South Queens Chronicle 03-01-12 by Queens Chronicle

C M SQ page 1 Y K SOUTH QUEENS EDITION Serving Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, City Line and JFK Airport

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. XXXV NO. 9

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

QUEENSCHRONICLE.COM

REJECTED

PHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON

CEC 27 votes down middle school choice in South Queens PAGE 5 Residents cheer as council members voice their opposition to the controversial plan. Parents from PS 146 in Howard Beach, inset, said they were thrilled with vote.

FIT TO BE TIED

DO NOT ENTER State orders Peninsula Hospital to bar many patients over problems in its lab

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A Forest Hills artist gets sartorially inspired

PAGES 28-32

SEE qboro, PAGE 39

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USPS decides to close the Whitestone plant Move will coincide with changes to the delivery standard; 1,140 may be relocated by AnnMarie Costella Assistant Editor

n a move that will shift 1,140 jobs out of Queens, the United States Postal Service has decided to close its processing and distribution center in Whitestone, citing a decline in mail volume and mounting debt. The positions of some 865 employees — 40 managers, 397 clerks, 192 maintenance workers, and 236 mailhandlers — will be eliminated while the jobs of 275 others will be moved, according to the USPS. Darlene Reid, a spokeswoman for the agency, said that it will make every effort possible to relocate every one of the Whitestone workers, and try to keep them in their present job elsewhere. “I can guarantee you that not a single worker will be fired as a result of the closure of the plant,” Reid said. “We are going to do everything possible to help these people through this tough time.” Queens mail will be transported 12 miles to be sorted at a plant in Brooklyn, producing an estimated annual savings of nearly $30.8 million. The plan is based on the idea of changing the one-day standard of delivery for first-class mail to two to three days, something that does not have to be approved by Congress to be implemented, according to Reid. In December, the USPS filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission for an advisory opinion regarding the issue, but has not received a response yet. It has six months to do so, and the USPS is not obligated to follow its recommendation, Reid said. The Postal Service does need, and is seeking, Congressional approval to cut Saturday mail delivery service, and do away with pre-funding 75 years worth of retirees’ health benefits 10 years in advance, which has put the agency $5.5 billion dollars in debt. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, Bronx), who opposes the clo-

Mail trucks enter and exit the Whitestone facility on a continual PHOTO BY ANNMARIE COSTELLA basis. sure of the Whitestone plant, is a cosponsor of the USPS Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act, legislation that will free the Postal Service from pre-paying its pension obligations in an effort to alleviate some of its financial burden. “Closing this facility and cutting services won’t get USPS out of the red, but it will hurt Queens families and businesses,” Crowley said in a prepared statement. No further steps will be taken prior to May 15, in compliance with the Postal Service’s moratorium on closing or consolidating facilities. The delay was implemented in order to allow time for Congress and the agency to come up with different plans. State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) blasted the Postal Service for announcing its decision when it did. “Rather than take advantage of the time that has been bought for USPS by Congress in a recent moratorium on post

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office closures, USPS has decided to finalize their plans to shut down this facility,” Stavisky said in a prepared statement. “This is like governmental Jeopardy — the USPS has the answers before we’ve asked the questions.” The Postal Service had also intended to shutter five stations in Queens that serve the public, but decided over the last several months against closing each one. But there has been no such reprieve for the workers in Whitestone. When Pecolia Franklin, of Springfield Gardens, got a job as a mail handler at the Whitestone plant 18 years ago, she never imagined that she might someday be forced to move or change positions — but that day may on the horizon. On Feb. 22, the same day the USPS announced the closure of the Whitestone plant, management at that facility held a meeting with the employees there, and Franklin was one of them. She said the higher-ups were less than forthcoming with information, dodging questions and leaving many more confused about their future than ever. “No one knows where we’re going,” Franklin said. “There are only certain spots available in Brooklyn. They said they would let us know in 90 days.” Franklin added that management told the workers that they could be moved as far as 50 miles away, which she believes is unfair. “We have been working there so hard for so long,” she said. “We’re like a family. Now, we might have to go to a new place with new people and it’s going to be like starting all over.” Franklin said changing the first-class mail standard would be a big mistake and only serve to cause more financial damage to the already struggling USPS. “People are going to be paying more for less,” she said. “If they approve it, it will be really sad.” Steven Larkin, executive vice president of the Flushing continued on page 22

