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

SOUTH

Residents slam traffic change plan at forum Large crowd attends meeting on city proposal to make two streets one-way Senior Editor

After last week’s contentious meeting during which numerous residents condemned the city’s proposal to redirect traffic on two streets in Woodhaven and Ozone Park, Community Board 9 members are expected to table their upcoming vote on whether or not to approve the controversial plan. “There will probably be a motion to put it over to March, instead of doing it at the February meeting” said CB 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey. The board had been slated to vote at its January meeting on the city Department of Transportation’s proposal to change 84th Street in Woodhaven from one-way northbound to one-way southbound from Liberty to Atlantic avenues and convert 89th Avenue in Ozone Park from a two-way to a one-way street running eastbound between Woodhaven Boulevard and 97th Street, but pushed back the decision following an outcry about the plan from an irate group of residents. Queens DOT Commissioner Maura McCarthy and more than 150 people attended a public forum on the matter at St. Elizabeth’s Churcg in Ozone Park last Wednesday night. The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association requested the meeting because many individuals said they hadn’t been able to sufficiently learn about the plan, nor voice opinions on it in public. “If we close off these streets, we might as well isolate the two communities forever,” Maria Thomson, a CB 9 member and

Alex Blenkinsopp, of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, and Queens DOT Commissioner Maura McCarthy address a crowd of more than 150 people at a public forum on the city’s proposal PHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON to change traffic patterns on two streets. executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, said in reference to Woodhaven and Ozone Park. Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association President Ed Wendell agreed. “These two communities have a relationship that depends on them being able to cross a border,” he said. “…We’re proposing to close a door, and it’s not going to help these communities.” Many of the residents attending the forum said they believed it was unfair that CB 9 would vote on the matter during its Feb. 14 meeting because it is being held in Kew

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Gardens, not in the impacted communities. Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) urged CB 9 to delay its vote until March, when affected residents could more easily attend the meeting. “With such a large outpouring of community opposition, it is hard to see how these plans can continue as proposed,” Miller write in a Feb. 2 letter to Carey. McCarthy emphasized that while the city proposed the traffic changes, it did so in response to requests from the community board. “The DOT is not going to implement this

over the rejection of the community,” McCarthy said. “We only do that if it’s a safety issue.” “We get suggestions from one person, ten people, a hundred people,” McCarthy continued. “We investigate it. We go back to the community board, and the community board canvasses the community and takes a vote.” However, when Alex Blenkinsopp, WRBA’s communication director, asked if any residents in the audience had been canvassed by CB 9, no one came forward. “In that case, commissioner, it seems like perhaps the canvassing needs to be redone and the proposal should be retracted by DOT,” Blenkinsopp said. Carey emphasized that the board works hard to reach out to its residents, saying it has a “mailing list of over 900 individuals.” Sam Esposito, a CB 9 member, said the board had not gotten any requests from residents to change the traffic direction on 84th Street. “It was only done at the request of Boston Market,” Esposito said. “No resident asked for this.” Boston Market did not respond to a request for comment. Vance Barbour, also of the WRBA, said if the board does end up approving it, and the city greenlights the plan, the DOT will be flooded with complaints. “There will be a whole bunch of people suggesting to DOT that we reverse these Q changes,” Barbour said.

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EDITORIAL

PAGE

City blocking boys’ sports teams e’re getting a little tired of writing editorials that begin with phrases like “Just when you thought the Department of Education couldn’t get dumber comes this new policy you won’t believe” — but we keep finding ourselves forced to do so. Here we go again. The latest educratic nonsense is a ban on the establishment of boys’ sports teams in new high schools. There will be no Metropolitan HS football team, no Maspeth HS baseball team. Why? Because like most school systems, the city historically has had far more boys in sports than girls. That’s forbidden under the federal anti-discrimination law known as Title IX. So to correct the imbalance, rather than just recruit more girls, the city is barring new boys’ teams. There’s nothing like fixing past discrimination with present and future discrimination. In case anyone’s somehow unaware of the benefits of team sports, they build character in young people making the choices that will chart the rest of their lives. They build community by encouraging the teamwork that makes for success. They give kids who might fall for the lure of the street a productive activity in which to engage. They help fight the obesity epidemic that’s overtaken the country in recent decades.

Of course you know all this. Apparently the DOE does not. Credit goes to Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley of Middle Village for bringing this issue to public attention. Crowley has two boys in Metropolitan High School in Forest Hills, and doubtlessly wishes they could try out for a team. That’s how the Eli Mannings of the world get their start. We urge the city to reverse course immediately and set up both boys’ and girls’ teams in new schools. But we’re not very optimistic it will happen, because one ridiculous education policy after another has come to light in this twilight zone of Mayor Bloomberg’s third term. You’ll recall that: • new schools are being built without gyms, even as the city claims to be fighting childhood obesity; • elementary school children are losing their yellow buses and being given MetroCards to get to school on their own; • students at schools like Jamaica High School that are being phased out are being denied honors and advanced placement classes, along with a host of other resources, while their peers attending the new specialty schools in the same building get the best of everything. The downsides of mayoral control of the schools are getting closer to outweighing the benefits by the day.

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Veto these lines Dear Editor: In regard to the newly drawn district lines, they do not reflect fair and independent districts. The result of this plan will be matching excellent current Queens state senators against each other. This will result in losing excellent senators who were duly elected by their respective constituents. Our community of Woodhaven has one state senator, Honorable Joseph Addabbo. This is who we elected and who we choose and we are very pleased with our choice. It also has been stated that our Assemblyman Michael Miller will lose part of his district. These proposed plans will be very disruptive to our Woodhaven community and our representatives. We are very patriotic, and turn out to vote in every election. Our votes and who we elect should be respected. It is heartening to know that our Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has every intention of vetoing this plan. Our Woodhaven thanks our governor for this veto, for we veto it as well. Maria A. Thomson Woodhaven

Contributors: Lloyd Carroll, Ronald Marzlock

Photographer: Steve Malecki

Crowley no ‘saviour’ I

Interns:

Dear Editor: We couldn’t help but notice that during Council Member Elizabeth Crowley’s recent interview with your paper (“Elizabeth Crowley on the 30th District,” Feb. 2, multiple editions) she repeated her trite assertion that land owned by Martin Luther High School will become a park because they are a “willing seller.” Martin Luther is on record only having said that they would “listen to what the city has to say.” That is far from the done deal that Crowley is making it out to be. It was premature for her to announce a shift of money away from the St. Saviour’s project when that money could have leveraged other funding for it. In previous interviews, Crowley said she would continue to work toward making the St. Saviour’s site a park. In this latest interview, it sounds as though she has ruled that out. While it is disappointing that we most likely will not get the sizable park that we deserve, it is even

Will Sammon, Benjamin K. Weitzenkorn, Kevin Korber

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160,000

Give pimps the max in prison ex trafficking and forced prostitution are horrific crimes and nothing unusual in Queens. Among the most common victims are women and girls from other countries who immigrate here hoping to find good jobs and build new lives, only to be enslaved by criminals who then pimp them out. But state Sen. Jose Peralta and Assemblyman Francisco Moya, both Democrats of Jackson Heights, are doing what they can to protect women from that life. Their latest effort is a bill that would reclassify sex trafficking as a violent felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, compared to the current three. It should be passed and signed into law without delay. The Chronicle has highlighted this issue for years, and has been recognized by the Queens-based Center for the Women of New York both for our coverage and our longstanding refusal to accept ads for “escorts” and “massage parlors” that are really fronts for prostitution. We’re proud to decline the money some of our competitors make off these ads. And proud to support the Peralta-Moya bill, as we hope you also will do.

EDITOR

more disappointing that our so-called representative gave up so easily. After six years, the community still hasn’t given up hope on this project, but after three years, we have given up hope that Crowley will actually accomplish something that improves life in Maspeth. Frank and Eileen Nevarez Maspeth

their elected off icials? Why does she believe that her own district is not worth the same money and effort? With the last name Crowley, and the clout that it supposedly carries in political circles, there is no excuse for this project not getting done. Maureen Mullaney Maspeth

Crowley no ‘saviour’ II

Four more years

Dear Editor: Under guidelines set forth by the city Department of City Planning, based upon the current residential population of about 35,000 (which is certainly undercounted because of illegal home conversions), Maspeth should have 88 acres of parkland at their disposal. In reality, Maspeth only has 12 acres of parkland, so why does Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley think it is wise to give up on the 1.5-acre St. Saviour’s project in order to focus on the non-guaranteed 1/3acre Martin Luther site? Why is she citing high cost as a reason for not acquiring the larger site when other communities across the city are getting new, larger and much more expensive parkland, via either direct sale or condemnation, with the support of

Dear Editor: I wish to respond to several silly remarks made by Dylan Robnett in his Jan. 26 letter, “Dem lousy lies.” During my political discourse I called the GOP morally wrong. Dylan twisted my intent by using such stupid phrases as “juvenile attempts” and “heartless monsters.” He had hoped to turn you readers against me. Folks, these GOP critics love to spit out venom! Do you recall RNC Chairman Preibus comparing our president to that cowardly Italian ship captain? How low can the GOP go? If they try to trash me, a lifelong Truman Democrat ... they’re in for a fight! However, I was pleased to read that Dylan spoke the truth about the GOP’s real goal for Social Security: “Republicans should reject socialist programs like Social Security.” Boy,

SQ page 9

Feed birds, find poop Dear Editor: I was glad to read that Danny Dromm is drawing attention to the continuing problem of pigeon droppings at the 74th St.-Broadway 7 Train station (“MTA should deal with 7 Train poop, pol says,” Feb. 2, Western Queens edition) but the well-meaning councilman’s suggested remedy misses the mark. Expecting the MTA to continuously clean the mess is a waste of time and resources because it targets the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. Anybody who uses the transit system, especially during the early morning hours, can’t but help notice so-called bird lovers freely feeding pigeons with bags of seeds, bread crumbs and other scraps on a daily basis. For years now one woman who lives near the 46th St./Bliss St. stop in Sunnyside regularly brings an entire shopping cart fully loaded with bird seed and nuts, scattering them copiously underneath the el all the way down Queens Boulevard. Vast flocks of pigeons descend like it’s a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” leaving a filthy mess of droppings, feathers and crumbs which of course attracts rats and other vermin. Can anyone seriously doubt that reckless and constant bird feeding by unchallenged and irresponsible individuals is the root cause of the overpopulation of pigeons all along the 7 line? The problem is in fact a law enforcement issue and must be tackled first by the police and the DSNY. Until these individuals are restrained by being ticketed or otherwise compelled to change their behavior, this serious health hazard will persist. The good councilman would do better to appeal to the NYPD and not the MTA to kick off his commendable campaign for a cleaner, more sanitary 74th St./Broadway subway station. Ciaran Donohue Sunnyside

Hey driver, stop here Dear Editor: What really appalls me is that while most of the Q23 bus drivers do stop at the Metropolitan Avenue Library in Forest Hills many of them do not, explaining that the stop is only for the Q54. Why is this? The drivers that don’t often end up getting into arguments with passengers.

I have been contacting the MTA, CB6, Forest Hills Civics and Councilwoman Koslowitz’s office, but nothing seems to be done. If the Q23 isn’t allowed to stop there, why is the Q54? Shouldn’t it be that if you do it for one then you have to do it for everybody? James Jagiello Forest Hills

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Obama v. religious freedom Dear Editor: It appears that the Obama administration has a major problem with the concept of freedom of religion. First, it tried to stop a church from firing an employee with ministerial duties. Fortunately, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in the case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC that under the First Amendment to the Constitution, the government does not have any say in the hiring and firing practices of employees with those duties. Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has ruled that religious organizations could delay but not opt out of a requirement that all health plans must cover contraception (including the morning-after pill) and sterilization with no co-pay. This goes against the moral teachings of the Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations. Should the government be allowed to dictate to religious organizations obligations that they vehemently oppose? I realize that many readers oppose the tenets of the Catholic Church but do they also believe that the Church should abandon its principles and conform to the wishes of the government? Will Catholic schools and hospitals comply with this intrusion into moral beliefs? If push comes to shove, I believe that they will drop healthcare for all their employees rather than submit to government dictates. Is this the optimal result? There is a solution. There is legislation in Congress exempting Catholic institutions from HHS requirements. I urge all of our legislators to support this bill. I would like to ask the Chronicle to follow up on this issue and report on how our representatives plan on voting. Lenny Rodin Forest Hills Editor’s Note: Ask and you shall receive — see our article on the issue in some print editions this week, or at qchron.com.

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what a blunder! He just gave Obama 55 million senior votes. Another dumb remark: “Putting people on food stamps is not generous, it is very dangerous.” Mr. Robnett, are you aware Bush 43 added more folks on food stamps than Obama? As for his, “Let the states experiment in aid to the chronically poor,” I wonder if he supports Mitt Romney’s classic gaffe, “I am not concerned about the very poor ... “ In closing I wish to make two thoughts. 1. Kudos to John Molnar of Bayside for his excellent letter, also Jan. 26, “A party hijacked.” His “ ... Right on Mr. Pilla, write on,” will encourage me to support our president even more! 2. I urge John and fellow letter writer Edward Horn to join me and enlist in Barack Obama’s citizens’ army. Our commander in chief will lead “Operation 4 more years” to total victory against the GOP/Citizens United money boys in the fall campaign! Anthony G. Pilla Forest Hills

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

LETTERS TO THE DITOR

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 10

SQ page 10

Celebrating the life savers The West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps will celebrate its 84th anniversary with a dinner, dance and installation of officers at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. “This is the one big fundraiser the department holds annually and always appreciates the great support that it receives from the community,” said Chief Joseph Aldana. “Please help us continue to help you.” This year’s honorees will be Joseph DeCandia Jr., owner of Lenny’s Clam Bar and Roma View, and Jimmy Kolm, owner of Liberty Bell Car Care. The department will also honor 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 ex-chief Kevin Delano. The West Hamilton Beach volunteers provide services for residents in Rockwood Park, Spring Creek, Old Howard Beach, Ramblersville and West Hamilton Beach. It also provides services along the Belt Parkway. The department receives most of its funding from the community. For more information, or for tickets, Q call (718) 843-1716.

CB 10 advocates for better infrastructure Say it’s needed before center is built by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

While the media buzz surrounding Gov. Cuomo’s proposal to build the nation’s largest convention center in South Ozone Park has largely died down, South Queens residents certainly have not forgotten the plan and are continuing to urge the state to address a myriad of infrastructure problems in the neighborhood before millions of more visitors flock to their once quiet streets. “What’s not being talked about right now is that it’s very, very difficult to get here,” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (DOzone Park) said during the Community Board 10 meeting in South Ozone Park last Thursday. “I need to know infrastructure and transportation are going to be a priority. The community comes first and foremost over anything else.” While Genting, the company that operates the new Resorts World Casino New York City at Aqueduct and which would fund and run the convention center, originally estimated the gambling facility would draw about eight million people to the area annually, CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton called that number a “lowball” figure that will likely grow to around

nine or 10 million. Since the casino opened last fall, traffic congestion on area streets, particularly Rockaway Boulevard, has increased and residents frequently complain that their driveways are being blocked. Braton added that South Ozone Park’s population essentially doubles during any given weekend because of residents flocking to the casino. “We would like to see the state and city enter into serious infrastructure improvements,” Braton said. The chairwoman noted that U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-Queens, Brooklyn) recently received a letter from Cuomo that stated the governor agrees with the congressman that the community should be involved in the convention center planning process. Turner had asked the governor to include CB 10 when planning the center. “We share a common goal of fostering a positive economic environment in order to get New Yorkers back to work, and I fully understand and appreciate your concerns for an open and transparent planning process with a key role reserved for the local community board,” Cuomo said Q in his letter to Turner.

Club awarded $5K grant The South Queens Boys and Girls Club, a nonprofit group based in Richmond Hill, has received a financial boost from Taco Bell to help them fund a college and career preparation program. The Taco Bell Foundation gave the club’s Future Readiness program a $5,000 grant, which allowed the SQBGC to hold its first career seminar. During the event, teens enjoyed a dinner at London Lennie’s in Rego Park that featured guests who spoke to the students about future careers, including Joseph Liana, the senior vice president at Ameriprise Financial Services. In addition to the career seminar, the teens visited local colleges, including Long Island University and Nassau Community College. The career program, and other teen center programs which are geared towards academic success and community service, gives students the advantage of gaining the skills and information that they need to be successful in their future endeavors after high school, club members said. Many students have praised the program, including Richmond Hill resident Nadira Beepat, 16, who has participated in the dance team, fashion program and robotics program. For more information, go to Q sqbgc.net.

City urged to address Hurricane damage relief funds offered ‘dangerous’ streets Goldfeder says traffic calming needed Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (DOzone Park) is urging city officials to do something about a Lindenwood intersection after numerous residents voiced concerns about the junction. Goldfeder recently sent a letter to Queens Department of Transportation Commissioner Maura McCarthy, requesting an investigation into what he called “the dangerous convergence” at 88th Street and 153rd Avenue. Goldfeder and area residents said they are hoping the city

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, left, discusses a problematic intersection with area residents Renate Teuschler, Michael Gulluscio, Frank Gulluscio and CB 10 Chairwoman PHOTO COURTESY NYS ASSEMBLY Betty Braton.

could install a median or traffic-calming circle. According to Goldfeder, the three-way intersection is not up to snuff for the neighborhood, with a painted triangle and signage that presently direct traffic being difficult to follow. He added that the signs frequently go unnoticed by drivers. “This intersection is a constant danger and eyesore for the community,” Goldfeder said in a prepared statement. “Our families should not have to deal with unsafe conditions as they go about their daily lives. The intersection creates a dangerous environment for motorists and pedestrians alike.” Once a number of residents and civic leaders expressed concerns about the corner, Goldfeder said he suggested placing several barriers along the center of the intersection to properly direct the flow of traffic. “It’s been dangerous for a long time,” said Frank Gulluscio, an area resident and civic leader. “People don’t look; it’s a serious accident waiting to happen.” Goldfeder also sent a letter to Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski because Goldfeder said he’d like to see a Q green space built in the area.

For small biz, nonprofits, landlords

Small businesses, nonprofit groups and the owners of multi-family buildings that suffered flood damage from Hurricane Irene are eligible for up to $20,000 apiece under a new $21 million state program, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway) reminds residents. “Months after Hurricane Irene, many of the people who do business in southern Queens and Rockaway are still recovering from the destruction,” Goldfeder said in a prepared statement. “FEMA attended to the needs of homeowners immediately after the storm, but small businesses and nonprofit organizations were left holding the bill for thousands of dollars in damage. The grant, administered by the Empire State Development Corporation, is designed to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations get back on their feet with the rebuilding and restoration of offices that were damaged by the storm. To be eligible for the grant, an entity must have sustained direct damage from Hurricane Irene. Rebuilding and restoration projects are not eligible for the grant if they have already been covered by other federal, state or local programs. “As your assemblyman, I know firsthand that many businesses and not-for-profits are still struggling to get back on their feet as they make costly repairs,” Goldfeder said. “In a time when many of our local businesses and

Irene’s floodwaters nearly reached the heads of the parking meters in Howard Beach. FILE PHOTO community organizations are hurting, spending extra money to recover from a natural disaster is the last thing they can afford. I was proud to make this money available and am now excited to see it in the hands of those businesses and organizations that need it.” Applicants can obtain information by visiting assembly.state.ny.us/goldfeder, emailing floodrecovery@esd.ny.gov or calling (518) 292-5340. The forms may be completed online, but an original, signed application must be sent to: Empire State Development, Attn: Hurricane Irene-Tropical Storm Lee Flood Recovery Program, 30 South Pearl St., Q Albany NY 12245.