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QUEENS NEWS

CEC 27 rejects city’s middle schools plan Parents relieved council voted against controversial proposal by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

Community Education Council 27 members had a message for the city Department of Education this week: Stay away from schools in South Queens. Despite pressure from the city DOE to implement a middle school choice program in districts throughout the five boroughs, CEC 27 voted 7-0 on Monday against approving the controversial plan that has raised the ire of parents and legislators throughout the largest school district in the city. “I have reviewed all of the information on middle school choice, and the concept for me could be a really good thing for the district — however, parents aren’t clear on what’s being offered to them,” CEC 27 President Coralanne Griffith-Hunte said during Monday night’s meeting at PS 306 in Woodhaven. “I will revisit the concept if the city presents it in a more transparent way.” The choice program would have allowed students to apply to any middle school in the district, which covers Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill,

Woodhaven, Broad Channel, Belle Harbor, Rockaway Park, Far Rockaway, and part of Jamaica. Students would have to rank the schools they want to attend, and the city would match them with their preferences based on those rankings. DOE officials said the program would provide pupils and parents with more educational options and allow students who believe they are stuck in a bad school to attend another one. But parents were worried that their children would lose seats in their zoned schools if they tried to get into a different institution but were not accepted. City officials have stressed that students most likely would be able to retain a seat in their zoned school. Additionally, because District 27 is the largest district geographically in the city, parents said middle school choice makes less sense for them than for other districts that have implemented it, including District 28 in central Queens, and every one in Manhattan, where the schools are located much closer together. “We really don’t need this,” said Theresa Fonal, president of the

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CEC 27 President Coralanne Griffith-Hunte votes against the city’s controversial proposal to implement middle school choice in much of South Queens, while John PHOTO BY ANNA GUSTAFSON Larkin, the council’s first vice president, looks on. Parent Teacher Association at PS 146, who has been a longtime vocal opponent of middle school choice. “If I wanted my kids to go to another school, I’d move to that area. The city should fix the schools instead of shuffling the kids around.” Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park), who criticized the plan at the meeting just before the group’s vote, said he was relieved it was voted down.

Peninsula scrambling to reopen Inspectors find long list of problems at clinical lab by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

Anthony Catanzaro of Ozone Park. FILE PHOTO

Anthony Catanzaro, Ozone Park’s own “Superman of Fitness,” will appear on Country Music Television’s show “Bayou Billionaires,” as reported in the Queens Chronicle last week — but the episode featuring him has been pushed back a week. The body builder, nutritionist and fitness guru will appear on March 10. Catanzaro was selected by the family the show is about, the Dowdens of Shreveport, La., to whip patriarch Gerald Dowden into shape. If you missed last week’s story on Catanzaro’s appearance, just catch it anytime at Q qchron.com.

“From the very beginning, middle school choice was a severely misguided attempt to address the issue of middle school enrollment in District 27, which would have resulted in a very confusing process that parents clearly did not understand or want,” Ulrich said. The councilman went on to say that he believed CEC 27 “showed tremendous courage in standing

up to the Department of Education bureaucrats who sought to impose this mandate on our district.” The DOE did not respond to a request for comment. While the vote stops the city from implementing middle school choice for this coming school year, it is likely that CEC 27 will vote on it again. A number of the members said they support the idea of the program, but voted against it because parents had been so vocally opposed. “I thought it would be so phenomenal, but because I represent the parents, I’m against it,” said Charlyene Blunt, the council’s second vice president. While city officials argue middle school choice has worked well in other districts, leaders in District 28, which includes Forest Hills and Jamaica, say otherwise. CEC 28 President Sandra Williams has said middle school choice, implemented in her district last year, has not “worked well,” and Nancy Northrop, a Forest Hills parent, has called the program a “f iasco on so many Q levels.”

Since the state ordered Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway to admit no new patients, and transfer current ones, last week because health inspectors found “serious deficiencies” in its clinical laboratory, officials have been trying to piece together the 104-year-old institution that has been rocked by financial problems and was almost shut down last year. State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah last Thursday directed Peninsula to no longer admit any new patients, either through its emergency room or from physicians, to transfer inpatients who are dependent upon laboratory services, and to immediately cancel all surgeries. Health officials documented a long list of deficiencies at the lab, noting that inspectors found three units of expired plasma in the blood-bank freezer. Additionally, officials found that expired reagents, or substances used to trigger a chemical reaction in lab samples, were used in the blood bank. Inspectors also documented that an individual worked alone at the blood bank in January after receiving just two days of training. Because of that, officials said, she did not perform quality control or take the required daily temperatures to ensure that blood was stored in appropriate conditions. Also at the blood bank, officials said, “no testing, quality control, temperatures or maintenance is reviewed by laboratory administration.”

The lab also has no backup for its information and, if the computer system fails, the data will be irretrievable, they added. The hospital has a substantial sickle cell and oncology population that receives multiple transfusions, and health officials said the ability to retrieve their information is “critical to ensure safe transfusions.”

S tate health inspectors found expired plasma in the hospital’s blood bank, and personnel with little training working there. Health officials said the lab would be closed for no more than 30 days, provided the hospital can remedy the situation. Peninsula spokeswoman Liz Sulik said the hospital is complying with all of the state’s demands. “It is expeditiously developing a plan to remedy the laboratory def iciencies and hopes to restore full services as soon as possible,” Sulik said. Sulik stressed that the hospital is not fully closed, and that there are non-clinical services available, such as radiology. The hospital’s attached nursing home also continues to operate.

Borough President Helen Marshall said she is working with officials from Peninsula and the state in a “combined effort to facilitate compliance with state regulations that will allow the lab to reopen and hospital functions to resume as soon as possible.” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) also said he will work with officials on the matter. “Putting patient safety at risk is outrageous and unacceptable,” Goldfeder said. “Our hospitals and healthcare facilities must be held to the highest standards to protect the health and safety of our families.” This is not the first time the state has ordered Peninsula not to admit any more patients. After financial problems plagued the institution, Peninsula’s parent company, MediSys, ended its affiliation with the medical institution and state officials ordered last August that it not take in any new patients until a new operational plan could be implemented. After it was announced that Peninsula could close, leaving just one hospital, St. John’s, to serve the Rockaways, there were numerous rallies to save the facility. In September, Brooklyn-based Revival Home Health Care reached a deal to take over the hospital. Still, Peninsula has been caught up in bankruptcy proceedings since last fall, though officials said they expect it to emerge from Chapter 11 by this spring. A spokeswoman for Revival said the company had no comment on the hospital’s curQ rent situation.

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

SOUTH

Queens questions teacher data But some say it will be helpful for borough parents Senior Editor

Queens parents, educators and legislators gave mixed reviews of the controversial rankings of about 18,000 public school teachers that the city released last week, with some citing concerns about the fairness and accuracy of the numbers and others saying they’re important tools for parents. The city Department of Education released what are known as teacher data reports — assessments of math and reading instructors on their students’ progress on standardized tests from 2008 to 2010 — after a number of news organizations sued the city for access to the information. New York City is the second in the country to release such data, which list teachers’ names, after Los Angeles did the same last year. “There’s a lot more that goes into teaching than tests,” said Nick Comaianni, president of Community Education Council 24, which covers schools in much of midQueens. “So it’s OK if the city sees it, or the teacher’s supervisors, but I don’t know if you should be isolating people and printing their names. It’s a question of privacy.” But Nancy Northrop, a parent of a child at PS 101 in Forest Hills and another at Baccalaureate High School in Long Island City, said she believes the information will be helpful for parents. “If you’re looking at your own child and

you see your child is weak in math or English, and you see they’ve been matched up with a teacher who’s weak in the same area, this might help you to go in and lobby for a teacher who’s stronger in that area,” Northrop said. A number of city officials, teachers and legislators have criticized the release of the data, saying they’re an incomplete picture of a teacher’s worth.