SQ page 11

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Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

BY RIGHT LIQUOR BUSTERS

Fire companies on the chopping block, again Pols criticize mayor’s budget plan to disband 20 units and other cuts by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

Sound the fire alarms — again. As he has since taking office, Mayor Bloomberg is threatening to throw a number of fire companies into the furnace, and Queens legislators are gearing up for what has become an annual budget battle that typically results in no, or few, units being disbanded. Bloomberg released his preliminary budget for the 2013 fiscal year last Thursday, which includes closing 20 fire companies — a proposal that he has made for three years running. In 2009, he recommended closing 16 sites, and the Bloomberg administration has shuttered seven companies between 2003 and 2009. “On the heels of the 10 busiest years in the history of the FDNY, both the mayor and City Council have to know that closing fire houses will compromise the public and firefighter safety,” said Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy. “We strongly recommend they don’t do it.” The city did not say which companies are being targeted this time around, though some speculated that the same 20 as last year may once again be fingered for closure, including four in Queens — Engine 294 at 101-20 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, Engine 306 at 40-18 214 Place in Bayside, Ladder 128 at 33-51 Greenpoint Ave. in

Long Island City and Engine 328 at 16-19 Central Ave. in Far Rockaway. “You can expect that if your community has been targeted for closure in the past, you’ll probably be targeted by City Hall again,” said Tom Butler, a spokesman for the Uniformed Firefighters Association. The 20 companies that had been slated for closure last year were saved in the final budget, as they were in previous years, but legislators said they’re still prepared to have to fight the mayor to keep the spots open once again. “Closing even a single fire company in New York City will lead to increased response times, more fire fatalities and millions of dollars in property damage,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) said in a prepared statement. Bloomberg’s preliminary $68.7 billion budget — up from the current $67.4 billion budget — would not increase taxes and proposes no layoffs of teachers or “uniformed workers.” Last year, the mayor’s plan to ax about 4,000 teachers was a highly controversial proposal that resulted in countless rallies across the city. Ultimately, the positions were retained. “Cities across the country have struggled to keep their heads above water — laying off teachers, police officers or firefighters, with a few even having to declare bankruptcy,” Bloomberg said a press conference at City Hall last week. “We’ve avoided

Mayor Bloomberg presents his budget proposal for the 2013 fiscal year, which includes cutting 20 PHOTO BY EDWARD REED/NYC fire companies and slashing library funding. those painful steps, because we spent years planning ahead, made government more efficient and saved for a rainy day. The budget we are presenting today is a balanced budget with no tax increases, no layoffs of teachers or uniformed workers and no walking away from our long-term investments.” While lawmakers have said this year’s proposal is less controversial than in years past, concerns remain, particularly with the fire companies and Bloomberg’s plan to cut

about $26.7 million from the Queens library system, chop 6 percent of all community boards’ budgets, which have not increased in about a decade, and carve about $1.6 million from borough presidents’ discretionary funding. The decrease in discretionary monies could result in the closure of six senior centers and four adult day care centers in Queens, according to Borough President Helen Marshall. “This budget once again reduces already continued on page 23

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Mayor’s proposal slashes city’s cultural spending by 40 percent by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

Queens’ arts organizations are rallying the proverbial troops as a result of Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed city budget, announced last Thursday, which cuts funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs by nearly 40 percent. The brewing f ight over that decrease reflects the historically fraught road from the mayor’s proposed budget to the executive budget he ultimately signs into law, which should take place in May or June. In the case of the DCLA, a similarly dire cut was proposed last year, according to arts organizations in the city and Queens, but was eventually amended to include approximately $50 million more. The typically low numbers projected by the Mayor’s Office and the much higher figures that get signed into law have some arts organizations frustrated over what Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer, executive director of the Queens Council on the Arts, characterized as “horse trading” and a “dance.” “This is nothing new. What happens is they release a budget and they say they’re going to kill us,” Krakauer said. “At the end of the day, after all the horse trading is done, things come to a place where not everybody’s thrilled, but I guess they are things I feel we can live with.” Last year, the city’s arts agency spent approximately $150 million, doling out money to a slew of organizations, including

for example the Queens Council on the Arts, the Astoria Performing Arts Center, Sunnyside’s Thalia Spanish Theatre and Corona’s Louis Armstrong House Museum. This year, the proposed budget would be approximately $94 million. Danai Pointer, a DCLA spokeswoman, said that since the “baseline” budget proposed by the mayor last year was $100 million — before the $50 million was subsequently reallocated or “restored” — this year’s budget only represents a $6 million decrease. “It’s not a clear picture,” Pointer said of the proposed budget. But to arts organizations that rely on the city’s funds, the proposal presents a clear threat. “This is just absolutely killer,” said Kathy Giaimo, the administrative director of Thalia Spanish Theatre. “There is just no other way to make up that money.” Giaimo noted that nearly a third of Thalia’s funding comes from the DCLA. As for whether or not the mayor’s budget proposal represents a $6 million decrease — based on the “baseline” figure from last year — or a nearly $60 million decrease, based on what the agency actually spent last year, Giaimo called the smaller calculation “fuzzy math.” “We take it at face value,” she said of the proposed budget. “We cannot continue to call ourselves the arts capital of the world if we’re constantly

yanking the rug out from the arts organizations here,” she added. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee, and Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Finance Committee, both indicated they would fight to have more funding allocated to the arts. “It is a lot of money to be restored,” Van Bramer said of the gap between last year’s figure and this year’s. “I’m really proud as the chair of cultural affairs to be a leader in that fight.” “We faced large proposed reductions last year, and at the end of the day virtually all of that funding for cultural institutions was restored,” he said. “Arts are very important to me and to Speaker Christine Quinn,” Recchia said. “We’re going to look at this thoroughly and figure out how we can get this all restored.” Recchia noted that arts organizations are major economic engines for the city in terms of tourism. “More people come here for a good exhibit at a cultural institution ... than a Yankees game or a Mets game,” he said. And, according to Recchia, arts tourists don’t just arrive in the city for an event, then leave immediately after when it’s done. “They’ll go out to eat before, they’ll go to a local restaurant, afterwards, they’ll go shopping,” he said. Norma Munn, chairwoman of the New York City Arts Coalition, said she has followed the budget process for 25 years. In

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between now and the mayor’s executive budget, the state budget must be passed, she noted, while public hearings will be held and the City Council will go through negotiations. “I’ve seen larger decreases,” she added, “but this is a large one.” Many are holding their breath. “I hope this is just the first dance on the dance card,” Krakauer said. “In my heart of hearts, I’m hoping that’s what this is.” Her advice to arts organizations is simple: “If you really think what you’re doing is important, you have to make your voice Q heard.”

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Queens arts groups say ‘no’ to budget

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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) 570-6676 or Joe at (917) 567-7138. Tickets must be paid Q for by Monday, Feb. 20.

Galante told the board at its annual budget hearing that last year when he testified, the funding cut was “nothing short of devastating,” while this year, “the scenario surpasses even that. If the budget were passed as proposed today, we would be facing job losses and library closures to a degree that is almost too absurd to detail.” The borough board is made up of the borough president, her deputy and community board district managers. Several Queens City Council members attended the hearing. Every year, like clockwork, the mayor proposes low-ball figures for the Queens Library and by June, after rallies and pressure from City Council members, a large part of the funding is restored. Last year, for example, the mayor called for cuts of $25.3 million to the Queens Library, but $23 million was restored. Galante called the latest proposal, “the largest budget challenge we have ever faced,” adding that the proposed cuts would force the system to close branches several days a week: “Around half of the 45,000 people who visit us every day would find their local library closed. The loss to the community would be unthinkable.” He noted that libraries are now open five days a week everywhere and that weekend service is available at 19 locations. In addition, after-school programs are held in every branch each school day. Galante asked council members listening to his testimony to keep up the fight for the library system as they have in the past. “I know that none of us here wants to imagine shutting the doors on the teen looking for tutoring, the new immigrant looking for English language classes, the young mother in need of an enriching environment for her children or the unemployed person looking for resume help and a computer on which to conduct job searches,” he added. “If our budget is slashed by over 40 percent as is proposed, that is exactly what would happen.” The Queens Library includes 62 locations and served more than 14 million visiQ tors last year.

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C M SQ page 15 Y K Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

No budget beatdown for seniors; some loss

NOW OPE N!

101 THRIFT

Pols ask to take lead in annual dance Assistant Editor

Seniors may not be as hard hit by the city’s proposed budget as they had been in the past, provided that elected officials can restore the discretionary funding that they typically provide. The 2013 f iscal budget for the Department for the Aging is approximately $116 million — a decrease of about $25.5 million from last year — but that money can be put back, as has been done in previous years. In June 2011, the City Council replaced $29 million to DFTA’s 2012 budget plus $5.5 million of its discretionar y funds for senior ser vices, according to the Council of Senior Centers and Services. But case management services still sustained a 16.5 percent cut and $776,000 in social service contracts were eliminated, according to the group. Bobbie Sackman, the director of public policy for CSCS, said she is pleased to see that there are no new cuts outlined in the proposed budget to DFTA. “Obviously, it’s great news because

in the past it has been cut so deeply,” Sackman said Tuesday. But she added the City Council must work to restore its discretionary funding as well as the money that comes from the borough president to eliminate budget gaps as it does every year. “We have been doing the ‘budget dance’ for many years,” Sackman said, “having to fight for the same money year after year.” City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) called the practice a waste of time and said it could be avoided if the mayor didn’t have control over the borough president’s discretionary funds, as per the City Charter. The administration has cut that money by about 40 percent over the last 10 years, according to the lawmaker. “The City Charter lets them get away with it,” Comrie said. “Giuliani did it all the time, but he didn’t do it to the level Bloomberg did.” He added that he had some concerns about whether sufficient funding would be restored. “We cannot afford to close senior centers in Queens. “We have an increasing, diverse senior population in the borough and they need to be taken Q care of.”

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Lancman begins running

Bill targets false claims

Assemblyman to seek Turner’s seat if district remains

The state Senate has approved a bill by Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) that would make it a criminal offense to use a government agency to harass a person by making false claims to officials. “Sometimes disagreements among community residents can rise to the level where one person falsely accuses another of wrongdoing and reports the alleged misdeeds to a government agency, simply to cause their neighbor grief,” Addabbo said in a statement issued by his office. “This kind of harassment not only seriously hurts the person who is wrongfully accused but leads to a waste of government resources and precious time that various agency inspectors could devote to actual violations of the law,” he said. The bill was prompted by complaints to Addabbo’s office and would allow authorities to charge a false reporter with second-degree aggravated harassment, a class A misdemeanor. Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) has a companion bill in the Assembly. Addabbo noted that he does not wish to stop reporting of legitimate wrongdoing. “But pinning false illegal behavior on another person just to cause that individual frustration, anger and time wasted fighting baseless charges is simQ ply intolerable,” he said.

by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

Assemblyman Rory Lancman began the process Tuesday to run for Congress against Republican incumbent Bob Turner by filing papers with the Federal Election Commission to form an exploratory committee. In a telephone interview, Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), said the timeframe is very short and he wants to be ready to officially file when the redistricting boundaries are announced. Should Turner’s district be retained, the Democrat will run. “The boundaries should be sorted out quickly,” Lancman said. “We are running out of time on redistricting.” Turner beat Assemblyman David Weprin in a special election last summer to replace Anthony Weiner. Lancman had wanted to run, but the Democratic Party went with Weprin. Should the district stay the same, a primary is scheduled for June 26. Lancman has already raised $130,000 for the possible run. “It’s a compressed election cycle,” he said, “and you need the groundwork that we have done.”

Lancman acknowledged that it’s never easy reclaiming a lost seat. The 9th Congressional District had been held by Weiner, a Democrat, for more than six terms. “During the last election, voters were sending a message [about Obama’s stand on Israel], but now they seek experience and drive,” he said. Lancman, 42, has served in the Assembly since 2006 and points to his achievements. “In the first six months I was there, five of my bills got passed,” he said. “Turner has done nothing in six months except to lend his name for one recent bill to block raising the federal debt ceiling.” He points to his record in Albany on issues he says are important to people such as the economy, terrorism and security. “Voters want people who can deliver,” Lancman said. “My record on Israel can’t be matched and I want to focus on the economy, get people back to work and level the playing field.” He added that he’s appalled that someone rich like Mitt Romney pays lower taxes as a percentage of his income than

Assemblyman Rory Lancman hopes to run for Bob Turner’s seat in ConFILE PHOTO gress and regain it for the Democrats. his secretary. The assemblyman also complained about the high cost of a college education. “College tuition can be over $100,000,” Lancman said. “It’s like having a mortgage without a house.” Turner’s camp has described Lancman as “another clubhouse politician,” to which the assemblyman responded: “I take my job seriously. No one else can claim that. I’ve had an impact

on the legislative process since day one and I look forward to discussing the issues.” Lancman, an attorney, represents the 25th District, which runs from Flushing through part of Briarwood to Richmond Hill. The congressional district now encompasses par t of Brooklyn, the Rockaways, South Queens nor th to Maspeth and east to Fresh Q Meadows.

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Contraception and Congress Turner, Lancman clash on religious exemption bill by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn) is cosponsoring a bill that would grant religious institutions exemptions from a new federal mandate that otherwise would require them to provide insurance coverage for contraceptive devices and drugs that are contrary to their beliefs. In a statement issued by his office on Feb. 6, Turner blasted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over the mandate, which would force private employers, including nonprofit religious institutions, to provide coverage for “all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives.” But Assemblyman Ror y Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), who has formed an explorator y committee with the intent to run against Turner in November, said Tuesday that he supports current federal regulations. The items in question include IUDs and so-called “morning-after pills” that Tu r n e r s a i d h ave a b o r t i o n - c a u s i n g properties. H.R. 1179, the Respect for Religious Rights of Conscience Act, would allow institutions to decline insurance coverage for specific items and services that are contrary to their religious beliefs. Turner said the mandate is a blatant violation of the First Amendment, and that ev e r y p e r s o n o f f a i t h ,

regardless of his or her religion, should be concerned. “As a Catholic and an American who b e l i eve s i n r e l i g i o u s f r e e d o m , t h e thought of government forcing an organization to go against its very morals is appalling,” he said. “This could open the door to further mandates that will force religious institutions to choose between providing care in a way that f its their values and beliefs or facing penalties from the very government that was founded on protecting those values and beliefs. “This mandate penalizes religious organizations simply because they choose to follow beliefs that are older than the country itself,” he said. Current laws exempt churches themselves, but not institutions such as religious hospitals, schools and charities. Lancman said in a telephone interview that he had not yet read the new bill, but believes that regulations put in place last year, with one-year grace periods for non-exempt religious organizations, are sufficient. “As long as people are getting their health insurance primarily through their employers, health insurance needs to provide what is medically necessary and appropriate,” Lancman said. “I believe very strongly that individuals need to be free to make their own healthcare choices,” he said. “I don’t think employers should be dictating to

individuals what their choices should be. That should be up to their personal consciences.” L a n c m a n ’s v i ew i s s u p p o r t e d by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (DQueens and Manhattan). “ I s t r o n g ly s u p p o r t P r e s i d e n t Obama’s decision to give any organization that is not solely religious one year to comply with the preventive care provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including all FDA-approved birth control medication,” Maloney said Tuesday in a statement issued by her office. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) had about the same to say about a companion bill being sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Marco Rubio (RFla.). “The use of birth control is a personal decision that should not be affected by your workplace,” said her statement. “It should be up to a woman and her family to decide to use it or not, not her boss.” Turner did get support from the Rev. N.J. L’Hereux Jr., executive director of The Queens Federation of Churches. He also said he had not read the new bill. “The exception for religious organizations is far too narrow,” he said. “Organizations such as Catholic Charities, Catholic hospitals should be free to be exempt if their consciences are offended Q by reason of this requirement.”

Holocaust day at Qns. College The third annual Queens International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be commemorated at Queens College on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Student Union Building. This year, organizers are honoring what they described as the “forgotten minorities,” persecuted during the Nazi regime: gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, disabled persons and “righteous Christians,” who supported the underdogs. Organizers say it is their duty to place people of all faiths on guard against a repetition of the genocide and to find a common understanding to promote solidarity against ethnic misunderstanding and bigotry. To further that goal, leaders from the Baha’i faith and Coptic Christians will discuss their difficulties today in Iran and Egypt. In addition, Hindu and Buddhist leaders will discuss their peaceful outreach methods. International Holocaust Remembrance Day was begun in 2005 by the United Nations and is usually celebrated in January. This year’s event is being held later due to scheduling difficulties. This event should not be confused with Yom Hashoah, the Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be commemorated this year on April 19. It commemorates those who were killed by the Nazis. ºQ

Federal MTA funding at risk Transportation bill endangers more than $1 billion by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

“The Republican transportation bill isn’t worth a warm bucket of asphalt.” — Democratic New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney

Maloney, in a statement issued by her office, was far more blunt. “The Republican transportation bill isn’t worth a warm bucket of asphalt,” she said. “The Republicans need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a bill that keeps the dedicated funding stream for mass transit that we’ve had since the Reagan administration.” Maloney said the MTA receives more than $1 billion every year from the fund, and that it is needed “to ensure that the

MTA’s system continues to be safe and reliable for the long term.” Gene Russianoff, spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign, echoed Maloney’s sentiments. And he said the damage would not be limited to the MTA’s environs. “The House bill turns its back on decades of better transit in New York and all around America,” he said. Even Congressman Turner, who did not attend the press conference, was turning up the heat under his Republican colleagues. In a letter to Chairman John Mica (RFla.) and Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Turner expressed his concern about how the bill has been shaping up. Turner wrote that the city has more than 1,000 bridges, 38 miles of elevated highways and 19,000 lane miles of roadways serving 8.5 million people and 45 Fortune 500 companies. “As business and commerce capital of the world, New York is competing on behalf of the entire nation with places like London, Hong Kong and Tokyo,” Turner wrote. He said the city’s ability to continue in all those roles “is dependent on maintaining and improving its unique public transQ portation network.”

PHOTO COURTESY NYPD

City and Queens officials are roundly panning a federal transportation bill that has Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan and Queens) praising Ronald Reagan and Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn) critical of a GOP plan. The bill could strip $1.7 billion from the state and have a serious impact on city and suburban public transportation. It would cut off access to funding from the federal Highway Trust Fund, which consists of national gasoline tax revenue. A share of the fund has been dedicated to transit agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority since 1983. The new proposal would force the MTA and transit systems nationwide to ask Congress on an annual basis for needed capital and infrastructure money. Numerous off icials lodged their protests at a press conference Monday at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. “The proposal would substitute a reliable source of funding with an undetermined and wholly unreliable commitment,” MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota said in a joint press statement issued by the office of Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens and the Bronx). “The bill passed by the House Ways and Means Committee illustrates once again how dysfunctional Congress has

become,” Mayor Bloomberg said. Lhota and Crowley said the shift to uncertain funding would devastate the MTA’s ability to plan and fund its longterm capital projects. Crowley also said it would have an impact on transit- and non-transit-related jobs in the city and outlying areas.

Woman missing from Flushing Police are asking for the public’s help in the search for a missing woman in Flushing. Xiu Lan Shen, 83, of 43-40 Union St., was last seen at a doctor’s office at 13620 38 Ave. in Flushing on Jan. 30. She has not been seen since. Shen is described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 105 pounds. She was last seen wearing a brown jacket, black sneakers and black pants. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

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OPINION

City must not ban boys’ sports in new schools extracur ricular by Elizabeth Crowley In 2010, the New York City Depart- activities — ones ment of Education was slapped with a which can help lawsuit for its failure to comply with Title them focus more on and IX regulations and provide equal athletic academics opportunities for girls and boys in New make them more York City high schools. In an attempt to attractive candidates correct this imbalance, the Department of to prospective colEducation has put an embargo on the cre- leges. Athletics ation of new boys’ teams altogether — offer young people effectively discriminating against boys in the chance to build new schools and continuing to disparage social skills, develop friendships and open themselves up to future educational and girls in existing schools. In New York City there is nearly an 8 athletic opportunities. This year, I have urged Chancellor percent difference between the number of girls who are enrolled in the district and Walcott to deal with the gender-based the number of female student-athletes. If inequalities throughout New York City. this gap were closed, it would allow an What the Department of Education must additional 17,000 girls to participate in a realize is that the current policy fails to sport. In order to close it, the DOE is rely- tackle gender inequality in the schools it ing on new schools to establish a better is currently happening in, and this jeoparbalance. By granting solely girls’ teams in dizes everyone’s chance at participating in extracurricular athnew schools, and letics. This is a denying opportunipassive and inefties for boys, the fective approach administration harged with not fielding which has been hopes the imballargely unsuccessance will work enough sports teams for ful in solving a itself out over time. decade-long issue A more f itting girls, the city is now and prevents New solution would be disallowing boys’ teams York City schools to evaluate each from providing a school based on its in new schools — trying well-rounded eduindividual merits. cation to all of its Just as the NCAA to rectify discrimination students. would not punish with more discrimination. Title IX regulaSt. John’s Universitions were estabty if Ohio State lished so that “no were non-compliant, the DOE should not punish a brand- person in the United States shall, on the new school with no established imbalance basis of sex, be excluded from participabecause another has a large participation tion in, be denied the benefits of, or be gap. The discrepancies between boys’ and subjected to discrimination under any girls’ sports teams need to be evaluated on education program or activity.” In other a school-by-school basis so that we can words, we must provide equal opportunitarget the individual schools with well- ties to male and female students in prodocumented inequalities and allow new portion to their enrollment rate. Only schools to grow diverse, robust sports through evaluating schools on an individual basis will we be able to do this programs. Q The logic behind the current DOE plan effectively. Elizabeth Crowley is New York City is not only flawed, but extremely disappointing to thousands of young people Councilwoman for the 30th District in who wish to partake in their favorite west-central Queens.