“I don’t know if you should be isolating people and printing their names. It’s a question of privacy.” — Nick Comaianni, CEC 24 president

Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Chief Academic Officer Shael Polakow-Suransky said the data should be interpreted carefully and emphasized that the reports potentially have wide margins of error — 35 percentage points for math teachers and 53 percentage points for reading teachers, on average. “We would never advise anyone — parent, reporter, principal, teacher — to draw a conclusion based on this score alone,” Polakow-Suransky said at a press

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conference on Friday. The United Federation of Teachers sued the city in an attempt to stop the ratings from being released, and UFT President Michael Mulgrew said during a press conference last week that test scores should not be the main indicator of an instructor’s success. “If we’re going to buy the argument that the only value to schooling is test scores, we’re going to send a whole generation of kids down the wrong path,” Mulgrew said. “It’ll take maybe 10 years before we realize we’ve made a mistake.” A number of people raised concerns about releasing the teachers’ names, and the UFT said it has documented a number of reports of teachers being harassed at their homes because of the data. For example, the UFT reported that Pascale Mauclair, a teacher at PS 11 in Woodside who received one of the lowest scores in the city, had to call the police a number of times to get reporters to leave the area outside her home. While Mauclair received low marks on her teacher data report, PS 11 off icials told the UFT that the data is deceiving because she teaches students who speak little to no English. Many of her students have been in the country less than a couple of months before they have to take the standardized tests. PS 11 Principal Anna Efkarpides said she would not comment, but the UFT

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott emphasized that the data reports published by the city for about 18,000 teachers last week potentially FILE PHOTO have wide margins of error. reported that the school leader said, “I would put my own children in her class.” Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) agreed with concerns about publishing teachers’ names. “Using incomprehensible statistics simply to embarrass and punish teachers does not help our schools improve,” Miller said. Q

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EDITORIAL

PAGE

Tier 6 pension reform is a must he battle over reining in public pension costs in New York, city and state, heated up this week when a group of chief executives led by Mayor Bloomberg went to Albany to reinforce the message every Empire State resident must understand: the skyrocketing cost of public pensions is pushing the state and local governments toward bankruptcy. “We really are up against it,” Bloomberg said. “We are going to have fewer services, we are going to have fewer employees, and in some cases we are going to have higher taxes if this continues.” The mayor’s right, and Gov. Cuomo knows it. That’s why he’s trying to get a Tier 6 pension reform measure enacted. Contrary to what you hear from the public employee unions, a Tier 6 would not affect current workers at all. It would only apply to future hires. That’s what a new tier is — a new, lower level of benefits for prospective workers. Reducing pensions for existing employees would be illegal under the state constitution. Under Tier 6, the retirement age for most state workers would be increased from 62 to 65 to qualify for a full pension. Police and firefighters would be exempt from the increase. Payments would decrease from the 60 percent of salary that’s in effect today to about 50 percent. And workers would no longer be able to pad their pensions by working extra overtime in their last few years on

the job, as so many do now. What would all this achieve? About $30 billion in savings over 30 years for city taxpayers, and another $83 billion statewide. These savings are necessary to keep providing the services New Yorkers rely on, as Bloomberg pointed out. Despite what you hear from the public employee unions, and their allies like state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the cost of public pensions continues to skyrocket — in large part because they are defined-benefit plans. That means that when the pension fund’s investments don’t yield high enough returns, taxpayers make up the difference. Contrast that with most private sector retirement packages, which are defined-contribution plans, meaning benefits vary with the performance of an investment like a 401(k). DiNapoli has pointed out that a Tier 6 would not provide any immediate relief to the city or state budgets. That’s true, but it’s beside the point. The point is long-term fiscal stability. Pension reform will provide that in a meaningful way. Otherwise bankruptcy is far more likely — think of Albany as the next Athens. Cuomo is a reformer, and, on this issue, so is Bloomberg. We urge our readers to tell their lawmakers to support pension reform, and help bail the city and state out of their financial dilemmas before, as in Greece, it’s simply too late.

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Where’s the racism? Dear Editor: Mr. Nicholas Zizelis, in his Feb. 16 letter “'Conservative’ racists,” makes an attempt to associate conservatism and the Republican Party with racism. He counsels African Americans, and black politicians especially, to shun the party of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the party of J.C. Watts and Col. Alan West and Dr. Alveda King — and so many Americans of African ancestry. Instead, they should stick with the party of the plantation. In the old days, Democrats “gave” blacks the physical plantation. Nowadays, the idea is to confine them to a sort of plantation of the mind, a defined section of that coalition of grievance groups which constitutes today's Democratic Party. Woe to those who dare to wander off and use their God-given minds, to those who reject the party’s victimistic ideology. If that is the message, sooner or later Americans — Americans of African descent — will, more and more, tune it out. B. Ceruti Elmhurst

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Church, state and sex Dear Editor: Re “Obama v. religious freedom,” Letters, Feb. 9: Here we go again. Don’t these guys ever give up inventing nonsense with which to denounce President Obama? This time it was citing the Supreme Court ruling on the Hosana-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School firing of one of their own, a Called Teacher with Ministerial Duties. The court judged that the teacher, Cheryl Perich, therefore was a minister and fell under the Ministerial Exception shield. Thus the First Amendment did not allow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission any say in the hiring or firing of such. The case has absolutely nothing to do with healthcare coverage, try as one may to invent one. The only similarity is that both cases involve religious institutions. President Obama’s compromise healthcare

An idea for John Liu he continuing revelations about lawbreaking in city Comptroller John Liu’s last campaign are heartbreaking. We’ve supported Liu in the past, but with federal charges filed against yet another person over his campaign — this time his treasurer — it’s become clear that he should drop his hopes to be elected mayor next year. Liu campaign treasurer Jenny Hou was charged with a slew of federal campaign finance law violations this week. They center on increasing Liu’s fundraising, which means also increasing the amount taxpayers contribute to it — at a rate of $6 from city coffers for every $1 raised by the candidate. Amusingly, Liu just created a hotline, 1 (212) NO-WASTE, so that residents offer suggestions on reducing city spending. One idea we have is no longer allegedly breaking election laws so you can get $6 from all of us for every $1 raised in an illegal manner.

EDITOR

plan includes available contraception for purposes of birth control for all women at no cost to them. Supplying contraception is not provided by the healthcare program carried by the religious organization for which they work, but is available if they desire, directly from the insurance company at no cost to them. No Catholic Church, school, hospital or diocese will be affected in any way. The government will not impose its will on such institutions but neither should these institutions impose their will on the American people. Separation of church and state is applicable to all religions. Also, it would seem counterproductive to be against abortion and contraception, which would prevent unwanted babies and which, in many cases, is the very reason for aborting; but as with most inflexible religious dogma, logic be damned. David Fogel Douglaston

A blessed story Dear Editor: Dear Editor: I wanted to share with you that the Natchitoches [La.] Times has printed the story your editor AnnMarie Costella wrote about me (“Gospel singer derives strength from music,” Feb. 2, multiple editions).

This is my hometown. I cannot thank you enough for what you started. I believe God has always had angels watching over me. AnnMarie has been added to this list. Thanks again. Dorothy Self St. Albans

State of the Ego Dear Editor: I am writing to voice my disdain with what I see as a new fad being used as a self-promotional tool amongst politicians who, quite often, are seeking higher office throughout this city and state. This new fad we are witnessing is the multitude of “State of the State” and “State of the City” addresses. While I have no problem with the governor, mayors and heads of municipalities giving addresses, the issue I have is that many elected officials have seen the attention that these speeches have received and have decided that hosting their own spin-off events would be a politically expedient way of patting themselves on the back while touting their ideas and achievements. Recently, in New York City, we have seen the city council speaker, city comptroller and borough presidents all host their own addresses. It is ridiculous and a complete waste of time and money to set