High School meeting on Monday

Parents, students and residents are invited to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall’s school community meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will allow people affected by the city’s plans to implement the turnaround model at borough high schools to voice their opinions on it. Residents will be able to share their concerns with Marshall and Panel for Educational Policy member Dmytro Fedkowskyj. Please present hard copy testimony since speaking time will be limited. For more information, contact Roseann Darche’s office at (718) 286-2626 or email rdarche@queensbp.org. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. in room 200 at Queens Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Q Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens.

TELL US THE NEWS! REPORT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ISSUES DIRECTLY TO SENIOR EDITOR ANNA GUSTAFSON AT (718) 205.8000, EXT. 122

City discrimination in high school sports? Ban on new boys’ teams at issue by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

The Department of Education is practicing discrimination against boys in a misguided effort to make up for what federal law sees as past discrimination against girls, a councilwoman charged this week. It’s doing that by refusing to field boys’ sports teams in new schools like Maspeth High School and Metropolitan High School, said the lawmaker, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village). The DOE said in response that the Public Schools Athletic League has focused on new girls’ teams this year but is planning a more balanced approach next year. The issue is federal Title IX regulations, which require equal treatment of both sexes. Since more boys than girls have historically joined sports teams, the DOE, as well as other school systems nationwide, has been emphasizing the addition of teams for young women. But the outright ban on boys’ teams in new schools is not the answer, said Crowley, who has two sons at Metropolitan. “The logic behind the current DOE plan is not only flawed, but extremely disappointing to thousands of young people who wish to partake in their favorite extracur-

ricular activities — ones which can help them focus more on academics and make them more attractive candidates to prospective colleges,” she said in an op-ed sent to the Chronicle this week. Dmytro Fedkowskyj, the Queens rep on the Panel for Educational Policy, said the DOE policy is short-sighted and unfair, and that he will discuss it with schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott before final decisions on teams are made for the next school year. The policy makes the city’s new schools less attractive to students, he added: “If the goal is to reduce overcrowding in our existing high schools than the DOE needs to create an inviting and balanced atmosphere in our new high schools, otherwise most students just won’t go.” Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), a former teacher, said the policy is “unbelievable” and that a well-rounded education is about more than academics. “We are working hard to develop a plan for next year to create both boys and girls teams in new schools, while still maintaining our effort to increase overall female participation,” DOE spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said in an email, adding that the department agrees all students should have the chance to reap the benefits of sports. Q

Miller to propose rail reuse and expansion Assemblyman wants to link south Queens with lower Manhattan by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

The abandoned Long Island Rail Road tracks between Rego Park and the Rockaways have been in the news for several weeks. But they have been on state Assemblyman Mike Miller’s radar considerably longer, and this week, Miller (D-Woodhaven) plans to lay out his ideas for reinstituting rail service for southeastern Queens. He plans to release the information in a press conference on Friday with Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Beach). “I had been working for a few months on a plan that would take people into lower Manhattan and connect with the E and F lines on Queens Boulevard,” Miller said in a recent telephone interview. “I’ve been working with transit experts. We could connect the areas of Ozone Park and Woodhaven. We could go up past Glendale using existing tracks that are just sitting there not being used.” He also said there could be an opportunity to expand AirTrain service. The old Rockaway Beach branch was discontinued by the Long Island Rail Road in 1962. The tracks and the right of way

now belong the city, though the stretch between Ozone Park and Rego Park is largely overgrown with trees and shrubs; the rail beds have eroded in many places; and in some places they no longer exist. “Then people started to talk about a greenway,” Miller said. “It’s another use for unutilized tracks. It’s an option to look at.” Then Gov. Cuomo in his State of the State Address in early January proposed building a large convention center at the site of Aqueduct Race Track and the new racino, which could create a need for more mass transit to and from the area. Goldfeder then put out his own call to reinstate rail service to his native Rockaways. “The tracks can be made viable again, and we could better connect with Manhattan in a more timely fashion that we now have,” Miller said. He said more rail service also would remove traffic congestion on routes such as Woodhaven Boulevard. Miller said he would prefer to see New York City Transit run any new lines as subway service rather than reinstate LIRR Q operations.

SQ page 21 Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

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Albany to vote on church-school ban Assembly, Senate reviewing bills that would overturn DOE decision by Kevin Korber

“The courts have already made their decision, and their reasoning behind that decision An issue that has become a point of con- is very clear,” Stavisky said. tention in New York City is now being delibHowever, Stavisky saw the current version erated by lawmakers in Albany. of the legislation as fair. “If the churches are The State Assembly and State Senate are using school space when it is vacant and if currently considering bills that would allow they pay a fair amount of compensation, I houses of worship to hold services in public don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t be schools while those schools are not in session. allowed to use a school space for that purCurrently, this practice is banned in New York pose,” she said. City by the Department of Education. State Senator Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica), The DOEÕs decision was met with contro- who also voted in favor of the bill, agreed, versy, most notably during Mayor saying that churches and religious organizaBloomberg’s State of the City address when tions “are the same as any other tenants.” religious organizations protested alongside The version of the bill that was introduced City Councilmembers Fernando Cabrera (D- in the State Assembly has been discussed by Bronx) and Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), both the Assembly Education Committee, but no of whom sponsored a bill denouncing the vote has been taken. DOE decision. Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-WoodMost recently, the Right To Worship orga- haven), one of the co-sponsors of the bill, nization held an demonstration on Jan. 29 in said that such a proposal makes sense in support of the legislation. They also present- tough economic times. ed a petition with 20,000 signatures to the “Not every religious organization has a mayor’s office on Feb. 2. permanent home, and the buildings that The bill, which was sponsored in the State they used to use are closing or being sold,” Senate by Senator Martin Golden (R-Brook- Miller said. “As a result, these organizalyn) with support from Senator Malcolm tions are finding accomodations harder to Smith (D-Jamaica), was already passed by come by.” the Senate Education Committee by a conWhen asked about whether the bill would siderable majority. violate the First Amendment, Miller said, “If State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D- they’re not holding services during school Flushing) voted for the bill, but admitted to hours or anything like that, I don’t see it as having reservations. an issue.” Chronicle Contributor

What exactly the constitutional separation between the institutions represented by these Jamaica FILE PHOTOS landmarks means remains at issue. Stavisky did see it as a First Amendment issue, but more in the sense that the free speech of the churches was in danger. “Schools shouldn’t have a right to exclude certain groups because of their religious beliefs. That’s certainly a violation of the First Amendment,” Stavisky said. Both bills have bipartisan support, and it is expected that they have enough support to pass a vote in the main chambers. A proposal has already been sent to the City Council’s Education Committee that would express support for both the Assembly and Senate bills. The resolution was introduced to the committee on Feb. 2 and mem-

bers of Right to Worship were present to express their support. As of press time, the City Council Education Committee has not taken a vote on the resolution. A spokesperson for the Right to Worship group said that support for the bill was crucial in tough economic times. “Our concern is that every dollar spent on something like higher rent is one less dollar we can give to the community,” the spokesperson said. “I know the thousands we have contributed to P.S. 150 in Sunnyside in particular have been appreciated in a time of Q so many budget cuts.”

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strained services,” Marshall said at a budget hearing at Queens Borough Hall on Monday. Tom Galante, president and CEO of the Queens Library, said the $26.7 million cut “is the largest budget challenge we’ve ever faced,” and could leave some sites open just two or three days a week. “If passed, we’d have 42 percent less funding than we had in 2008,” Galante said at the same hearing. Community board district managers at the budget hearing stressed that a 6 percent cut to their budgets would translate into possible layoffs. “If these cuts were to go through, it would come to more than $730,000 in cuts to all the community boards in the city,” CB 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman said. “It could result in losing a part-time staff person.” CB 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey noted that the mayor has proposed slashing funding to community boards for years. “You’ve saved us every year for the past eight years, and we ask you to save us again,” Carey said to Marshall. Plans to cut funding to Beacon programs, which are school-based community centers that offer services like tutoring and sports to children and adults, have also drawn ire from off icials throughout Queens. The city could shutter seven Beacon sites by July 1, leaving Queens parents petrified that their center could vanish.

As with the fire companies, the city has not said which sites could be cut. Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Astoria) said parents in his district are especially concerned that a Beacon program at IS 141 at 37-11 21 Ave. could be shuttered. The site at IS 141 offers free educational and recreational activities for middle school students, including help with homework and tutoring, along with physical activities and creative programs ranging from art to music. “This program has not been cut, but even the mere threat of it is unacceptable,” Vallone said. “Our students and working parents would suffer, and we will make every effort to ensure that this program stays open.” CB 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio said at Monday’s budget hearing that he too is concerned about cuts to Beacon programs and noted that the site at JHS 190 in Forest Hills serves more than 1,500 people annually. Bloomberg said one of the most serious budget issue facing the city is the cost of the pension program, which has increased by about 500 percent since 2002, rising from $1.3 billion to an estimated $8 billion for 2013. He supports lowering pensions for future hires. “Right now our pension system is fairly described as a ticking time bomb,” Bloomberg said. “ … We have an obligation to pay for those with us now, but we just can’t afford to grant new people Q those size benefits.

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SQ page 24 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 24

Time, date, place to be determined Census, lawsuit and redistricting could mean four days at the polls by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

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In 2012, New York State officials are preparing for primaries and elections for the state legislature, Congress and President of the United States, a process that is undertaken every four years. What could possibly go wrong? Try the possibility of some New Yorkers going to the polls four times in a span of seven months. Republicans still will vote on a presidential candidate on April 24. But after that, the when and where either are new or yet to be determined. First, Federal District Court Judge Gary Sharpe on Jan. 27 ordered the state to move its primaries for Congressional elections from September, when state officials wanted them, to June 26. Sharpe, ruling in a lawsuit against the state by the U.S. Justice Department, found that a September primary date would not allow members of the armed forces serving overseas to receive and cast their absentee ballots on time. Under a 2009 federal law, primaries must be held at least 80 days before the general election in order to allow members of the military and their families to receive and mail their ballots in time to be counted. The state received a waiver from the Department of Defense in 2010. The Pentagon refused a request for an extension last fall leading to the suit. With Congressional primaries set, the question still to be determined is where the state will eliminate two districts as a result of the 2010 Census. A state task force for redistricting released drafts of new state Assembly and Senate district lines nearly two weeks ago. A woman answering the phone at the task force’s main office last week said she had no information on when new Congressional lines will come out. Population losses between 2000 and 2010 required that New York go from 29 seats in Congress to 27. The conventional wisdom was that Democrats would agree to eliminate a seat downstate while the GOP

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would forego one upstate. Then former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner of Queens was replaced by Republican Bob Turner last year after Weiner was forced to resign from a seat Democrats held for more than 80 years. Even Assemblyman Rory Lancman (DFresh Meadows), who has formed an exploratory committee to run against Turner, acknowledged Tuesday that all is contingent on Turner’s 9th District surviving the redistricting process. Congressmembers Joe Crowley (DQueens and Brooklyn) and Carolyn Maloney (D-Queens and Manhattan) also said they had no inside information last week. While moving the Congressional primaries to June 26 was done in consideration of the nation’s soldiers and sailors, state officials said moving the state Legislative primaries to the same date would not show the same consideration to state senators and assembly members. The Albany session ends on June 21, and elected officials claim they would have little time to campaign back home in their districts unless they did so during the session, leaving Sept. 11 as a third day to cast ballots. And, of ocurse, Election Day remains set in stone on Nov. 6. Q For now, anyway.

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Assemblyman enjoying a full plate for the 2012 legislative season by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) is enjoying the early days of what has been an eventful legislative session. Hevesi sat down on Feb. 2 with the editorial Board of the Chronicle to talk about budgets, elections and his chairmanship of the powerful Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigations. The seventh-year legislator had a mix of praise and questions regarding Gov. Cuomo’s executive budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. “This year’s budget was the easiest one we’ve had since I have been in Albany,” he said, largely endorsing a plan that closed a deficit of more than $3 billion. During the interview, Hevesi was not afraid to criticize or break with his party’s governor or some of his most staunch allies such as organized labor on several issues. He agrees with Cuomo that the state employees’ pension system must be reformed, but he is waiting for more details about the governor’s so-called Tier 6 plan that would replace a guaranteed benefits package with one that includes higher employee contributions and a 401(k) retirement plan for future state hires. It would not affect current employees. “I may not support this Tier 6 plan, but I support doing something, because the current system is unsustainable,” he said. He also wants state and city governments to reach some sort of compromise on

teacher evaluations, but one that protects both students and good teachers. He said a compromise must give some weight to standardized testing, though not so much teachers feel encouraged or pressured to “teach to the test.” Hevesi also believes some of the governor’s initiatives go too far in the name of governmental reform, citing specifically Cuomo’s desire to reassign state workers regardless of union contracts, labeling it as an overreach. “Some of these protections have been in place for 50 or 60 years,” Hevesi said. “It’s a grab for more executive power, which I can understand given the point of view of the executive. But I’m a legislator.” Hevesi regards his appointment last year as chairman of the oversight and investigations committee a plum. “It could be the best committee [assignment],” he said. The committee has jurisdiction to investigate any matters originating from the executive or legislative branches. “It’s the only committee with subpoena power,” he said. Hevesi added that one does have to be tactful in consulting with colleagues. “I want to be careful looking at an education matter if the education chairman is looking at it,” he said. But it also has advantages when a fellow legislator or state employee who can’t afford to clash with his or her boss or chairman feels the need to turn to someone

“who doesn’t necessarily have to be nice about it.” One group under Hevesi’s magnifying glass is the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. He said the organization, which sets much of the transportation agenda for the region, is comprised of officials from New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, county executives from Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and other counties and nonvoting members from the Port Authority and the federal government. He also said not much is known publically about the organization or its inner workings. “They decide how a lot of money is spent,” Hevesi said. In regard to Cuomo’s effort to allow full gambling in the state, Hevesi supports it, including for the site of the new Aqueduct racino. “The state already has gambling, only it’s not seeing the benefit of it,” he said. “If you don’t think so, you’re fooling yourself.” He feels the same way about professional ultimate fighting, which allows far more more contact with far fewer rules than boxing, which is licensed by the state. He said dozens of states allow the sport, while New York is losing out on the economic benefits. Hevesi, admittedly a fan of the sport, also dismisses opponents’ arguments that the current state ban keeps children from

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi PHOTO BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE

being exposed to it. “Ultimate fighting is already available in every basic cable package in the area,” he said. But the assemblyman is not a supporter of state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr.’s effort to raise the state’s gambling age from 18 to 21. “I don’t see how you can be old enough to serve in the military and not be old continued on page 36

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Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

Hevesi welcomes new Albany session

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 26

SQ page 26

ROBERT H. GODDARD HS SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

School-wide cultural celebration t he Robert H. Goddard HS of Communication Arts & Technology in Ozone Park, the coordinator of student activities, math teacher Lisa Robles and social studies teacher Roberto Saavedra organized a school-wide cultural cele-

bration. In conjunction with the social studies department, students and parents created posters and meals depicting their familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; country of origin. Dances, oral history presentations and food galore made the celebration a hit.

11th grader Chandanie Hiralal and her dad, Inderjeet Hiralal.

There was food galore!

Honor Roll Ceremony The parents, teachers and administrators held an honor roll ceremony for acknowledged students. The principal, Dr. Joseph J. Birgeles, opened the ceremony with outstanding examples of student successes globally and then acknowledged

that the Goddard students in the room were capable of stellar achievement. Students in grades 9 through 12 were invited along with their parents to be recognized for their scholastic achievements for the first marking period.

11th graders Neema Jadubans and Murliza Seecharan performed a dance.

PHOTOS COURTESY ROBERT H. GODDARD HS

Left to right: Front Row (kneeling): Evelyn Terra, Michele Stropagel, Beverly Ortega, Brianna Lopez, Amanda Pereira, Barbie Seda, Paula Valencia, Miranda Ortega, Vivian Diaz, Joanna Bajor, William Persaud. Second Row: Lizina Ramah, Tara Sarjoo, Nicalette Isola, Brittany Graffeo, Jackie McDevitt, Christine Picca, social studies teacher Roberto Saavedra, Jaclyn Dempsey, Giancarlo Nocera, Janice Morinigo, Courtney Sevillo, Jose Pena, Assistant Principal Alana Duggan, Victoria Mosquera, Thomas Lesner, Yesenia Mosquera, Asvini Serasundera, Diane Osadschenko , Keri Rogers, Kristina Camacho, Megan Arnold Backrow: Gonzalo Cadena, Valerie Godfrey, media teacher Janet Fash, Chris Collado, social studies teacher Vincent Quinn, Principal Dr. Joseph Birgeles, math teacher Lisa Robles, Elaine Martinez, Megan Sullivan, Stefan Soogrim, and Oswaldo Subillaga

12th grade seniors demonstrate a Latin American Dance, the salsa.

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This has really been some “non-winter.” It has been great. No snow to speak of and warm, sunny weather. Think warm for the return to daylight savings time is only 41 days away followed by the beginning of spring in 50 days. As I stated previously, the 102nd Precinct has received no additional police officers from the last graduation class. This means again — as in 2010 — no new officers for two of the last three years. (In three years eight police officers have been assigned to the 102nd Precinct.) Woodhaven needs additional professional men and women for our precinct. A word of thanks to 102nd Precinct Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon, the lieutenants, sergeants and police officers for holding the line. You know that our good thoughts and prayers are with each one of you as you patrol our streets and keep us safe. Remember to leave your porch lights on. Also if you see people loitering where they don’t belong or walking into driveways or on the side of your homes, do not confront them, call 911. Important telephone numbers: Woodhaven’s CPOP Police Off icer Alsemi Ioele, (718) 805-3237; Community Affairs Off icers Joseph Martins and Jose Severino, (718) 805-3215; the antiterror hotline number 1 (888) nyc-safe (888-7233). Remember, if individuals present

themselves as a police officer, ask to see their badge and identif ication before admitting them to your home. If they hesitate, call 911. Woodhaven supports the 102 Precinct — New York’s Finest. Sadly, Queens recently lost another lovely leading — Dee Garvey. Lady Dee was a hardworking community activist who worked tirelessly for the Woodhaven American Legion Post 118 as president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. She was a true patriot and role model for all the young women she mentored and guided. She encouraged them to be involved with government and to practice true American values for the community and for all of Queens. She will be well remembered. To all of our Chinese friends and neighbors, enjoy the Chinese lunar new year of 4710 — the year of the dragon. The dragon is a ver y strong symbol which represents courage and prosperity. The Chinese New Year also made me think of our Malaysian lion dancers that appear yearly at our “Wonderful Woodhaven Street Festival.” These dancers are so colorful and exciting. So let us hope that the new year brings us courage in any endeavors and prosperity for all. I wish you “Gung Hay Fat Choy — Happy New Year.” May God bless our leaders, may God bless our armed forces fighting terrorism on foreign shores, so that we may be safe at home and may God bless our Q America.