SQ page 9

Teacher ‘grades’ a con Dear Editor: Anyone in the public eye with any credibility would be regarded as outrageous, even judged a con man, to make a devastating conclusion based on very flimsy, even suspect data, as that postulated Wednesday by Mayor Bloomberg in the Daily News. Should we base an evaluation of a football player on his missing one ball passed to him? Likewise, can we reliably say that a teacher’s rating as a professional should be determined (with all its implications) by what her students accomplished on one standardized test!? This borders on preposterous and is akin to the outrageously false propaganda of a power-hungry dictator. Bloomberg’s statement that “parents are knowledgeable enough to look at the numbers and make decisions about them” borders on a flimflam, a sleight of hand of the lowest order. How many parents are aware that the “ratings,” if we can honestly call them that, don’t take in any of all the many other factors that go into making a successful teacher? And, to say the least, comparing charter schools to public schools, for a variety of reasons, is like comparing the Yankees to a Mets farm team. There’s a lot going on with the Yankees that enables them to acquire a higher caliber of player. The same can be said for charter schools. Their classes are smaller, they have more highly motivated kids to work with, and they appear to get better educational tools to work with! A true test, as someone wrote in a Daily News Voicer’s letter, would be to put the so called “best teachers” in the worst-performing schools and the lowest-rating teachers in the “best” schools. It is also a given that on any team, highly talented motivated players can make even a moderately talented coach look good. (And winning or losing one game does not permit anyone with common sense to rate someone on such very limited and incomplete information!) D.G. Shlakman Howard Beach

Keep our theater’s name Dear Editor: As one of the original and faithful subscribers to Queens Theatre in the Park, I

Train plan won’t work Dear Editor: I read Michael Gannon’s article “Assemblyman call for new rail service” (Feb. 16, multiple editions), dealing with plans for restoring the old LIRR line that went to Ozone Park, Howard Beach and the Rockaways. The concept is noble, and it would make a good alternate route to Manhattan from the above neighborhoods, but since the abandonment of the line, the areas adjacent to it make it a potential boondoggle. As a railfan and train operator for New York City Transit, let me lay out why this concept is not feasible. One, to reopen the line, the Forest View Crescent Building on Union Turnpike would need to lose its parking lot. If that’s not bad enough, vibrations from trains would cause cracks in its foundation. Two, besides the Crescent, other buildings have been built near or under the roadbed, a situation similar to all the businesses in Willets Point in Flushing that are adjacent to Citi Field and are now fighting the city’s attempts to evict them. Three, and last, the tracks that run between Liberty Avenue and Howard Beach are part of the A train’s line to the Rockaway Peninsula. What makes using them infeasible is that the tower that controls that interlocking is owned by NYC Transit, and the third rail that powers the subway is 600 volts, whereas the LIRR’s is 750 volts. It should also be noted that subway cars run more frequently, i.e., every five minutes during rush hour, every 12 to 15 minutes outside of rush hour, and every 20 minutes on the midnight tour. With all of those A trains heading north and south, how are you going to run LIRR trains on the same track? The nearest LIRR tower is at Fresh Pond Junction in Glendale. For all those reasons, plus the input of the local NIMBY crowd, this will never be done. Thank you for allowing me to put in my two cents. Ralph Nerbel Douglaston

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strongly support Greg Godfrey’s plea (“It’s Theatre in the Park,” Letters, Feb. 16) to retain its name. The professional theatre world knows and loves and respects our theater, which was built from scratch by the genius of Jeff Rosenstock, who was chosen by inimitable Borough President Claire Shulman, after whom the theatre auditorium was named. I was founding chairman of the Drama Department of New York City’s High School of Performing Arts. Two of our famous graduates performed at QTIP; Pricilla Lopez and Melissa Manchester, told me what a great experience it was for them. To change the theater’s distinctive name would be a shocking insult to all of us who helped build the theatre and who are still trying to cope with the loss of Jeff. The identity of his masterpieces must not be destroyed. The new artistic director can find other ways to put his own name on QTIP. But if he abandons the name and then fails to follow up on all the exciting programs introduced by Jeff and his buddy Willie Mosquera, the house manager (and performer) it would be akin to sheer vandalism. We wish him good judgment and good luck. Marjorie Dycke Ferrigno Flushing

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up these events. I rarely applaud our federal politicians for setting an example, but neither the speaker of the House nor the Senate majority leader have their own State of the Union addresses following the president’s. I am sure many of our senatorial and congressional representatives would love to speak on behalf of the Union but it is simply not their place. In the same way it is not appropriate for the council speaker, comptroller or any other elected official to speak on behalf of the city. The shameless self-promotion and grandstanding needs to end. Our city and state face great challenges that deserve our undivided attention. All these self aggrandizing speeches really only serve to beg the question that with all of these great ideas and accomplishments by these politicians, why do we still face such serious problems? Tony Avella New York State Senator for the 11th District Bayside

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

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Peace and quiet have now returned to the Park Lane South block between 102nd and 104th streets in Richmond Hill, since the squatters who were illegally residing in a home there and disturbing their neighbors were evicted, police and residents say. Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon, commanding officer of the 102nd Precinct, told the audience at the precinct’s community council meeting last week that the basement and second-floor apartments of the house at 102-16 Park Lane South were padlocked and there was no sign of the previous occupants. DeLeon added that the tenants on the first floor had been served with a 90-day vacate order. Jose Quintero, who lives near the house, said he was happy to have tranquility return to his neighborhood. Paul Koches, executive vice president of Ocwen Financial, the firm which represented HSBC Bank in the foreclosure proceedings on the home in 2009, said in an email that he was advised that the occupants in the upper floors have been evicted and that the tenants of the house have been notified their lease ends April 1 and will be evicted if they are not out by then. Although the tenants are still in the house, block resident Dan Seaman said a “For Sale” sign was posted on the property on Feb. 22. Seaman and several of his neighbors had brought their complaints about the squatters to the precinct council’s Jan. 17 meeting. At that time, he told precinct officials that the squatters frequently yelled, screamed and had loud arguments in the middle of the night, disturbing their neighbors’ sleep. Seaman also alleged that some of the occupants were intoxicated and used drugs. In other meeting news, Maria Thomson, president of the community council, said she favors building satellite station houses in the precinct because it covers such a large area, including the communities of Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Forest Park. Satellite houses have been built in Queens

before, and in July 2007 Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced the opening of a satellite station house for the 105th Precinct, which is headquartered in Queens Village but has a substation in Rosedale. “We want to improve police services, including response times in this geographically large precinct, by establishing a satellite station house in the southern portion,” Kelly said in a press release at the time. But not everyone at the meeting concurred with Thomson. Murray Berger, of Kew Gardens, disagreed with the building of satellite precincts in the current economy. He said that he would like to have the available funds used instead to hire more police officers who are sorely needed in the community. “We don’t need more buildings and more overhead,” Berger said. “We can use more cops, not more buildings.” Thomson noted that she had written a letter to Kelly requesting the return of the mounted unit to the 102nd Precinct. As of the meeting, she had received no reply from Kelly. Scott Wolf, representing Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing), said the assemblyman had written a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and Kelly asking for more police officers for the 102nd Precinct. Also addressed at the meeting, Bruce Eiber, representing Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills), announced that the legislator has co-sponsored legislation to raise fines for dumping household trash in public receptacles. Reviewing area crime statistics, DeLeon told council members that in 2011 one person was murdered in the precinct. He said 15 individuals were shot within the confines of the 102nd Precinct, 11 of them during the midnight hours, in 2009. He attributed the decline to the work of his officers and singled out Sgt. Joseph DeMarco, who works on the midnight tour. The next meeting of the 102nd Precinct Community Council will be held on Tuesday, March 20 at 8 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, 87-25 118th Street in Richmond Q Hill.

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Police Officer Joseph Herbst of the 102nd Precinct was honored with the Cop of the Month award at the community council meeting last week for his arrest of two robbery suspects. Herbst was on patrol in Woodhaven on Jan. 27 when he received a report that an individual had been robbed on the corner of 76th Street and 88th Avenue. According to Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon, commanding officer of the 102nd Precinct, two individuals approached the victim and swiped his headphones. DeLeon said Herbst was able to apprehend one of the alleged perpetrators. The other suspect escaped and fled into Brooklyn. According to DeLeon, Herbst was able to get the cell phone number of the other suspect from the man who was caught. Herbst then called the suspect and told him he had an hour to turn himself in. DeLeon said the alleged robber then found a police officer in the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn and told the officer that a person who claimed to be police officer was telling him to turn himself in.

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Officer Joseph Herbst, right, is recognized by Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon and Council President Maria Thomson. DeLeon said the suspect told the officer that he thought the person on the phone was lying and was not a cop. The suspect then handed the phone to him. Herbst identified himself to the 75th Precinct officer, told him that the suspect had just committed a robbery in the 102nd Precinct, and asked the officer to detain him and said he would be there shortly to pick up the suspect. DeLeon commended Herbst for his great initiative and investigative skills in making the cross-precinct, cross-borough Q bust.