Page 27 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

DEVELOPMENTS START A CAREER Happy Chinese New Year 4710

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 28

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Queens pols get environment grades In Congress, greenest are Maloney, Meeks, Gillibrand and Schumer by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (DQueens and Manhattan) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) are among Queens’ greenest Congressional representatives, according to an annual report published Tuesday by the League of Conservation Voters, a national environmental advocacy group. The report tallies how members of Congress voted in 2011 on measures the LCV identified as having an impact on the environment and public health. Meeks and Maloney each got a green thumbs up with a score of 97 out of 100 for their pro-environment voting records on a total of 35 House measures in 2011. In the Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Chuck Schumer (D-New York) were among the 31 senators nationwide with scores of 100 for making what the LCV considers a green vote on all 11 Senate measures included in the report. All but one of Queens’ representatives in the House scored in the 80s and 90s: Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn), according to the LCV’s findings. Despite having only been in office since September 2011, Turner made anti-environment votes nine times out of a possible nine, the report shows, earning him a score of 0. “His record is definitely out of step with his constituents,” said Alex Taurel, the LCV’s legislative representative. Turner’s nine votes diverged from his fellow

Clockwise from top left: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand were all among Queens’ greenest members of Congress, according to a FILE PHOTOS scorecard published this week by the League of Conservation Voters. Queens representatives. For example, he voted in favor of a bill that would allow a delay in implementing standards to reduce mercury and other toxic air pollutants from cement plants, a measure which every other Queens representative — all of them Democrats — opposed.

Turner’s office did not return a request for comment on the scorecard. Other major environmental issues voted on by the House last year included a bill that would significantly expand offshore drilling to areas including the Atlantic coastline. The

legislation could lead to rigs being built just three miles off New York’s shoreline in federal waters, according to Taurel. Only six of 29 New York representatives voted in favor of the measure, and none were from Queens; at the time, Anthony Weiner occupied the seat now filled by Turner. But the drilling bill still passed in the House, 243-179, and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. However, it has little chance of passing there, according to Taurel, since senators have already shot down a less aggressive offshore expansion bill. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Democratcontrolled Senate frequently voted down antienvironmental measures passed by the Republican-controlled House last year. Looking to this coming year, Dan Hendrick, a spokesman for the New York League of Conservation Voters, said his organization will closely follow the fate of the House’s Surface Transportation Authorization bill, as it contains a provision that would strip a significant source of federal funding from public transit and thus have a direct impact on New York City’s environmental future. It’s up for a vote in the House in two weeks. Without the key funding, the MTA would have difficulty functioning. And without a functioning public transit system, Hendrick noted, the city would “literally come to an economic halt.” “If the country’s serious about energy independence, we really should be encouraging Q mass transit,” he added.

Pols: New school will relieve overcrowding PS 287 in Corona to open in 2013 by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

Becoming boy scouts U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-Queens, Brooklyn) joined Troop and Pack 139 of Howard Beach last week for the groups’ Arrow of Light ceremony. The ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 4 was held at St. Helen’s School and honored Cub Scouts who received the Arrow of Light award. The award is given to individuals as they

officially cross over into being boy scouts. The achievement is the highest honor a Cub Scout can receive. Turner presented each scout with congressional certificates. Den Leader Lisa Forgione, back left, and and Assistant Den Leader Miguel Hernandez also celebrated with Turner and the students last week.

Legislators and city officials broke ground on PS 287 in Corona last week, and they said the elementary school will help to relieve an area often referred to as the epicenter of overcrowded classrooms in the city. “As a former Beacon School director at PS 19, which is not only the most crowded school in my district, but also one of Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, center, Borough President the most overcrowded in the Helen Marshall, left of Ferreras, and other officials city and in the country, I know break ground on PS 287 in Corona last week. first-hand how overcrowding PHOTO COURTESY WILLIAM ALATRISTER/NYC COUNCIL affects a school and the educaCity officials are now negotiating on a tion students receive,” said Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst). “This site for a fourth school in East Elmhurst, new school is the first of four in the dis- according to Ferreras’ office. “This community desperately needs trict and a major step in the right direction toward remedying a serious education this school, and this community desperately needs this school to be the first of deficit in Queens.” PS 287, which will open with 420 seats many,” state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Jackson in 2013 at 110-08 Northern Blvd., is the Heights) said of PS 287. School Construction Authority Presifirst of four schools elected officials, including Ferreras, have advocated for in dent Lorraine Grillo added the new Coroschool District 24. PS 311 is expected to na school will include “a number of eneropen in Corona in 2015 and PS 315, also gy saving systems” such as light sensors Q and computerized heating. in Corona, is slated to open in 2014.

C M SQ page 29 Y K

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Flushing Hospital nurses, like Patty Boucher, far left, discussed why they planned to go on strike. They were backed by state Sen. Toby Stavisky and Assemblywoman Grace Meng. PHOTO BY WILL SAMMON

Network. There is a 90-day extension on the medical coverage, but payments have ceased going into the pension plans of the nurses. Michael Hinck, spokesman for Flushing Hospital, said in a prepared statement that the hospital is working aggressively in negotiations with NYSNA and on a contingency plan to ensure patient care is maintained in case an agreement is not reached. “They fail to realize that we get sick too,” said Everett, who planned to retire in no more than two years, but now is uncertain. On Thursday, nurses and NYSNA representatives said they were willing to pay for continued on page 36

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by Will Sammon Patty Boucher travels every workday from Exit 62 on the Long Island Expressway — which, with traffic, can be a twohour commute — to Flushing Hospital Medical Center, her workplace since 1985, for a few reasons. “We are a family here,” said Boucher, a registered nurse who grew up in Flushing. “It’s a community hospital and we like to give back to the community. We are the backbone of Queens and we want to be here for our patients.” Instead of traveling back home on Thursday after her shift ended at 5 p.m., Boucher and about 10 other nurses participated in a small press conference at the Sunrise Coffee Shop, located across the street from Flushing Hospital. The nurses discussed why, in their view, a strike is the only option that would effectively help them secure their demands. “As much as we don’t want to go on strike, this is what they are forcing us to do,” said Caridad Everett, 60, a registered nurse who has worked at the hospital for 39 years. The 420 nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association voted last month to authorize a strike if their health benefits and pension plans, which expired on Dec. 31, were not restored through negotiations with the hospital’s sponsor, MediSys Health

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

Why the nurses almost walked

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 30

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Banks on mortgage refinancing Low interest rates attractive, but may not be enough by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

n his State of the Union Address last month, President Obama spoke at length of the interrelation between the housing crisis and the economic crisis. And among the discussion of new and future regulations aimed at improving things, he recommended that homeowners consider refinancing their mortgages. “And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low [interest] rates,” the president said. “No more red tape,” he said. “No more runaround from the banks.” Local banks contacted by the Chronicle did confirm the president’s assertion that interest rates are at historic lows. But they also said interest rates are just one of myriad factors that homeowners and banks large and small must consider on a case-by-case basis for refinanced mortgage loans. “As pertains to the speech itself, it was long on concept and short on detail,” said Michael Bizenov, executive vice president for Sterling Bank. Bizenov said refinancing, done by the right borrowers under the right circumstances, can save homeowners money and benefit consumers and the economy. “Interest rates are probably the lowest they’ve been since probably forever,” he said. Peter Meyer, marketing president for TD Bank in New York City, also said rates are the lowest he has ever seen for mortgages. “One would think the obvious answer is to refinance,” Meyer said. “That may be true but there are a lot of factors that fall into place.” He said prospective borrowers need to decide how long they are planning to remain in their home. “If you are only going to be in the property for a few years before you sell, your interest might decrease but the increase in fees may mean it makes no sense to do that,” he said.

Bizenov said shortening the term of a loan can lead to substantial savings in some cases. But he and Meyer both said all types of loans may have fees, closing costs and tax implications that a consumer must weigh carefully. “You have to do your homework,” Meyer said. “Talk to a mortgage professional and do a little bit of research.” Both Bizenov and Thomas Rudzewick, chief lending officer and a vice president at Maspeth Federal Savings, said some government intervention has proven to hamper consumers who are trying to play by the rules. “For people who are in default again and again there are some good programs,” Bizenov said. But he said some of them can actually encourage responsible, conscientious borrowers who might need just a little bit of help to consider defaulting in order to have access to more benefits. “Some actually encourage people to stop making their payments,” he said. Those programs are horrendous.” Rudzewick said there was “a strong disconnect” between portions of the president’s speech and the realities of the market, particularly in the wake of new regulations on banks in the last year. He said small banks generally fared better than their large national and international brethren from the earliest days of the financial crisis. But he said recent changes have placed small banks under the regulatory purview of Congress’s Office of the Control of Currency. “Regulators used to judge small banks differently than large ones,” he said. “But when OCC took over, both large and small banks were forced into the same regulations that formerly applied to big banks.” Then there were Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the vernacular names of the two largest mortgage holding entities in the country, which are creatures of Congress. “Big banks made a lot of money with the ability to to do lending and and sell the

Officials at Maspeth Federal Savings, TD Bank and Sterling National Bank say Queens residents might be able to benefit from President Obama’s call to refinance at historically low interest rates. FILE PHOTOS But they also said interest rates are only the first of many considerations. loans to Fannie and Freddie,” Rudzewick said. “They underwrote loans knowing they had no skin in the game.” Meyer, Bizenov and Rudzewick said their banks, by contrast, keep mortgages on their own books or “portfolio” them rather than sell them off to brokers or investors, and thus have more control and flexibility. But even that may not be enough as financial institutions large and small adapt to last year’s federal Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. It is known more commonly as the Dodd-Frank Act for its chief architects, former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.). “Dodd-Frank has many good components,” Rudzewick said. “But it was a very knee-jerk reaction and was put in place with too much haste.” While Obama talked in his speech of eliminating red tape for the benefit of the consumer, Rudzewick said Dodd-Frank is about 2,500 pages long and boasts some 3,000 new laws for the banking and

financial industries. “I don’t know how any member of Congress was able to read all that,” he said. “But it remains on the books.” He said smaller banks, which did not cause the recession, by and large did well during the downturn, and continued to lend money under the regular combination of federal regulation and internal practices and standards. “Our [internal] regulations are as rigorous as they have always been,” Rudzewick said. “But when the regulators came in recently they they criticized the way we do business with some loans, though we have not changed our regulations in 47 years,” he said. “Now, with the Dodd-Frank Act, we have to tell a lot of good people who have been doing business with us for years that they don’t qualify for loans.” And what was the advice regulators had under the new tougher standards? “They said ‘Make sure the people you lend to have the ability to repay their Q loans,’” he said.

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The state of the home mortgage market by Bryan Dornan After the President gave the State of the Union Address last month, I thought it was only fitting to deliver the “state of the home mortgage market” address. There are a lot of changes looming in the home loan industry in the next few months which is making borrowers reconsider their financial moves. Home mortgage rates are beginning to see an upward trend and many homeowners are kicking themselves for not moving forward with a ref inance loan in November or December when rates had fallen to 50-year lows. In April there will be signif icant changes as the Dodd-Frank mortgage reform bill will finally go into motion. There are many short-sided issues in this bill designed to protect consumers, but in the end most industry insiders believe that it will increase the cost for home loans and mortgage rate refinancing. It is inevitable that we will see a consolidation in the home financing market as many smaller brokers will close their shops, because they can’t compete with the new rules. The mortgage reform bill will change the way brokers and loan officers are paid and many lending companies have already started downsizing

their loan originators. In the end it is likely there will be fewer loan officers, which means that borrowers will get what the banks are offering. With a competitive mortgage market, consumers benefit with more choices, diverse lending niches and competitive pricing. Hopefully, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. government will wake up and realize that a competitive mortgage market is good for the consumer and good for the economy. The VA mortgage loan is still a great financing vehicle, but not many borrowers qualify. FHA home loans remain somewhat aggressive, but even HUD is requiring more equity, better credit scores and the insurance premiums continue to rise. Home values will need to rebound and home loan guidelines need to loosen up so that the average borrower who can afford a home can qualify for a home loan. Right now it seems like only the “best of the best” qualify for new home financing or mortgage refinancing. We need more private money back in the marketplace, but the foreclosure crisis needs to be solved before most of the non-government mortgage lenders will jump back into the game. Until then — make the most with what you have and remember that the United States of America is still the best country in the world. — courtesy share.lockerz.com

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Refinance or second mortgage? One of the most common questions I get from consumers looking for cash is whether they need a refinance loan or to take out a second mortgage. Every situation is different, so there is not a simple “canned answer” when it comes to cash refinancing. In order to offer educated advice on a first or second mortgage, I need to understand the big picture. In an effort to responsibly address this financing scenario, I need answers to the following questions: What’s your loan to value (LTV)? We need to determine how much equity you have because you may not be eligible for a credit line or second mortgage. How is your credit? Whether your FICO score is 580, 680 or 780 will enable me to understand further what cash-out options are available to you. Cash-out ref inancing guidelines range from 75 to 90 percent loan to value depending upon what type of borrower you are. It also matters how big the mortgage loan is that you plan to take out. Some lenders will allow good credit borrowers to go to 90 percent LTV on a credit line or fixed home equity loan if it is only for $35,000. Do you have a pre-payment penalty on your first mortgage?

Sometimes borrowers will have pre-payment penalties that equate to thousands of dollars. When a homeowner has a large pre-pay on their existing mortgage, it can make a second mortgage option more attractive. What are you doing with money? It is important to know why you are considering a cashout refinance. For example, if you are consolidating debt, then we would always recommend a fixed rate loan that features simple interest. Whereas if you are remodeling your home and you are not sure how much cash you will be borrowing or when you will need the money, then a home equity line of credit may be the perfect solution. Do you have a second mortgage or equity loan already? If you already have a 2nd mortgage, we will have to refinance it and roll the balance into the new loan. Interest rates remain at record lows and the guidelines for cashout f inancing appear to be expanding a bit, but it is important that you discuss your goals and situation with an experienced loan officer so you can make the best financial decision. — Bryan Dornan, courtesy share.lockerz.com

C M SQ page 33 Y K Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

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If you are thinking of financing a new home, 2012 may be the year to pull the trigger. There are many home loan factors to consider when financing a house. Here are five tips to maximize your home loan financing experience in the New Year. 1. Low mortgage rates ensure affordability. It’s no secret that home loan rates have been hovering at the lowest levels of all time. Most economists have forecasted the trend for low interest rates to continue in 2012 mostly because the Federal Reserve has made a strong commitment to back mortgages aggressively until the housing market rebounds. Many loan companies believe that interest rates will remain at record lows to make home buying more attractive. The other driving factor for low mortgage rates has been a sluggish economy. Typically the interest rates stay low when the U.S. economy struggles.

buyers have driven home prices to an extremely attractive level in most regions of the United States. Fox News recommended buying a home because of the opportunities that our economic uncertainty have dictated. The reality is that many potential homebuyers have been waiting in the wings for the dust to settle with the housing crisis. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, purchase loan applications declined to the lowest point in 15 years back in August. The lack of home loan applications signals the uncertainty of the housing market but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a great time to purchase a home. If you have the ability to make the proposed mortgage payment without it breaking the bank then it makes sense. According to Bank of America loan analyst Jeff Moran, “Many f irst time homebuyers actually reduce their housing expenses because house prices and interest rates are so low.”

2. Home prices have fallen. In many areas across the country, house values have reverted back to 2002 and 2003 levels. This presents a significant opportunity for firsttime homebuyers to get into a real estate investment at a bargain price. Most realtors have predicted that 2012 will continue to see some great home buying opportunities because foreclosures, short sales and timid

3. Tax deductibility from mortgage interest. One of the driving factors for many Americans to become homeowners has been to reap the benefits of deducting the interest on your home loan payment each month. Most homeowners save thousaands of dollars a year by deducting the mortgage interest for their primary residence.

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

Five tips for home loan financing in 2012

There are many home loan factors to consider when financing a house. 4. Buying a home with a small downpayment. Many first time homebuyers are attracted to FHA home loans because they only require a 3.5 percent down payment. This low rate allows new home buyers to save their money for important things like moving, buying furniture and saving for a “rainy day.” 5. Flexible home loan guidelines for new homebuyers. Jason Vedder, loan officer at VIP Mortgage in Irvine, California, said, “FHA is a great asset for the path to home-

ownership in America.” FHA mortgage rates are available today at 4 percent on fixed terms for 30-years. There are mortgage insurance premiums that are charged to the borrower but it usually pencils out to make sense. “Low FHA rates and flexible guidelines also help new homebuyers get their foot in door. FHA allows low credit scores and that makes them one of the last bad credit mortgage options this year,” Vedder said. — Franky Finance, courtesy share.lockerz.com

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Nurses hosp. continued from page 29

medical coverage out-of-pocket for the first time, but not at the amount the hospital is asking for, which according to the nurses, would cost hundreds of dollars per month. Boucher said that she was told if she did not want to pay the higher co-payments for her medications, she would have to fill prescriptions at the hospital, instead of a place closer to her home. “As much as a police officer has the potential to get shot in the head, I have the potential to get Hepatitis C and die a long, horrible death,” Boucher said. “Why is it that we don’t get that same respect?” The nurses said that management has told them it cannot support the demands.

“But they’re all driving away in their Mercedes Benzes, while I have 108,000 miles on my car,” Boucher said. Occupy Wall Street activists and officials including Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) attended to support nurses. “Anyone who has been in a hospital, whether for a day or an extended period of time, knows that the nurses are on the front lines to make sure our needs are taken care of,” Meng said. Boucher, a single mother of two, admitted that she and her family were petrified about a strike, but believed it might be necessary. “We have to take a stand,” Boucher said. “Otherwise, they’re just going to step all over us.” Two days later, a settlement was Q reached.

Hospital nurse strike averted The 420 registered nurses at Flushing Hospital are voting Thursday to ratify a new contract that averted a strike originally set for two days earlier. Agreement was reached early Saturday morning by the nurses, represented by the New York State Nurses Association, and MediSys Health Network, which runs the hospital. The contract expired at the end of December, with negotiations going on for over a year. The sticking points were health insurance costs and pension benefits. Details of the agreement will not be released until the contract is ratified.

However, unofficially reports are that the three-year contract calls for nurses to pay between $25 and $100 a month for health benefits. They will not have to contribute to their pension fund. In addition, RNs will not get a raise this year, but will get increases in 2013 and 2014. Hospital officials issued a statement on Monday that they were pleased to announce the agreement. It expires in 2014. Nurses at the hospital threatened to strike in 2006 and held pickets as they did in January, but the hospital came to terms over Q basically the same issues as this year. — Liz Rhoades

Andrew Hevesi roundtable continued from page 25

enough to gamble,” he said. Hevesi indicated his oversight committee is not looking at how Genting Americas got an agreement for the proposed convention center at Aqueduct without so much as a request for proposals from other prospective developers. At January’s meeting of Community Board 6, he was openly critical of Cuomo’s green-lighting the project with a single developer considered “I’d like to hear more details,” he said. “You want to come in and spend $4 billion of your own money? Fine. Great. There’s still a lot we don’t know about that.” Prior to the announcement of the convention center there was growing talk of converting the former Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach branch into an elevated greenway. Since then most of the talk has been about restarting it as some sort of rail line to serve the convention center and possible casino while reducing traffic impact on roads. Hevesi acknowledged there would have to be a lot of conversations on just what to do with the rail line, the northernmost end of which runs through residential neighborhoods he represents in Forest Hills. Right now he is noncommittal. “But there would be a lot of pushback from my constituents,” he said A member of the Energy Committee

and chairman of its subcommittee on renewable energy, Hevesi is categorically against hydrofracking for natural gas trapped in shale formations upstate — the region that also has New York City’s water supply and delivery infrastructure. “I’m as close to a no vote as you can get on that,” he said. “I have a tiny window open.” Yet despite concerns about the age and location of the Indian Point nuclear power plant near Peekskill, Hevesi says it should not be shut down, or at least not yet. “That provides energy for 2 million homes,” Hevesi said. “Unless you have a reliable replacement already on line, it’s irresponsible.” Hevesi said the same about voting against controversial new legislative districts — while opposed to the process, he said there is no alternative now. While the state redistricting committee still has not released the new congressional district lines, Hevesi believes that newly elected U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn) will either be redistricted out or defeated by a strong Democratic candidate in November. And is Hevesi tempted by the allure of the race himself? “I have subpoena power,” he said with a laugh. “Why would I want to Q do that?” This article is part of a continuing series in which the Chronicle’s editorial board sits down with area elected officials to discuss topics of interest.

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like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a one-shot deal and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do that,â&#x20AC;? Elias said. 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. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a perfect solution for someone who her new prospective buyer what her previous has a bill due and a check on the way,â&#x20AC;? Goldberg offer was. Still, after examining her piece, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;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 peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heirlooms weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re â&#x20AC;&#x153;...because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what it was worth.â&#x20AC;? The plight of the worker whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard-up for talking about and we respect that.â&#x20AC;? For those who are less Internet-savvy or cash in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy is something that Arthur Elias and Edward Goldberg can relate to just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;For this, I like to think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re handle the rest. doing the community a service,â&#x20AC;? MON.-FRI. 11am - 7pm auctioneers For anyone who has Elias said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all the our store and know that we can educate them on what they have and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; how really a bargain deal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;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?â&#x20AC;? 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 theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing a lot of repeat customers and people, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re typically right. But we referrals. This is a sign to them that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re want to be different. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool to doing something right â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do that.â&#x20AC;? 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. â&#x20AC;&#x153;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.

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JOSEPH TARANTINO, D.P.M. Ice Jewelry: where the owners can relate to their clients

GCHS? They’ll have an app for that Grover Cleveland one of 5 U.S. high schools tapped for tech project by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

While the city’s Department of Education is considering massive cuts at Grover Cleveland HS in Ridgewood, the school’s students have made the cut in an exclusive national search held by the second-largest PC company in the world. The school’s Academy of Information and Technology is one of five groups in the United States chosen by Lenovo, manufacturer of Android Tablets, and the National Academy Foundation for a 12-week course in the design and creation of mobile applications, or apps, for computers. Andrew Woodbridge, who has taught technology at the school for seven years,

Grover Cleveland HS Principal Denise Vittor and teacher Andrew Woodbridge, rear, with some of their information technology students on Tuesday.

said his 40 students will receive regular class credit, and that Lenovo has both created the curriculum and invested tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for the training. “They’ll design apps that could become available commercially,” Woodbridge said. “So they will learn the technical skills but also things like the business aspects. This is really big.” Woodbridge and Principal Denise Vittor said Lenovo, with a vested interest in having future workers with cutting-edge training, reached out to NAF for help in finding schools. NAF runs academies nationally, including 35 in New York City in areas such as information technology, finance, and hospitality and tourism. The other high schools chosen are in Apex, NC; Los Angeles; Hartford, Conn. and Waco, Tex. Colleen Devery, an assistant vice president at NAF, said the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also is involved. And she said Grover Cleveland was not selected by accident. “We chose schools that we knew could handle the program,” she said. She said if the pilot is as successful as they are anticipating, there could be 100 such programs in the future. Students and off icials gathered for a small reception last Tuesday to celebrate Cleveland’s inclusion. Student Bevnote Gerges apologized for

Seniors at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood will create computer apps under a program PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON sponsored by Lenovo and the National Academy Foundation. stumbling over a word or two in his introductory remarks. “I’m not nervous about giving a speech” he said. “I’m excited about this program.” Students Elizabeth Paulino and Nita Durakovic said students will have great latitude in the design and even subject matter. Both are looking forward to the entire process from writing the codes to seeing the finished product. Paulino, ironically, said she would like to

design an app that keeps people from becoming intellectually lazy because of computers and technology. “They can dumb people down,” she said. Durakovic has an eye on finance and money management. “Particularly with today’s economy,” she said. “You will have skills other people don’t,” Vittor told her students. “You will be on the Q cutting edge”

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continued from page 2 image among businesses nationwide, and legislative branches. which routinely ranks New York State last Today’s government has 55. or next to last among the 50 in terms of “These agencies and programs are being business friendly. started for good reasons,” he said. “But He said that image has been earned over time they are built into law.” through years of runaway government He said, for example, that 13 agencies spending and runaway taxes to keep up. offer a total of 91 job training programs. And while he said New York always Another department has 40 affordable will be an expensive place to do business, housing programs. the state can move to the middle of the list “Required by statute,” he said. and still attract business investment. He said the time involved with reform “With last year’s property tax cap, with means jobs that would be cut by eliminat- two straight years of a balanced budget ing or consolidating programs likely could with decreased spending with no new be cut through attrition or reassignment taxes,” he said. “It’s a sign that Albany gets it. It’s a sign to the business commurather than layoffs. And there is what Adams and Cuomo nity that we are more focused, that there is fiscal discipline, that admit is the thorniest we are presenting issue, that of the reforms.” governor’s desire to The budget is due rework the pensions by March 31 for a of future hires into t’s a sign that f iscal year that the state’s workforce. begins on April 1. The so-called Albany gets it.” And leaders of both Tier 6 plan, being — Kenneth Adams, president and CEO, the Democratic-conslammed by state Empire State Development Corp., on trolled state Assememployee unions, Gov. Cuomo’s approach to budgeting bly and Republicanwould require more led Senate had optiemployee contribumistic outlooks. tions and would “Overall, we are include a 401(k) program as a means of getting the state’s very pleased with the governor’s budget,” Scott Reif, spokesman for Senate pension funding under control. “And it doesn’t apply to a single current Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI) said. employee,” Adams said. “It closes the deficit without raising Asked about tuition increases at CUNY and SUNY schools, Adams and Austin taxes, which is very important to Senate Shafran, vice president of Public Affairs Republicans,” Reif said. “It controls for the Empire State Development Corp., spending; the levels do not go up.” The GOP also likes Cuomo’s proposals said while unpopular with students, they are necessary to keep the schools func- to assist private sector job creation. And Reif said the process was made tioning at a high level and attracting better easier this year because of a two-year deal students and faculty. Adams said spending on the schools is struck last year on Medicare and educascheduled to go up 2.2 percent in a year tion funding. “That put us ahead of the game,” Reif where all other departments are receiving said. flat funding. Skelos is anticipating an agreement in He also said students always have expressed a preference for regular, modest the Senate by March 22, he added. increases that they can plan around, rather In a statement released on the Assemthan getting socked with major hikes bly’s website, Speaker Sheldon Silver said every few to several years. Cuomo “did a great job” outlining the Shafran said the new revenues are budget so legislators can identify the areas remaining within the school systems. they feel need more attention. “What people really don’t want to Silver too credited Cuomo for do is pay more and get less because addressing mandate relief by calling on a the legislature has swept the account,” cap for Medicaid spending, “one of the he said. most expensive programs facing taxpayAdams said the totality of the changes ers of local governments throughout Q Cuomo is seeking will improve the state’s the state.”

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Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

Gov. Cuomo’s budget plan

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 40

SQ page 40

BEHIND THE WHEEL

with with Sam Sam Schwartz

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February may be dark and cold, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packed with holidays: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got alternate side parking suspensions on Monday, Feb. 13 for Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday (Observed), Monday, Feb. 20 for Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day and Wednesday, Feb. 22 for Ash Wednesday. Keep warm and stay on your toes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even though ASP is suspended, all other parking regulations will remain in effect. Remember to feed the meters those days! The holiday-season construction embargo has been lifted, so construction delays can be felt at off-peak hours in Queens and throughout the city, including on the East and Harlem River bridges. The Van Wyck Expressway at the Kew Gardens Interchange will have reduced lane capacity at off-peak hours through March 17. You can expect the same on the Grand Central Parkway between 82nd and 111th streets through December 2012. The 149th Street Bridge between 41st and Roosevelt avenues in Flushing is entirely closed for rehabilitation through May.

you cross on that span. As a bonus, MTA doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t charge monthly service fees on its E-ZPass accounts. You can apply online or download an application to fill out and mail in from mta.info/bandt/ezpass/index.html â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the MTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. For more E-ZPass tips, get my 2012 Parking Calendar, which is now on sale at gridlocksam.com. You can buy one for $6, two for $10, five for $20 or 10 for $35 (plus $2 shipping/handling on all orders). Send payment to Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru, 611 Broadway, suite 415, NY NY 10012. Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru

FROM THE MAILBAG:

Dear Jsettle, Authorized unmarked cars, such as those used by police and fire departments, are legal. So when they flash their lights and sound their sirens, all us ordinary drivers have to give them right of way. As for the unauthorized drivers who try to assume those same privileges for personal gain, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s illegal and a matter best settled by the police. Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru Have questions on traffic, transit or a ticket you got? Want to know when Gridlock Alert Days are? Email the Queens Traffic Guru at TrafficGuruSS@qchron.net or write to Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru, 611 Broadway, suite 415, New York NY, 10012.

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Dear Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru, Which E-ZPass is more convenient for me in my case, and where do I purchase it? I drive once or twice a month over the RFK-Triborough Bridge from East 125th Street in Manhattan to visit my daughter in South Ozone Park in Queens. Eddie, Manhattan

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Dear Eddie, I recommend purchasing an MTA EZPass. The RFK-Triborogh Bridge is managed by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, so buying an E-ZPass through the MTA ensures youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get the full discount when

Dear Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Traffic Guru, I frequently see black or dark unmarked cars with blackened windows on the street. Sometimes theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll blast a siren, flash a light and try to get by traffic. Are these legal? Does an ordinary driver have to give way to them as you would a police car? Jsettle97, via e-mail

Kids ages 2-12. Limit four (4) kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tickets with purchase of one full-priced adult ticket. Valid on select performances only. See Ticketmaster.com for details. Excludes VIP, VIP Gold and #IRCUSĂŚ#ELEBRITYSM seats. No double discounts. Additional fees may apply.

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Police are asking for assistance in locating a man suspected of robbing a Flushing bank. The suspect, above, is alleged to have entered the Chase Bank at 57-27 Main St. on Jan. 20 demanding an unknown amount of cash from a teller. He fled after receiving the money. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

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February 9, 2012

Page 41 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

WORDS

IMAGES COURTESY ELIZABETH TORRES

ACROSS

BORDERS

“Guerreros,” left, a watercolor painting by poet and artist Elizabeth Torres, whose notebooks are above, will be one of the works on display during a Feb. 11 program.

by Anna Gustafson

he three poets who will take the stage at the Queens Museum of Art this Saturday know what it is to straddle boundaries. Formerly of Argentina, Colombia and Puerto Rico, the two Queens residents and one from the Bronx have left childhood homes behind, crossing waters to live in places wildly different from what they had once known, where they must speak other languages, navigate foreign cultures and translate what it means to be a poet on the United States’ East Coast. On Saturday, Feb. 11, these three will draw upon their experiences and backgrounds, reading poems in Spanish and English in an effort to bring people from the surrounding community to a literary event that focuses on the idea that everyone, no matter where you’re from or what language you speak, is always translating. That, for example,

language changes not just when moving from, say, Spanish to English, but depending on whether you’re texting a friend, speaking on the phone with a parent or writing a — gasp — letter to a grandparent. Titled “Poesia: Poe-SEE-ah: An Afternoon of Poetry and Visuals in Spanish and English,” the event is being presented by Queens in Love with Literature, which is run by the Queens Council on the Arts, and features artists Urayoan Noel, of the Bronx, and Guillermo Filice Castro and Elizabeth Torres, of Astoria and Long Island City, respectively. The program, which will run from 4 to 6 p.m., delves into questions of how writers can be inspired by visual works, which will be shown during the program, and translate them into poems — and then, how the poets can take those words and perform them out loud before an audience who must interpret the phrases in a way that is recognizable to the worlds in which they reside. Continued page continued ononpage 45

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 42

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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

EXHIBITS

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.

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.

Qualified U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors from Flotillas 12-01 and 12-05 based at Fort Totten will teach a comprehensive 26-hour Boating/Sailing Skills and Seamanship course at the College Point Yacht Club beginning Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 7:3010 p.m. It is for beginners and experienced sailors, and will cover various aspects of boating and sailing skills, including equipment requirements, buoyage systems and ten hours of instruction on navigation. Fees are $100 for adults, $65 for children under 16 accompanied by a paid adult, educational materials included. For more information contact Theodore Prager at (516) 840-7116 or email to prager239@aol.com.

From Feb. 9 through April 24 the second of a two-part 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.

Bebe and Cece Winans will perform on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Queens College. Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd. Interested players should contact the conductor, Franklin Verbsky at (718) 374-1627 or (516) 785-2532.

FILMS Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave. in Astoria, presents a retrospective of David Cronenberg’s films, including all his features, plus some rarely screened short films and a conversation with the director, through Feb. 12. Call for details. (718) 777-6800. Costs $12 for adults.

MUSIC Members of the Con Brio Ensemble will be performing works by Brahms, Prokofiev and Dvorak on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m. at the Church in the Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave. in Forest Hills. Admission to the concert is $12 ($10 for students and senior citizens). TDF vouchers are accepted.

“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.

A Motown tribute concert returns to the Queensborough Performing Arts Center featuring the music of The Temptations, The Supremes and The Four Tops on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. at 222-05 56 Ave., Bayside. Cost is $35. Call (718) 631-6311 or go to visitqpac.org

THEATRE

Bebe and Cece Winans will perform on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. at Colden Auditorium, Queens College, Flushing. Tickets are $44-$48. Call (718) 793-8080.

“Tango 5 Senses” will be presented on 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) 729-3880 or visit thaliatheatre.org.

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

FLEA MARKETS The Italian Charities of America will hold a flea market on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst. St. Josaphat’s R.C. Church of Bayside will hold a flea market plus ethnic Polish bake sale on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Parish Hall, 35th Avenue and 210th Street, Bayside.

LECTURES In conjunction with the exhibition “Civic Action: A “Vision for Long Island City,” on view at The Noguchi

COURTESY PHOTO

Museum, Mary Miss, one of four artists participating in the exhibition, and Eric Sanderson, a conservation ecologist, will discuss how collaboration between artists and scientists and the use of a variety of communication tools can help us better understand and respond to global warming on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. at 9-01 33 Rd., Long Island City. Free with museum admission: $10 adults; $5 senior citizens and college students with valid ID; free for children under 12 and New York City public high school students with valid ID. Authors Elaine Hall and Diane Isaacs will speak about their book on how to reach and teach children with autism on Sunday, Feb. 12 at noon at the Central Queens Y, 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills. It’s free.

MEETINGS See a presentation by Corey Finger featuring the scenery and birds of Kazakhstan at a meeting of the Queens County Bird Club at Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. NAMI Queens/Nassau will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sloman Auditorium of Zucker Hillside Hospital, 266th Street and 76th Avenue, Glen Oaks. The topic is “Students Today: Taking the Lead in Fighting Stigma.” It is preceded by a support group for families at 6 p.m. which is also free of charge. 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. 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.

CLASSES 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.

A points/insurance reduction defensive driving course will be held in the VFW Hall at 102-17 160 Ave., Howard Beach, on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $35. To register or for more information call Keith at (917) 599-6674 or visit progressive-trainign-ltd.com An astronomy class with Mark Freilich will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7-9 p.m. at Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston. Cost is $10 for adult members, $12 for adult nonmembers and $7 for children ages 7-12. Pre-register by calling (718) 229-4000. 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

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Sensual foods for Valentine’s Day vinegar and honey over figs. Season with salt and pepper. Roast 10 to 15 minutes.

by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

ove is in the air with Valentine’s Day less than a week away, so why not start thinking about creating a special meal for loved ones? Over the centuries, certain foods have garnered a reputation as aphrodisiacs, substances that allegedly increase sexual desire. The term derives from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Modern scientists say there’s no proof to the legends. But that hasn’t stopped people from downing raw oysters, the most well-known aphrodisiac, during a romantic evening. Other so-called sexual enhancers include avocado, basil, figs, garlic, almonds, honey, chocolate and strawberries. Here’s an easy menu for two incorporating those ingredients.

Roasted fig appetizer Ancient Greeks held figs as sacred and associated them with love and fertility. Honey was considered a nectar of the gods and given to newlyweds. 6-8 Mission figs, halved goat cheese or feta 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons honey salt and pepper Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place figs cut side up in roasting pan. Top each with 1/2 teaspoon cheese. Drizzle

Avocado and almond salad Avocado is known for its sensuous texture and the Mayans and Aztecs believed it enhanced sexual desirability. Almonds are a fertililty symbol. Their aroma is supposed to arouse passion in women. 1 avocado, diced 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1/4 pound red leaf lettuce, shredded 1/2 pound European salad mix 2 tablespoons chopped almond 1/2 cup Italian dressing Combine avocado and lemon juice in bowl. Add greens and almonds and toss. Pour dressing over salad and toss.

Pesto Basil is supposed to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. Its scent allegedly drives men wild. The ancients believed that garlic stirs sexual desire.

Combine basil with pine nuts in food processor. Pulse a few times and then add garlic and pulse a few more times. Slowly add olive oil in a stream while processor is on, scraping sides. Add cheese and season to taste. Serve with pasta or on salmon or toasted baguette slices.

Chocolate Fondue The Aztecs believed that chocolate induces feelings of excitement and euphoria. They called it the nourishment of the gods. Strawberries are the symbol of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. They allegedly whet one’s sexual appetite. 12 ounces dark chocolate 8 ounces heavy cream pinch of salt 1 tablespoon liqueur, optional In a microwave-safe bowl, heat cream about two minutes. Add chocolate and let stand about three minutes. Q Add liqueur and whisk. Serve with strawberries.

2 cups basil leaves, packed 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts 3 medium garlic cloves, minced salt and pepper

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Page 43 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 44

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Book on Fresh Meadows as postwar idyll by Kevin Korber Chronicle Contributor

Debra Davidson, one of the authors of “Fresh Meadows,” moved to the Queens neighborhood in 1962 when she was in the second grade. One year later, her co-author Fred Cantor left Fresh Meadows for the suburbs. “Her knowledge kind of complemented mine, so it made sense to bring her on for the book,” Cantor said. “Fresh Meadows” was published last October as part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series, which chronicles the histories of neighborhoods around the country through compelling photographs. For the book, Cantor and Davidson collected images from residents who gather on a popular Facebook group, “Fresh Meadows Rules.” They also combed the Fresh Meadows Development archives, the New York Life Insurance archives and their own personal collections. Cantor, who lived in Fresh Meadows before moving to Connecticut in 1963, says he got the idea for the book after finding the Facebook group, which has more than 1,000 members, back in September 2010. “I got a chance to connect with some people I hadn’t seen in almost 50 years, and some of the photos that people were posting on to the group page just captured that idea of postwar America,” Cantor said. He also connected with Davidson through the Facebook group. Davidson lived in Fresh Meadows from age 8 through her years at Queens College. After reminiscing about their respective childhoods in the neighborhood, Cantor proposed writing the book. “We saw through the Facebook group that there was an audience of people who would be interested in a book

probably going to be running around and playing in the neighborhood.” “They still study Fresh Meadows in The playground at PS 26 in Fresh Meadows, transformed into a spray pool, one of land use planning courses in colleges,” many images in a new book, right, which chronicles the neighborhood’s history. he added. Davidson said that unlike Parkchester PHOTO FROM “FRESH MEADOWS,” COURTESY NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE in the Bronx and Stuyvesant Town in about Fresh Meadows’ history,” Cantor said. Manhattan — communities that were likewise estabEstablished in 1946 after New York Life Insurance lished by insurance companies — Fresh Meadows was bought the Fresh Meadows Country Club, the neighbor- designed with more suburban intentions. hood was one of many communities designed for and “The original development had lots of open space and marketed to returning World War II veterans. Cantor, only three high-rises. It was this hybrid of city life and subwhose father was one of those veterans — the family urban life, and that’s still what it is,” Davidson said. moved into the original development, bisected by 188th “Fresh Meadows” is available through most large retailStreet — said that everything down to the layout of the ers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and the roads there was tailored to family life. Queens Public Library. All the authors’ royalties will go to “The streets ... aren’t designed in the standard grid pat- the library’s Fresh Meadows branch. tern. They’re deliberately curved,” Cantor said. This was “For us, it was sort of a labor of love,” Davidson said. “to keep people from driving fast,” he explained. “The “It was great to look back at this great time in the lives of Q streets were designed with the idea that children were so many people.”

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C M SQ page 45 Y K Page 45 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

boro

In Queens, a translation of everything continued from page 00 41

Spanish-style word but an English root,” he said. “For It is, essentially, two hours of defining how exhaust- example, people will say el roofo for the roof, when there are formal Spanish words for that. And even if ing, and almost miraculous, communication is. “My dad is from northern California, and my mom’s you’re monolingual, you have other languages within Puerto Rican, and I was raised in a bilingual household you — a text language or language of intimacy.” Noel is taking a break from his normal gig teaching in Puerto Rico, so translation comes second nature to me,” Noel said. “I grew up speaking Spanish, English literature and creative writing at SUNY Albany to comand Spanglish, and a lot of my work includes transla- plete a book on Nuyorican — New York-Puerto Rican tion and the idea that some of the most fun parts of — poetry. On Saturday, he will show photos by Brooklyn-based artist Martha Clippinger that are part of a language aren’t translatable — slang or curse words.” “If you read my book, ‘Hi-Density Politics,’ which is multimedia project they recently completed together, “The Edgemere Letters,” inspired a play on identity politics and by the Edgemere neighborhood in which I’ll be reading from extenFar Rockaway. sively on Saturday, I use apps or “I love taking subways to far-off voice translation software and read When: Saturday, Feb. 11 locations, so I’d been going to the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Spanish text into an English voice beach in Rockaway for a while when software,” Noel continued. “It’s a Where: Queens Museum of Art way of showing how stuff like Flushing Meadows Corona Park I saw this old, abandoned neighborhood, which was Edgemere,” said Google translate and apps are Tickets: Suggested $5 donation Noel, who added the project was, making all language obsolete queenscouncilarts.org again, much about translation. This because it’s all translatable, but it time, it was about him, a Puerto doesn’t translate the beautiful stuff, the stuff that binds us all together. It’s fake inter- Rican-turned-Bronxite, and Clippinger, a Georgian native preting. Smartphones and iPads have become exten- living in Brooklyn, translating what this Queens neighborsions of our bodies, and it’s so personal and corporate hood had once been and what it has become. Members of Queens in Love with Literature, or and impersonal at the same time.” Noel said — and this is something that will resonate QUILL, are hoping that all this talk of translation, in Spanish-speaking communities of Queens, or likely specifically the focus on Spanish and English, and the many places where languages other than English alone fact that the program’s located in Corona, will draw are spoken — that the fluidity of language is amazing, borough residents who may not typically attend cultural events because of barriers of language or geography. and often amusing. QUILL was founded in 2010 with the aim of offering “In Spanglish, there would be the formation of a

’Poesia: Poe-SEE-ah’

Welcome to the

Esquire

audiences authors not only from their own neighborhood, but ones who speak their language. “It builds a real sense of community and a sense of pride in the people living in your neighborhood,” said Zoe Rabinowitz, a project coordinator for the Queens continued continued on on page page 00 47

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C M SQ page 46 Y K

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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. 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. 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.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES The Queens Pride Lions Club invites you to a “Stupid Cupid Party” on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 7-11 p.m. at Queens Pride House, 76-11 37 Ave., Suite 206, Jackson Heights. (718) 429-5309. Admission: $5 for Queens Pride Lions Club members and their guests. $10 for nonmembers. Food and beverages, dancing, games and prizes. 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 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. The Salvation Army-Astoria Corps, 45-18 Broadway, Long Island City, will be hosting a Valentine’s Day spaghetti lunch on Saturday, Feb. 11 from noon-3 p.m. Donation is $15. Church of the Resurrection, 85-09 118 St., Kew Gardens, will host a Valentine’s Day spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Tickets are: adults $12 ($15 at the door), children $8 (11 and under — $10 at the door). For tickets and information call (718) 847-2649.

SUPPORT GROUPS 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. 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. 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 SNAP of Eastern Queens Senior Center will offer a new healthy cooking class for seniors. The eightsession group will meet Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. beginning Feb. 11 at 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Bldg. 4 on the Creedmoor Community Campus, Queens Village. For more information or to pre-register call Marian or Cathy at (718) 454-2100. 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. A leisure group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing, for area seniors.

LISTING INFORMATION Items for the Community Calendar must be sent two weeks before the date of the event. Listings should be typed, from a nonprofit organization, either free or moderately priced, and be open to the public. Keep the information to one paragraph. Because of the large number of requests for the free calendar listings, we cannot include every event submitted. Send to: Queens Chronicle, Community Calendar, P.O. Box 74-7769, Rego Park, NY 11374, fax to (718) 205-0150.

C M SQ page 47 Y K

King Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Six-pack muscles 4 “Huh?” 8 Slender 12 Speck 13 Ginormous 14 Last few notes 15 Good poker hand 17 Stead 18 Possess 19 Weapon collection 21 San Fernando, for one 24 Melody 25 Have a bug 26 Witnessed 28 Stickum 32 March 15, e.g. 34 Central 36 Bring to a halt 37 Bold 39 Roscoe 41 Regret 42 Conger, e.g. 44 Coy 46 Puts in the wrong place 50 Tatter 51 Help slyly 52 Vigor 56 Paddock papa 57 “My bad” 58 Writer Buscaglia 59 Despot 60 Dalai 61 Tackle’s teammate

DOWN 1 Billboards 2 Automaton, for short 3 Modern-day pram 4 Complains feebly 5 Embrace 6 Ottoman bigwig 7 Aquarium fish 8 Eyeball coats 9 Pork cut 10 Concept

11 Manhandle 16 Piercing tool 20 Taste 21 Futile 22 Staffer 23 Sweet potato kin 27 Peruke 29 Fight 30 Go sightseeing 31 Duel tool 33 Less corpulent 35 Old man 38 Verily

40 Singer Brewer 43 Disinfectant brand 45 Chap 46 Spar 47 Wading bird 48 Antitoxins 49 Old portico 53 Spinning stat 54 Coffee break hour 55 Scuttle Answers at right

different backgrounds, so it will be interesting to share that diversity with the audience.” A poet and multimedia artist, Torres is now Kean University’s poet in residence and the director of Red Door Magazine, an online multimedia publication that features works from people worldwide, including soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and correspondents in Mexico, Colombia and Australia. “I’ve been writing my whole life in Spanish, but I’ve lived in the U.S. for 14 years, so I work with Spanish and English differently,” Torres said. “My poetry in English is more musical and playful, while my poetry in Spanish tends to be a little Q more organized and classical.”

Poesia: Poe-SEE-ah 45 continued from page 00

Council on the Arts. Castro, who lives in Astoria, emphasized that point and said how refreshing it is to do readings in not just Manhattan, but in his home borough — and especially in his stomping grounds in western Queens. “I got to read in Jackson Heights this fall, and it was so nice,” said Castro, who left his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the U.S. 24 years ago. “It felt good to read in your neighborhood, especially because things can be so Manhattan-centric. It makes you feel like you belong to a community more.” Castro will be displaying art by Eleen Lin, which he said especially attracted him because of her use of water imagery — something he said seems especially prevalent in the works of immigrants. “Ever since I was very young, it seemed like I was near a body of water or about to go in a body of water,” Castro said. “As an immigrant, you often have to cross water to get here, and I’m a swimmer so water is very important to me.” Torres, a 24-year-old native of Bogota, Colombia, who published her first book of poetry at the age of 8, will display her own artwork while reading. “I really feel it’s going to be a great opportunity to interact with different poets,” Torres said of Saturday’s event. “We’re all different ages and come from

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boro

SPORTS

BEAT

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Lin to D’Antoni’s rescue Fleming’s Horseshoe: by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni basically borrowed Mad Magazine icon Alfred E. Neuman’s “What, me worry?” line when fielding media questions prior to Saturday’s game with the Nets. When I pressed him, he admitted it was a “personal must-win” game. The Knicks had underachieved so badly up to that point that the lowly Nets would pass them in the standings with a win. That embarrassing fact, combined with the Giants’ appearance in the Super Bowl the next day — which would make it easy for Madison Square Garden executives to take care of unpleasantness without much media fanfare — made it seem to most that the Nets game could easily be D’Antoni’s last as Knicks head coach. D’Antoni’s job security was greatly enhanced, in the short-term anyway, by point guard Jeremy Lin, who a week earlier had been playing in the NBA’s Developmental League. Lin is the first Chinese-American, and one of few Harvard alums, in the NBA. None of that mattered much to D’Antoni, who simply needed a point guard to run the floor. Lin not only distributed the ball well but was unafraid to drive to the hoop as he scored 25 points and flustered his Nets counterpart, Deron Williams, with his tenacious defense. It remains to be seen if Lin’s performance was a flash in the pan, but it’s clear that without a floor general for a point guard, the Knicks’ vaunted trio of Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler may

generate some buzz but not many victories. Sean Landeta was the punter on two Super Bowl-winning teams but he never got the New York City parade that the Giants got in 2008 and again now in 2012. “In 1987 Ed Koch did not think that it was proper for New York taxpayers to foot the bill honoring a New Jersey team. In 1991 David Dinkins felt the same way and with the Gulf War just having gotten underway three weeks earlier there was a consensus that a parade for a football team would be in bad taste,” Landeta recollected at a promotional appearance in Manhattan last week. Ironically in this economy, the cost of New York hosting a parade for a New Jersey-taxpaying corporation never came up because politicians want to be seen with winners. But I agree with Koch’s very principled stand. Other than the Giants, the two biggest winners of Super Bowl XLVI were NBC, which desperately needs a primetime hit and is banking that the game’s possibly record-setting viewership will help make its new Broadway drama, “Smash,” a hit of “Glee”-like proportions; and Modell’s, which probably sold millions in Giants merchandise this week. Track & field’s Super Bowl, the Millrose Games, will take place Saturday at the Armory in Washington Heights. Millrose officials have tried to sugarcoat the move from the far more prestigious Garden by claiming the Armory track is better and will produce more world records. Yeah, that’s the ticket, as Jon Lovitz used to say in his Tommy “The Liar” Q Flanagan bit on “Saturday Night Live.”

the biggest bar in Queens by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

The largest and most popular nightspot in southeastern Queens from the 1930s through the early ’60s was Fleming’s Bar & Grill, located on Merrick Boulevard at 228th Street in Laurelton. The joint was a big 19th-century Colonial house that had been converted into a lunch halltype restaurant by Emile and Bertha Miller, who in the 1920s dubbed it the Old Homestead. In 1936 decorated World War I veteran James Fleming purchased the Old Homestead, energized it and Fleming’s Bar & Grill, aka the Horseshoe Bar, at 228-08 erected his famous horse- Merrick Blvd. in Laurelton, Aug. 15, 1938. shoe-shaped bar. At more He dropped the name Horseshoe Bar in than 70 feet, the bar was the longest in the 1950s and it was called just Fleming’s Queens at the time. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday he Restaurant. It closed in 1962. The watering hole is gone, but food is provided entertainment and dancing with no expense spared. Fleming also held a still served on this corner today. The Ideal big annual outing at Pine Grove Park in Stop, Dairy and Grill is there for people Q who just want quick food to go. Amityville, LI each year.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 48

C M SQ page 48 Y K

SQ page 49

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WOOD FLOORS • • • • • • • •

• Custom Carpentry • Designed Decks • Cabinets • Flooring • Painting • Faux Techniques

718-835-5980

• Tile Repair • New Installation • Plumbing & Electric We Re-Grout and Re-Caulk To Look Like New! Affordable Prices I’ll Beat Any Price! Free Estimates

Sanding Refinishing Staining Bleaching Moisture Cure Water Based Oil Based Polyurethane

• Shingles • Slate Work •• Spanish Shingles Tile •• Squirrel Services Expert Slate & Spanish Tilework • Gutters & Leaders • Rubberized Flat Roofs Cleaned, Repaired & Installed Gutters &Caps Leaders •• Chimney Installed

RAINBOW ELECTRIC Co. Inc.

WIREMAN/CABLEMAN

PAINTING & TILES ARE US HANDYMAN Over 20 Years Experience

Call Anthony

347-226-0202

WIRING FOR LIGHT, HEAT & POWER

Bonded with BBB & Fully Insured

★ FREE ESTIMATES ★ 11

CHRIS MULLINS DORMERS & EXTENSIONS • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Basements • Carpentry • Roofing • Flat Shingle • Expert in Fixing Leaks • Attics • All Renovations • Masonry • Stoops • Brickwork • Waterproofing • Pointing FREE ESTIMATES • REASONABLE

718-276-8558

Lic. #1197433

5% OFF with mention of ad

FREE ESTIMATES 25

718-335-7572 347-624-3061

917-731-1723 718-296-1238

METRO CEMENT

MASTER CARPET CLEANERS

Specializing In: • Driveways • Sidewalks • Brick & Blockwork • Foundation & Excavation • Tilework All Types of Concrete Lic. #1335180

www.mastercarpetco.com

FREE ESTIMATES Call Any Time

718-763-8796

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

PROVENZANO PLUMBING Inc.

• Roofing • Seamless 5 & 6 Inch Gutters & Leaders • Windows • Skylights • Brick • Stucco & Vinyl Siding • Concrete • Kitchens & Baths • Basements 10 • Extensions • Dormers • Sheetrock

Water Heaters • Boilers • Gas & Water Meters Installed • Gas Leak Repairs Legalizations & Violations Removals

All Work Guaranteed

917-731-8365 Office: 718-849-6400 Cell:

J.H. ELECTRIC HARDWOOD FLOORS OF NEW YORK, INC. Professional Services INSTALLATION • SANDING • Repairs • Staining • Refinishing • Bleaching FREE ESTIMATES ALL WORK GUARANTEED Lic./Ins. 7

718-850-8798

• Wiring for Light, Heat, Power, 220 Upgrades, A/C Lines, Bells & Intercom • Violations Removed

FREE ESTIMATES Licensed/Insured

Call 917-755-2507

All Plumbing & Heating Repairs

NYC MP Lic. #001677 24/7 Service

Carpentry Specialists

Europol Floors, Inc.

Specializing in General Contracting

Call

Big or Smal

220V Service Upgrades Complete Rewiring Ceiling Fans Air Conditioner Lines Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Cell: Office:

Est. 1938

Emergency Service 24/7

718-361-1873

• • • • •

RE-NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. No Job Too

C.J.M. Contracting Inc.

Lic. #0982130 LIAB. DISAB + W/C INS.

J.S.V. ELECTRIC Inc. LICENSED ELECTRICIANS

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL • Carpet & Rug Cleaning • Upholstery Cleaning • Tile Cleaning Free • Water Damage Deod orizing • Flat Low Rates

Low Prices! - Free Estimates! - Insured!

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SPECIALISTS

EMERGENCY SERVICE MON. THRU FRI. DAY OR NIGHT AROUND THE CLOCK

718-318-1442 516-342-0954

( 9473 )

Family Owned For Over 35 Years

24 HR. EMERGENCY SERVICE

100sq. ft.

516-433-WIRE 38

J&F FLOOR SPECIALIST ★

• Sanding • Refinishing $ • Polyurethane • Staining • Bleaching • Pickling • Moisture Cure INSURED FREE ESTIMATES

FREE ESTIMATES

718-849-2206 ★ Expert Workmanship ★ ★ Professional Service ★

WWW.DAVEWIREMAN.COM

Small Jobs Welcome

• Tree Removal - Trees Pruned • Stump Removal • Snow Shoveling

★

• Telephone Jacks & Cable TV Extensions Installed & Serviced • Flat TVs Mounted • Surround Sound • HDTV Antennas Installed • Computer Networking Licensed and Insured. All Work Guaranteed

RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL

100 Amp • 220 Volt Service Air Conditioning • Fire Damage Repairs Electrical Violations Corrected Consulting Services • Electrical Layout Designs

738-8732

Snow Shoveling Flat•Roof’s Squirrel & Raccoon Removal S.B.S. (Cold Process) • Chimney Caps Installed (Stainless Steel) Rubbish Removal • Soffit & Metal Capping Work Trees Cut & Pruned

ALL WORK GUARANTEED

DEPENDABLE LICENSED CONTRACTOR

• • • •

• • • • •

Cleaned, Repaired & Installed

• Skim Coating • Bathroom Tile/Repair/Re-Grouting • Kitchens • Sheetrock & Plastering 15% • Wood Floors • Carpentry OFF • Water Damage Repair • Basements

sq. ft.

718-807-5902 516-424-9997

Call For FREE ESTIMATE (718)

Residential Residential SALTY’S ROOFING & TREE SERVICES

SPECIALIZING IN:

AS LOW AS ¢

Member of the Better Business Bureau

Commercial

Nick “The Tile Man”

Commercial

INSURED

Lic. #1398018 & 1310043

✁718-496-2572

Are you thinking about renovating or remodeling your home or business place? Your home is your single largest investment! We have the experience and knowledge regarding ALL types of home and business improvements. New Construction, Remodeling, Extensions, Alterations, Additions, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Roofing, Tiling

FREE ESTIMATES

CHECK OUR LOW RATES

NO JOB TOO SMALL

GARY RYAN HOME SPECIALIST, INC.

718-843-5971 917-670-1015

Member of the Better Business Bureau

11 • Courteous Reliable Service • Weekends Available At No Additional Cost • • All Furniture Padded For Protection • No Job Too Small • Packing & Unpacking • • Cartons & Packing Materials Available • Licensed & Insured DOT#10851 USDOT#1406075NY www.movecomovers.com 102-15 LIBERTY AVE., OZONE PARK, NY 11417

$25.00 with this ad

FULLY INSURED

Lowest Rates • Fully Certified All Work Fully Guaranteed Chemicals Rotated - All Areas Commercial & Residential

MOVING SERVICE INC.

INSTANT SAVINGS OF 11

TERMITE INSPECTION AND TERMITE JOBS

MOVECO

EST. 1985

Removal of Garbage - Debris Unwanted Furniture/Appliances

718-847-1445

We’ll See What’s BUGGING You!

718-827-8175

Lic. #1069538

FERRARO ROOFING

Families Exterminator

ELECTRICIAN Call Russo Electric Honest & Reliable Your Neighborhood Electrician Since 1946

718-528-2401

•718Licensed by City of New York - Sr. Citizen Discount

Licensed 3rd Generation 220V Services, Outlets, Security Lights, Fixtures, Etc.

Lowest Rates Guaranteed Ask For 718ROB

H.I.C. #0937014

• • • •

Classical Custom

917-709-1181 718-323-5114

ALEXIS

15% OFF* On All Roofs With This Ad

ROOFING & SIDING • Gutters Cleaned & Installed • Leaders • Skylights • Specialists in Flat Roofs & Shingles • Roofing Repairs • Rubberoid Roofs LOW PRICES • FREE ESTIMATES 24 Hours A Day • 7 Days A Week

Call Leon 718-296-6525 All Work Guaranteed • Se Habla Español *Reg. price quoted

Lic. # 0859173

SQ page 51

WE SERVICE: • Washers • Dryers • Refrigerators • Stoves/Ovens • Combo Units NO SERVICE CHARGE WITH A REPAIR!

Clip To Save $30

Cell

917-349-9061 Ask for Pablo

EVENING HOURS AVAILABLE!

“Day or Night We Get Your Appliances Working Right” Hablamos Español

STOP

lateappliancerepair.com

ONE STOP STOP PAINTING

15% Senior Citizen Discount FREE ESTIMATES 7 20 Years Experience We Will Beat Anybody’s Price! Phil 917-747-4060

ROOFING LEAKS • LEAKS • Shingles • Flats • Slates • Specializing in Finding Leaks • Clean Out Leaders & Gutters FREE Estimates 5 • Best Price • Work Guaranteed

HOME REPAIRS

BRICK STOOPS BRICK POINTING

718-348-7821

Call 718-847-6930 Ask for Jim

• Bathrooms • Kitchens • Basements • Windows/Anderson/Pella/Skylights • Decks • Concrete • Pavers • Flooring • Painting • Sheetrock • Carpentry • Plumbing • Electrical • Extensions & New Construction ★ 20 Years Excellent Record with Consumer Affairs FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED AND INSURED

718-938-2127

Lic. # 1258952

• Driveways • Foundations • Excavations • Blacktop

FREE ESTIMATES

WWW.NEWHEIGHTSCONSTRUCTIONNY.COM NYC LIC. #1191201

NYC Lic. #1001786

All Work Proudly Guaranteed www.webercarpentry.com

917-560-8146

LICENSED & INSURED FREE ESTIMATES

1-800-289-7046

EXPERT WINDOW REPAIRS WINDOWS

Only

199

Capping Available

– Masonry Work Also Available –

Accepting Major Credit Cards

347-418-7309 347-531-3609

VINYL SIDING SALE! Call For Special FREE Estimates or Visit Our Showroom

22500

per 100 Sq. Ft.

ROOFING • SEAMLESS LEADERS & GUTTERS ALL MASONRY WORK • CEMENT • PAVERS • BRICK

FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED Cell

COMPLETELY INSTALLED $ 00

• TREE REMOVAL • FULL SERVICE LANDSCAPING • SNOW REMOVAL • SIDEWALK REPAIR

1-800-599-1150

NYC Lic. # 0927491

www.jbhomeimprovementsinc.com

L.I. Lic. #H18D2240000

CE & TV REPAI LIAN P R P WE REPAIR: A • Washers • Dryers • Refrigerators • TVs • A/Cs • Stoves/Ovens • Dishwashers

NO SERVICE CHARGE WITH A REPAIR

10% OFF 26

1 Year Warranty

With this ad

Rubbish Removal

718-275-0074 – SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT –

UP TO $50 DISCOUNT

$45.95

$45.95 ANY ONE PROBLEM

We Do All The Loading & Cleanups Commercial • Residential Interior • Exterior • Demolition Cleanouts - All Kinds Boiler & Oil Tanks Removed Lawn Maintenance Fully Insured and Certified 13

718-523-2317 Cell: 917-922-5355

W&U Construction Inc.

Nassau Lic. #H0421840000

Celebrating Our 30 th Anniversary

• Masonry

– SINCE 1995 –

J&B HOME IMPROVEMENTS • Painting

NYC Licensed Master Plumber #1501 NYS Backflow Prevention Device Tester #8749 Also Licensed in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties

FREE ESTIMATES

Lic. #1270074

SIDEWALK VIOLATIONS REMOVED

ROADSTONE CONTRACTING

718-626-7888 - CALL 24/7 SERVICE

Kitchens Bathrooms Garage Doors Skylights Decks Sheetrock Flooring Basements Drop Ceilings And Much More

Brickwork • Pavers • Concrete • Waterproofing Tile & Granite Work Anthony Interior • Exterior

• Doors

FREE ESTIMATES! ALL WORK GUARANTEED!

• WINDOWS • DOORS • STORM DOORS

LICENSED & INSURED

FREE ESTIMATES

• Siding

Owner Operated Commercial/Residential • Repairs • Water Heaters • Water Meters • Alterations • Fire Suppression • Faucets • New Work • Gas Work • Shower Bodies • Boilers • Gas Meters • Leaks

Weber Home Improvement

• Roofing

1-800-525-5102 • 718-767-0044

• • • • • • • • • •

FREE ESTIMATES

• Window

WINTER SPECIALS ON WINDOWS

LICENSED & INSURED

718-658-0979

• Retaining Walls • Basement Floors • Handicap Ramps • Garbage Removal

Thunder Tree Experts

NEW HEIGHTS CONSTRUCTION LLC

FALL SPECIAL Gutters - Leaders Siding

Same Day Service

718-894-0659

Lic. #0855277

PROFESSIONAL CARDI CONCRETE WORK CONSTRUCTION CORP. • Sidewalks • Stoops/Patios

Siding • Windows • Roofing • Fences Kitchens • Baths • Basements • Decks Doors • Awnings • Patio Enclosures Brick Pointing • Concrete Stucco

Old Furniture, Household Items, Appliances, Yard Waste, Construction Debris And More.

A STEP ABOVE

• Tile Work • Driveways • Kitchens & Baths • Patios • Sidewalk Violations Removed 7 FREE ESTIMATES

Small and Big Jobs Lic. #1066489

We Remove

Brick & Cement Work Licensed & Bonded

HANDYMAN SERVICES

718-791-8259

• • • •

718-968-5987

Husband For Hire

Interior & Exterior Painting Sheetrock & Taping Faux Wallpapering

We Remove Your Junk, So You Don’t Have To!

All Leaks on Pipes, Faucets, Toilets, Shower Bodies, Radiator Valves, Clear Stoppages in Sinks, Tubs, Also Install Hot Water Heaters Free Estimates Licensed Cheap Rates & Insured Ask for Bob

• Kitchens • Bathrooms • Carpentry • Painting

• Window & Door Replacement

AFFORDABLE PRICES FREE ESTIMATES Licensed & Insured

• Sewer Ejector Systems Serviced and Installed • High Tech Water Jetting • Camera Inspection • Root Treatment • Basements Pumped

Money Saving Preventive Maintenance Contracts Residential/Commercial Accounts Welcome! All Work Guaranteed! 1 Year Guarantee Available On Sewers

1 Hour Response Time Available

We Gladly Accept Our Competitors Contracts!

Final Cleaning Sewer and Drain Service Inc.

718-977-4500 • 516-285-2845

Lic. #1311321

Cell: 646-262-0153

SEWER & DRAINS Electrically Cleaned: • Main Sewers • Toilets • Showers • Bathtubs • Sinks • Floor/Yard Drains • Grease Separators • Leader Lines

24 HR./7 DAY EMERGENCY SERVICE 9

* It Doesn’t Cost A Lot To Achieve The Best *

Page 51 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

REPAIRS

LATE APPLIANCE REPAIR

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 52

SQ page 52

Eric Clyde

All Phases of Tree Work

Owner/Operator

INSURED

FREE ESTIMATES

WOOD FLOORS SPECIALIST

LUTHERAN CLEANING PRECEPTS, INC. • Janitorial • Stone Floor Care & Restoration • Wood Floor Refinishing • Wall Washing • Stripping & Waxing • Grounds Cleaning Insured & Bonded FREE ESTIMATES

917-412-7004

A Division of Moveco, Inc.

Professional

CARPENTER/ PAINTER FREE Estimates Richie

• Kitchens & Bathrooms

No Job Too Big or Too Small 10 Free Estimates 718-600-5186 Licensed & Insured

GRB Construction New Additions & Renovations Affordable Replacement Windows & More Dormers • Extensions • Basements • Decks • Trim Kitchens • Bathrooms • Doors • Roofing • Siding CO-OP / Condo Remodeling Large Selection Of Prefinished Flooring Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

516-352-0566

HEATING & HOME • Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations • Boilers • Water Heaters • Drain Cleaning • Piping • Flooring • Tile • Painting • Roofing

Painting Plastering Taping, Etc. Sheetrock

CALL US FOR FREE IN-HOME DESIGN SERVICE Offering...

ROLL-OFF DUMPSTERS 1-888-914-TNCC (8622) www.tnccdumpsters.com

GARAGE DOORS Complete Framing Available • Garages Extended Center Post Removed • Openings Widened

Insulated Garage Doors

HUGE CLEARANCE SALE

718.793.9615

• Steel • Entrance Doors • Storm Doors • Wood • Gate Operators • Security Doors • Raised Panels • Parking Systems • Maintenance Free Doors

Sales & Service For All Major Brands Wholesale & Retail

Professional

HANDYMAN

BROKEN SPRINGS, DOORS, CABLES Authorized Distributors & Installers For:

Painting, Repairs, Floors, Tile, Finished Basements, Plumbing, Carpentry, Wood Work, Etc.

ORDER ONLINE:

Lic. #1314744

718-738-1190 fax: 718-738-0145

visit us online @ www.classicwindows.com

Serving the Community for 3 Generations

Family Owned & Operated for 30 Years

Henry Braun

Formerly on Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills

718-461-1935

CONSTRUCTION LLC FULLY INSURED

Fabrication & Installation of Duct Work for Air Conditioning/Heating/Ventilation FREE ESTIMATES

Est. 1983

SCL AFMORE

ACTION SHEETMETAL OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS

E-mail: wizardfurniture@yahoo.com

Visit us online: SclafmoreConstruction.com

• Draperies • Upholstery • Bedding & Accessories • Roman & Balloon Shades • Motorized Treatments • Radiator Enclosures • Much More! Featuring

We Do All Size Moves Small & Large 24/7 FREE

718-598-2634 • 917-806-1243

• Kitchens & Bathrooms • Dormers & Extensions • Brickwork • Paving Stones • All Types of Concrete • Custom-Built Homes • Residential & Commercial • New Construction • We Do It All!

Now we’re bringing the finest window treatments to your door!

DEPENDABLE

718-896-9200 or 718-845-9200 FREE ESTIMATES VIOLATIONS REMOVED

347-822-7248

MOVING & STORAGE

718-803-1348

• Professional Furniture Repair • Touch-Ups • Refreshing Kitchen Cabinets & Much More FREE ESTIMATES Call 516-837-0886 10 or 917-515-7416

HOUSE CLEANING

For over 25 years, people have come to our showroom door for the finest window treatments…

MODERN DUSTLESS MACHINES

HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC.

AFFORDABLE 7

FREE ESTIMATES

Wizard Furniture, Inc.

• Kitchens & Bathrooms • Basements • Carpentry 11 • Windows • Roofing • Painting • Tiling • Hardwood Floors • Stucco • Decks • Fencing and More FREE ESTIMATES Lic. #1412084

Reliable, Convenient, Experienced House Cleaning With a Car! Great Rates! Call For Estimate

• Hardwood Floors Installation • Refinishing • Repairs • Staining

PRO-VISION INTERIOR /EXTERIOR

7 49

Lic. #1363123

Nassau #H0430700000 - NYC #1125624

Estimates

718-502-4437

917-539-0399

Commercial and Residential • • • •

Estate Cleanouts Broom Sweep Residential/Commercial Licensed & Insured www.cleancocleanoutservice.com

FREE ESTIMATE

718-738-8732

J.P. MUSSO ROOFING & SIDING Siding Roofing/Rips Gutters Slate, Etc.

From Home or Office Attic • Garage • Basement, Etc. No Job Too Big or Small Fast, Honest, Reliable Service

516-376-1559

emonkeybusiness@aol.com

Call Peter

SERVICE We Will Remove All Your Unwanted Furniture Junk Removal • From One Piece To A Truck Load

Tree Service

SNOW Stump Grinding - Prunings - Removals FIREWOOD Firewood - Pool Clearings DELIVERY REMOVAL

Lic. and Insured

VICKAR FLOOR SERVICE

CLEANOUT

Over 15 Years of Experience

• • • •

CLEANCO

$25.00 COUPON With Installation of Any New Garage Door

Victor

917-709-5747

Expires 02/23/12.

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Newspapers For The Price Of One. 31

A Week.

PARTS • REPAIRS • REMOTE CONTROLS FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE

CASSEL & & FREYMUTH, FREYMUTH, INC. INC. CASSEL Serving Queens For Over 50 Years

718-739-8006

Fully Licensed & Insured

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

SQ page 53

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Help Wanted

Career Training

HELP WANTED

Well established college is seeking motivated individuals to generate max interest for career education at various communities. Minimum Associates degree in marketing or communication reqd.

COMPENSATION

careers@asa.edu

DENTAL ASSISTANTS TRAINING PROGRAM P/T Begins Early March in Queens, Brooklyn, L.I. & Westchester. Placement Asst. Est. 27 Years. Licensed by NYSED 1(888) 595-3282 X-28

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Women 21-31 Egg Donors Needed. 100% conﬁdential Help turn couples into families with physicians onThe Best Doctor's List. 1-877-9-DONATE 1-877-936-6283

c0371

Forward your resume to

$8,000 6,000 - $7,000

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Special Event

BOXING EVENT Gleason’s Gym Presents USA BOXING AMATEUR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

SAT, FEB 18 @ 6PM

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Receive CA$H, Hotel Voucher & Tax Deduction

You could also help doctors detect injuries and illness!

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sanfordbrown.edu

Tax Services

ATTENTION

2011

TAX PROFESSIONALS

Gleason’s Gym 718-797-2872

Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

Psychic

We cover the entire borough of Queens with 9 separate editions!

FAMOUS INDIAN VEDIC ASTROLOGER

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718

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718-491-2525 Tax Services

Tax Services

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718-850-6809

Page 53 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

Chronicle CLASSIFIEDS

Chronicle CLASSIFIEDS To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

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Management of companies and enterprises will grow 11.4%*

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Thurs., Feb. 23 11am-3pm Sat., Feb. 25th 10am-2pm ve Interactiand culinaryical med tions a demonstr r u Tour ofeons kitch bs and la

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Living Without Healthcare Is A Risk You Cannot Afford

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Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: ROTANA LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/16/2011. 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 Rowshan A. Taufique, 148-52 87th Road, Jamaica, NY 11435. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

The Gohar Family LLC filed Articles of Organization to be an LLC on September 23, 2011. On October 20, 2011, the Articles were amended to change the name to Seven Starr Realty I LLC. The Secretary of State is designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The address of the LLC is 175 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, NY 11375 in Queens County. The purpose of the LLC is real estate investment and management.

SQ page 55

Notice of Formation of THE WARRIORS PEST MANAGEMENT L.L.C., a domestic or foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC). Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State on AUGUST 30, 2011. NY Office location: Queens County. Secretary of State is designated as agent upon who process against the LLC may be served. Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC service upon him/her to C/O 215-14 46th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

GILDAN MEDIA, LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/13/11. 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, 66-31 Wetherole St., Rego Park, NY 11374. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: GID INDUSTRIES, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/29/2011. 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 Trevor Desmond, 5828A 47th Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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.

PROBATE CITATION File No. 2011-4345 SURROGATE’S COURT – QUEENS COUNTY AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: The heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of BEATRICE HERRERA, 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 duly filed by HILDA ALEGRE who is domiciled at 162-04 87th STREET, HOWARD BEACH, NY 11414. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on 8th day of MARCH, 2012 at 9:30 A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of BEATRICE HERRERA lately domiciled at 162-28 87th ST., HOWARD BEACH, NY 11414 admitting to probate a Will dated JANUARY 8, 2010, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of BEATRICE HERRERA deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: HILDA ALEGRE. January 25, 2012 (Seal). HON. PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate. MARGARET M. GRIBBON, Chief Clerk. THOMAS J. WHITE, Attorney for Petitioner 69-34 GRAND AVE., MASPETH, N.Y. 11378, (718) 639-1100 (Note: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If 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.)

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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK-COUNTY OF QUEENS INDEX# 11772/2011 FILED: 5/13/2011 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgage premise is situated. DUETSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE OF THE INDYMAC INDX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2005-AR5, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-AR5 UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATES MARCH 1, 2005, Plaintiff, against MAURICIO ZAPATA, CARMEN M. RODRIGUEZ, if she be living and if she be dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the complaint herein, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR QUICKEN LOANS, INC., UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, HERITAGE ASSET MANAGEMENT, EQUITABLE ASCENT FINANCIAL, LLC, WORKERS COMPENSATION BOARD OF NEW YORK STATE, CAPITAL ONE BANK, NYS DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, CRIMINAL COURT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NYC PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, NYC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, NYC TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU and “JOHN DOE” and “JANE DOE”, the last two names being fictitious, said parties intended being tenants or occupants, if any, having or claiming an interest in, or lien upon the premises described in the complaint, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to serve upon plaintiff’s attorneys an answer to the Complaint in this action within twenty (20) days after the service of the summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within (60) days of service hereof. In case of failure to answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT: THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on 10/1/2004 in CRFN: 2004000615862 covering premises known as 89-15 86th St., Woodhaven, NY 11421. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. To the above named defendants: the foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. David Elliot, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, filed 5/13/2011 and filed along with the supporting papers in the Queens County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a mortgage. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York. Block: 8968 Lot: 50 said premises known as 89-15 86th St., Woodhaven, NY 11421. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THERE IS DUE AND OWING TO PLAINTIFF THE SUM OF $267,862.72 WITH INTEREST THEREON AT 2.652% PER ANNUM FROM 7/1/2010, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE INTEREST, LATE CHARGES, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, ESCROW ADVANCES, ETC. UNLESS YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THE DEBT, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF IS DISPUTED, THE DEBTOR JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU AND A COPY OF SUCH VERIFICATION OR JUDGMENT WILL BE MAILED TO YOU BY THE HEREIN DEBT COLLECTOR. IF APPLICABLE, UPON YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST, WITHIN SAID THIRTY (30) DAY PERIOD. THE HEREIN DEBT COLLECTOR WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR IF DEFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT CREDITOR. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT, YOU ARE NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR THE UNDERLYING INDEBTEDNESS OWED TO PLAINTIFF/CREDITOR AND THIS NOTICE/DISCLOUSE IS FOR COMPLIANCE AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE New York State Law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the summons and complaint in this foreclosure action, you may lose your home. Please read the summons and complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney or your local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies, and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during the 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 Bank-NYS or visit the Department’s website at www. banking.state.ny.us FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they completed all such promised services. Section 1303 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The Law Offices Of Jordan S. Katz, P.C., Attorneys for the Plaintiff, 395 N. Service Rd., Suite 401, Melville, NY 11747 (631)454-8059 Our file #: JSK 15102.

Page 55 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

CITATION File No.: 2009-3873/D THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT To: Barbara Prunchak, Robert Prunchak, Barry S. Seidel, 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 ANNA KRUK, 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 ANNA KRUK, deceased, who at the time of death was a resident of 101-55 97 Street, Ozone Park, 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 ANNA KRUK, 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 8th day of March, 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 $9,918.45 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 Barry S. Seidel for services as Guardian ad Litem should not be paid in an amount to be determined by the court; and why the claim from NYC Human Resources Administration Department of Social Services in the amount of $310,298.21 should not be paid to the extent of the net residuary estate, Dated, Attested and Sealed 10th day of January, 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

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 56

SQ page 56 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: 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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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.

NOTICE is hereby given that a License, number 1260656, has been applied for by Comales Restaurant Corp. to sell wine and beer at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 107-02 Corona Avenue, Corona, NY 11368 for onpremises consumption.

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

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Co-ops For Sale

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Howard Beach, Co-op for sale, 3 1/2 rms, 1 BR, hi-rise, new kit, updated bath, hardwood fls, all Glendale, studio, $800/mo, incls new appl, maint only $499/mo, G&E, no smoking/pets. Owner, move-in cond. CALL NOW! 516917-698-6862 298-7422 Howard Beach, exclusive agent for studios & 1 BR apts, absentee L/L. Call Joe Trotta, Broker @ 718Co-op wanted! Qualified buyer 843-3333 with small dog looking to deal Howard Beach/Hamilton Beach, 3 directly with owner to purchase a BRs, 1 Fl, CAC, parking, $1,600/mo, studio/1BR co-op in Forest Hills util sep, call 718-704-3553 or Kew Gardens, parking preHoward Beach/Lindenwood, 3 BRs, ferred. Low $100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. No brokers! 2 baths, CAC, small balcony, close Leave detailed message @ 917324-3452 to shopping. Call 917-578-3842

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Owner Marie

Houses For Sale

WHAT IS YOUR HOME WORTH? Free, quick over the Net evaluation of your home. Learn about homes that have been sold and are currently listed in your neighborhood. Get the facts without the pressure. Based on this information, you will know what your home is worth. This is a complete confidential market analysis and is absolutely free!!

Visit: www.PriceMyHome.org Or call 1-800-882-6030 Ext. 614 24/7 FREE Community Service

Open House

Garage For Rent

HOWARD BEACH LINDENWOOD

GARAGE FOR RENT

SUN 2/12, 12-2PM 79-18 155 AVE, #1A Garden Co-op, 1st Fl, 2 BRs Converted from 3, FDR, Lg LR, Tile & Wood Fls Throughout, Cherry Wood Kitchen, SS Appliances, Island overlooking DR, Closets Galore, 1 Block to trans, shopping & schools. Asking $195K Neg.

Approx. 900 sq ft. Good for contractor storage or fleet parking. Secure location. $1,500 per month.

Agent Anna Maria 917-682-5222

Email: charmdev@aol.com

OPEN HOUSE HOWARD BEACH ROCKWOOD PARK

Vacation R.E./Rental

SUN 2/12, 12-3pm 159-16 88 St. 1 Family Hi-Ranch, 3 BRs, Possibly 4, 2 Full Baths, 2 Kitchens, LR, FDR, Lg Family Room, A Must See! Asking $579K

PAT 917-418-0415 Broker/Owner HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK, Sat 2/11, 12-3, 157-19 84 St. Asking, $589/K. MASPETH, Sun 2/12, 12-2, 59-15 69 Lane. Asking, $549/K. Connexion I RE, 718-845-1136 Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sat 2/11, 12:30-2:00, 161-27 87 St. Great Splanch, 3 BRs, family room, 1 car gar, pvt dvwy. A must see! Agent Marion, 917-214-2333. Agent Leeann,718-664-4105 Century 21 Amiable Realty Group II, Inc

OZONE PARK

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com

Land For Sale NY SPORTSMAN & OUTDOOR FAMILY LAND BUYS! This is the best time ever!! 6AC-along snowmobile trail WAS: $29,995. NOW: $13,995. 52AC-Near Salmon River WAS: $69,995. NOW $49,995. 5AC-Beautiful woodlands & riverfront WAS: $69,995 NOW: $39,995. 97ACTimber & trout stream WAS: $119,995 NOW: $99,995. Inhouse financing. Over 150 land bargains. Call 800-229-7843 Or visit www.LandandCamps.com

NYS LAND WANTED Cash Buyer Looking for 2-3 farms or wood lots in your area. 25-1000 acres, cash deal, quick closing. No closing costs to you. Local NYS Forestry Company in business for Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, over 20 years. Fully guaranteed. Sat 2/11, 1-3, 157-35 89 St. Cape, Call 800-229-7843 4 BRs, 2 new baths, fin bsmnt w/OSE. A must see! Seller will pay $3,000 towards closing costs! Jerry Fink RE, 718-766-9175 or 917-774-6121

Houses For Rent Old Howard Beach, HOUSE FOR RENT, 3 BR, 2 full baths, lg KIT, LR, DR, W/D, pvt dvwy, no smoking/pets. A must see! $1,800/mo neg, credit ck & refs. Leave clear message. 917-304-1943

Ozone Park, garage avail, 1 BR, Our Classifieds Reach Over Classified Ad Special. Pay for 3 3 rms, near all, $850/mo, refs 400,000 Readers. Call 718-205- weeks and the 4th week is FREE! req. Owner, 917-520-7902 8000 to advertise. Call 718-205-8000

WITH A

205-8000

C M SQ page 57 Y K Page 57 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

What an anniversary present!

Happy couple is remodeling their home and saving money too, thanks to the HRA program Iris Escobar is a coupon clipper, proud to be frugal. But you don’t usually clip coupons for home improvement, so when she and her husband, Victor, decided to remodel their home, she had to find another way to save. But Iris didn’t have to look far. The answer arrived in her mailbox one day last summer: a card advertising the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program. Thanks to the HRA, the Escobars are getting a world-class makeover to their kitchen, dining room and downstairs bathroom, along with a new roof and energy-efficient windows — all without spending a dime in cash, and without increasing their mortgage payments a penny. Taking advantage of the program is letting them save thousands of dollars on a project that would have cost $103,000, and thanks to refinancing, they’re making the same monthly payments they were before on their Baldwin home — but now $200 each month is going toward the principal. They couldn’t be happier — not about the savings, not about the work that’s being done, and especially not about the full range of services HRA is providing as their home is transformed. “It’s been a great ride,” Victor said. “I can’t say enough about the HRA program. I can’t say enough about everybody involved with the program.” His wife agrees. “I’m excited, I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m glad I met this team; they’re great!” Speaking to Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, she added, “I told my sister about you, I told my coworkers about you — I tell everyone about you.” What Iris is telling everyone is how the HRA guides clients through every step of the home remodeling process, from helping

decide what work should be done to how it will be financed, from securing financial assistance to overseeing the work and making sure the contractors are not paid until the homeowner is satisfied. A fan of “The People’s Court,” where she sees a lot of irresponsible contractors sued over jobs that weren’t done correctly, Iris said she was especially glad that the HRA holds clients’ money in escrow until they certify that they’re satisfied. Ca r l os d e s cr i b e d h ow h e starts a project with clients like the Escobars: “I explain to them what HRA does and show them the different options for how we can accomplish what they want to do to reach their goals, help them get financing and a reduced interest rate on their mortgage.” “Af ter the first 10 minutes speaking to him, I was sold on the program,” Victor said. “All through this, he’s been great.” An HRA administrator explained the program’s basic approach: “The ser vices of fered by the HRA extend beyond just financial assistance for home improvement projects. We have implemented numerous processes to ensure that projects completed by HRAapproved contractors are done to the homeowner’s satisfaction.” Just take a look at some of the program’s requirements for contractors. They all must be: • licensed, bonded and insured for at least $100,000 per incident; • registered with the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of an A or higher; • in business for at least 10 years; • able to provide the names and addresses of eight clients they have done home improvement projects for in the past year; and • able to perform four test proj-

ects for the HRA prior to working for any clients. With that kind of screening, it’s no surprise that only the best contractors get to do HRA-sponsored jobs. At the Escobars’ house, it’s a big job that’s underway. First the roof and windows were replaced, and new gut ters and leaders installed. The couple is thrilled with the result. There’s a stunning new bay window in the dining room that measures about 8 feet wide by 5 feet high. The kitchen features a garden window, an especially deep one with a glass shelf so their plants can be surrounded by light from all sides. Next the interior of the kitchen and bathroom were completely gutted, with everything from new gas lines and plumbing to new Sheetrock and insulation going in. The door to the basement was moved from one wall to another to make room for all the cabinetry surrounding the garden window. The new kitchen is going to feature only the best equipment and materials, including a six-burner stove with a pot-filler faucet, double sink with pullout faucet, beautiful real-wood cabinets, granite countertops and floor tiles. A new two-level peninsula with a granite top will serve as a bar, or just another place for family and friends to gather. There will even be a tilt-out drawer for sponges and brushes in front of the sinks. “ I ’m a h oa rd e r,” I r is s a i d. “They’re giving me lots of drawers and shelves to put away my stuff.” Even more of her and her husband’s “stuff” will go in the new pantries that will be built in an area just off the kitchen. Those will be done in the same deep finish as the kitchen cabinets, and feature modern conveniences like pullout drawers behind the doors.

Iris Escobar shows off the new tiling that will be going in her bathroom. The bathroom also will be allnew. The shower will feature a bench and a modern rain shower head. The tile walls will be accented by a mosaic design running around the whole room. The hardware will be bronze, and the contractor even found a toilet in Mexican sand, a cream-like color, that will complement the decor perfectly. In the front of the house, the contractor replaced all the windows in the foyer and added insulation. Not only will the Escobars earn tax credits for energy efficiency, but Iris says she felt the difference immediately. Drafty for years, the foyer is now cozy, she said. After all the interior work is

done, the project will go back outside, as a new deck and patio get installed. Iris likes to entertain, but for the last three years hadn’t bothered because she wasn’t happy with how the house was looking. But now she’s looking forward to holding a big bash in June, to show off the renovations made possible by the HRA program and to celebrate the couple’s 10th anniversary. The timing couldn’t have worked out better. To find out if you qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program, just call the HRA tollfree at 866-791-6302. Tell them you read about the Escobars’ job, and they’ll give you the same level of excellent service.

HOUR-056890

Iris and Victor Escobar are getting rich wood cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom, and got to see how various colors would look on their walls before choosing. The bathroom will get a carved stone sink. Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, has become a friend as well — they’ve invited him to a party they’re planning to celebrate their 10th anniversary — and their newly remodeled home. — ADVERTISEMENT —

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 58

C M SQ page 58 Y K

JERRY FINK REAL ESTATE, INC. 160-10 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach, NY

RE JFI.NCOKM

Thinking of selling your home? Call us for a FREE In-Home Market Evaluation: Intelligent pricing & Marketing Strategies Creating Connections Where Integrity & Experience Count

OPEN HOUSE HOWARD BEACH

New Construction, 2 Family, 6 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths and much more!

SEE YOUR HOME HERE!

WE HAVE MORE!

Do you want to know what homes in your neighborhood have sold for? We can email this info to you, contact us at m23realtor@aol.com or vecs004@aol.com or call us for a “FREE” in home market evaluation with no obligation!

! SOLD OZONE PARK

OZONE PARK/CENTERVILLE

Buyers Don’t Miss Out On This One! Beautiful 1 Fam Tudor In The Quaint Tudor Village, Fully Renov In/Out, Recessed Lighting, HW Fls, Kit Incls All Appl + Mwave & D/W, Master BR Has W/W Closet, Entertain In The Fully Fin Bsmt And Backyard, Move Right In! Reduced $439K!

Beautiful Cape With 4 BRs, New Roof, 2 New Baths, Updated Kit, Move In Condition w/HW Fls in LR and BRs, Spacious Backyard, Full Fin Bsmt w/OSE, New Alarm System Hooked Up To Central Station! A Must See! Seller Will Pay $3000 Towards Closing Cost!

Junior 4 Co-op, 2 BR, Living Room, Dining Area, Efficient Kitchen, Full Bath, ONLY $89K! Call Today!

HOWARD BEACH

GLENDALE

HOWARD BEACH

Beautiful 2 Family, Terrace, 6 BRs, 4 Bath, Hardwood Floors, New Bath In Master Br, Full Finished Bsmt, 2 Car Garage, New Siding, New Patio, Recently Renovated, A Must See Today!

1 Family Det Colonial, 4 BRs, 2 Full Baths, All Upgraded Electric, New H/W Fls, New Tiled Kit, Full Fin Bsmt, Rebuilt 2 Car Gar, Hallway Newly Renov, New Siding, $458k! A Must See!

Detached Hi-ranch, 4 BRs, All New 2.5 Baths, Formal Dining Room, Lg EIK. All New Walk in - LR, Kit, Bed, Full Bath, Pvt Driveway With 1.5 Garage, Call Today!

FREE MARKET APPRAISALS

FRED KOLSIN

Thomas J. LaVecchia, Licensed Real Estate Broker

LIC. ASSOCIATE BROKER

137-05 Cross Bay Blvd. Ozone Park, NY 11417 www.howardbeachrealty.com

718-641-6800

Apartments Wanted - Free To List - Free Credit Check - Call Now!

Call F or Listin Our gF Speci ee als!

OZONE PARK

HOWARD BEACH

Saturday, 2/11, 1-3pm 157-35 89th Street

Great Splanch, 3 Bedrooms + Family Room, 1 Car Garage, Private Driveway.

HB y t l a e R

IF YOU PRICE TOO HIGH, THEY WON’T BUY

FOR SALE!

OPEN HOUSE - SAT 2/11, 12:30-2pm 161-27 87th Street

HOWARD BEACH

CALL 718-766-9175 or 917-774-6121

. WWW

Specializing In Howard Beach

CO-OPS FOR SALE

Howard Beach/Lindenwood • Spectacular 2 BRs 2 Baths Hi-Rise w/Terrace, Completely Remodeled Thru-out. New Gourmet Kitchen, Two new custom baths. Must See! ............. Just Reduced! $199,900K • 4½ Rm Hi-Rise, 2 BRs, Needs TLC, Won’t Last Only $105K

3.5 Rms 1 BR Hi Rise Coop, All redone, Super Mint Cond, New Kitchen, New Appliances. Asking $114,999

HOWARD BEACH Colonial, 30x100, 3 BRs, 1 Bath, 1 Attic, 1.5 Garage and Pvt Dvwy, Must See!

Brick detached ranch, 6 Rms, 3 BRs, 2 Baths, Den, Rec Room, Pvt Dvwy, New Patio, Mint Cond. Asking Only $499K

HOWARD BEACH HOWARD BEACH 3.5 Rooms, 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op, Window in Kitchen, Must Sell! Price Lowered! $85K

Garden Co-op, 5 Rms, 2 BRs, All Redone, Has Washer/Dryer in Apt., 2 Fl Unit, Wood Fls, Granite Countertops, All Stainless Appl, In Courtyard, Mint Cond. Call Now!

HOWARD BEACH 2 BRs, 2 Bath, Condo Hi-Rise w/Huge Terrace (Southgate). Asking Only $239,900

CONDOS FOR SALE

Howard Beach/Lindenwood • Rare Opportunity! 4 BR, 3 Bath Hi-Rise Condo, Complete Custom Throughout, Brand New Kitchen, 2 Terraces, Top Floor, A MUST SEE! ................. Only $419K • Extra Large Condo, 3½ Rooms, 1 BR, New Bath Only $179K • Spectacular 5 Rm Corner Hi-Rise, Top Floor, Custom Granite Kit, 2 Custom New Baths, Super Mint! AAA! Only $319K

OFFICE FOR SALE

Medical/Professional - Rare Opportunity! • 1100 Sq Ft. Lobby Level Medical Condo ......... $329K Neg.

CALL FRED 516-353-1941

COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

BROOKLYN

HOWARD BEACH/OZONE PARK

To View www.FredKolsin.com

M1 Zone, Brick 60x100, Auto Lift and Compressor, Modine Heaters, Concrete Fls and 2 Pvt Offices off Linden Blvd Industrial Area. Call now!

Howard Beach, 3.5 Rm 1 BR Apt, Terrace, Laundry Room on Premises, and parking. Call Now!

Email: FredKolsin@Realtor.com

Keller Williams Landmark Realty

HOWARD BEACH

C M SQ page 59 Y K

Connexion I REAL ESTATE SERVICES INC. 161-14A Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach

NATALLIA KOLBUN

Get Your House

Business Development Manager

SOLD!

646-436-5455

NKOLBUN@ELYONS.COM

Visit us on the web for more photos!

48-02 25th Avenue, Ste 303 Astoria, NY 11105

www.lyonsonline.com

The Lender You Can Trust.

www.ConnexionRealEstate.com

P: 718-267-2000

Lyons Mortgage Services Inc. is a mortgage banker licensed by the NY, NJ and CT banking departments. Lender NMLS ID: 58702, 1-800-448-8101

OPEN HOUSE

SAT 2/11, 12-3pm • 157-19 84 St.

OPEN HOUSE

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

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

Lg Cape on 42X100, Updated X-Large Brick 2 Family on Beautiful windows, H/W fls on 1st fl, Updated Tree-lined Street, 2 BR over 2 EIK w/9' ceilings and access to BRs, Full Basement w/Separate bkyd. Det 2 car gar w/pvt dvwy, entrance. Needs TLC. Full fin top fl & bsmnt, Pavers in Asking $549K backyard. Asking $669K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Lg Unique Hi-ranch with Bsmnt, Top fl: HOWARD Mint Tudor, Large LR w/Fireplace, Formal 3 BRs, 2 Baths, EIK, Lg LR, All H/W Fl. 2 Dining Room, Updated EIK, 3 Large BRs, 2 BR Walk-in. Bsmnt: Lg, Open Unfinished, New Baths, 9' Ceiling on 1st Fl, Radiant Heat in Kit & Bath, Sliding door to deck off kit, 8' Ceilings. New roof, Well water for Basement framed & plumbed, 1 Car gar, sprinklers. Asking only $769K Pvt Dvwy, New Roof, Asking $679K

REDUCED $619K

NATALLIA KOLBUN HOWARD BEACH/HAMILTON BEACH

HOWARD BEACH/LINDENWOOD All Brick Store + Dwelling - 6 over 6 + Store + Studio. Asking $569K

C DU

Hardwood Floors Under Carpet, 2 Car Pvt Dvwy, 1 Car Garage + Large Walk-in. Asking $649K

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

REDUCED $459K

OUR EXCLUSIVE!

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Detached Hi-Ranch, 4 BRs, 2.5 Baths, 1 Car Garage, Great Block, Walk to schools. Asking $619K

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

! SO

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

Large Corner Tudor Home on 40x112 Lot, 2 Fireplaces, 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths. Sold @ $630K

Large 4 BRs, 2 Baths, New Siding, New PVC Fencing, Marble Kitchen Floor and Granite Countertops. Sold @ $618K

WAKEFIELD

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

! SO

Mint Hi-Ranch on 40x109 Lot, 4 BRs, 2.5 Baths, All Updated Throughout. Sold @ $685K

Broker/Owner

• Studio, Move-in Cond ..... $65K • Hi-Rise 1 BR Co-op ......... $89K • Hi-Rise, 1 BR ................. $100K • 1 BR Garden "Courtyard" ...$107K • 1 BR w/Terrace .........$114,900 • JR4, Hi-Rise ...................$119K • 2 BR, Garden w/DR ........$136K • Hi-Rise, 1st Fl, 1 BR Mint $149K • Immaculate Garden 2 BR $155K • One of a kind 1 BR Hi-Rise w/Terr, Custom Kit & Bath $165K • 2 BR, 2 Bath Hi-Rise ......$165K • 3 BR 1 Bath Garden, Excellent Condition, Parking available, Dogs OK .................... $154,500 • Brand New 2 Brs w/Terrace, New Ceramic Tiled Bath, Granite Kit w/Wood Cabinets, 646-436-5455 Owner Motivated! ..........$176K • 2 BR 2 Baths, New Kit ww/ Granite & S/S Appliances, New Master Bath, H/W Fls.....$179K • 2 BR, 2 Baths, Terrace, Move-in Condition! ........$189K • Garden 2 BR w/Dining Room, New Kit/Bath, W/D........ $225K

HOWARD BEACH OLD SIDE

• 2 BR, 2 Bath, Dogs ok ..$225K • Huge 3 BR, 2 Baths, New Kitchen, Terrace ........$339K • Greentree M/D Unit, Mint Condition ...........$369K

! SO

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE HOWARD BEACH/LINDENWOOD Legal 2 Family Brick/Frame, 6/6 w/2 Baths Per Floor, Full Bsmnt, Pvt Dvwy, Sold @ $510K

! SO

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE Magnificent 1 Family Corner Colonial, 4 BRs,

All Brick Tudor, 4 BRs, 1.5 Baths, Everything Redone, New Appliances, Private Driveway & 2 Car Garage. Sold @ $595K

Broker/Owner

HOWARD BEACH CONDOS

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

Hi-Ranch on 40x100 Lot, 4 BRs, 3 Baths w/Large Walk-in, CAC. Sold @ $625K

Unique 2 Family on 50x100 Lot, 6 BRs, 3 Baths w/Finished Basement, 2 Car Driveway & Oversized Garage. Sold @ $715K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE All New Brick Custom, 4 BRs, 2 Full,

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

U ED

Mint corner colonial, Huge master BR, (114 Street Vicinity) Beautiful 1 family 2 Family Brick/Vinyl, 41x100, 6 over 6. Updated kitchen, All new baths, Large 3 BRs, 2.5 baths, Walk up attic. Move-in Condition, Bright & Sunny Dutch living room w/skylight, Hardwood floors, Colonial. New Kitchen, Updated Electric. Updated kit with breakfast nook, 3 Basement Sheetrocked with High Hats. Full-finished basement. High Ceilings. Asking $649K skylights. Pvt dvwy, fully det. $459K Asking $365K Asking Only $559K

RICHMOND HILL

LAJJA P. MARFATIA

NATALLIA KOLBUN

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

Large Hi-Ranch, 27x53 on 40x100 646-436-5455 All new throughout, Corner 1 Family Lot, 4 BRs, 3 Full Baths, Beautiful Waterview! 3 BRs, Nice yard, Own your own home for the price of a condo! Asking $309K

ARLENE PACCHIANO

HOWARD BEACH CO-OPS

SUN 2/12, 12-2pm • 59-15 69 Lane

MASPETH

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

718-845-1136 646-436-5455 Open 7 Days!

Lyons Mortgage Services Inc.

NMLS ID: 813975

NATALLIA KOLBUN

(Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

3 Baths, Full Finished Basement w/Kitchen & Sep Entrance, Pvt Dvwy, Garage. Sold @ $685K

2 Half Baths, 9' Celings, Custom Imported Italian Windows, Radiant Heat, Fireplace, Full Finished Basement. Sold @ $900K

Mint 4 BR Colonial, 2 New Baths, New EIK w/Cherry Wood Cabinets & Granite Countertops, New Windows, New Siding & Roof, CAC. Sold @ $605K

! SO

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK All New Brick Custom Colonial, 4 BRs, 4.5 Baths, 9' Ceilings Thruout, Mahogony Wood Doors, Large EIK w/Cherry Wood Cabinets, Commercial Stove. Sold @ $1,100,000

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Solid Brick Colonial on 100x100 Lot, 2 Deeds, 5 BRs, 3.5 Baths, Private Driveway. Sold @ $950K

Page 59 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012

For Financing Options and a FREE Pre Approval Contact:

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 60

C M SQ page 60 Y K

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