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C M SQ page 12 Y K

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) met with city Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno and his staff to discuss emergency preparedness in South Queens and the Rockaways. Goldfeder and the team from OEM spoke about the current evacuation procedures, community education and training, as well as collaboration with such area organizations as Ready Rockaway and the

Community Emergency Response Team. Goldfeder noted South Queens and the Rockaways are especially susceptible to storm surges and coastal flooding, as was evident when Hurricane Irene swept up the eastern seaboard last August. “The time to ready ourselves is now, before another incident occurs,” Goldfeder said. “There must be a clear plan in place so that every resident knows what to and where to go in case of a disaster.”

C M SQ page 13 Y K

by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

fter more than 1,000 people participated in the Howard Beach Relay for Life last year, raising about $150,000 for cancer research, area residents are prepared to do even better this time around. About 60 people cheered the beginning of the Relay for Life events, and fundraising initiatives, at Lenny’s Pizzeria in Howard Beach on Tuesday night. The relay, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, will be held on June 9 and 10 at Charles Park in Old Howard. “Melissa and I get to do this every year, and it’s such a privilege for us,” Relay Co-Chair Phyllis Inserillo said in reference to her partner, Melissa Fochetta. Inserillo said there will be a day of children’s activities to help raise money on April 29 at 84th Street and 151st Avenue. Vendors interested in participating, and those who want to be a part of the relay, can visit relayforlife.org/howardbeachny or email Q howardbeachrelay@aol.com.

Howard Beach Relay for Life Co-Chairs Phyllis Inserillo, left, and Melissa Fochetta, right, with Lenny’s Pizzeria owner Andrew Mastrangelo.

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Experts to guv: Avoid veto on redistricting Say Cuomo should threaten it to broker long-term political reform by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

Saying that the state Legislature has “hit bottom” when it comes to redistricting, a panel of national legal experts on Tuesday urged Gov. Cuomo to use the threat of a veto to implement long-term change to the way Albany draws its political lines. The group of experts from across the country, all of whom have studied redistricting in New York, spoke one day after a panel of judges in Brooklyn federal court began taking control of drawing the Congressional lines — which legislators have failed to do as they were supposed to. “I think what we’ve seen in the current redistricting process, if you can call it a process, is the Legislature having hit bottom,” Richard Briffault, the vice dean of Columbia Law School, said during a conference call hosted by Citizens Union, a good government group, on Tuesday. “I don’t think they’ve ever done such a bad job. It’s not just the lousy lines that were published — they actually haven’t done the job.” Briffault joined a group of other redistricting experts to call on the governor, who has threatened to veto the proposed Assembly and state Senate lines, to use the mess surrounding the state’s redistricting process to bring about permanent change to the way districts are drawn through a constitutional amendment. They called for the amendment to mandate the state to use an independent commission during redistricting, instead of having the process

be led by majority leaders in each chamber, as state Senate districts late last month. It was also in charge of drawing Congreshappens now. Those joining Briffault included Loyola law sional lines, but has so far failed to do so. School Professor Justin Levitt, former Attor- Judge Roanne Mann, a magistrate, is now ney General Bob Abrams, and George Mason working as the group’s “special master,” and has set a March 12 deadline for the court to University Professor Michael MacDonald. come up with a proIf Cuomo vetoes the posal for Congreslines, the matter would sional lines to present go to court — which veto is essentially a to the judges. the panelists said may Nathaniel Persily, a not have enough time spanking — it stings, but redistricting expert at to sufficiently improve it’s temporary, and will not Columbia Law the maps, considering School, is working the Congressional priultimately stop the bad with Mann to come mary is expected to be up with the proposal. held in June and legbehavior when Cuomo is Redistricting hapislative primaries in no longer governor.” pens once every 10 September. years after the federal “A veto is essential— Justin Levitt, law professor Census numbers are ly a spanking — it stings, but it’s temporary, and will not ultimate- published. The idea behind it is to redraw the ly stop the bad behavior when Cuomo is no political coverage areas so they better reprelonger governor,” said Levitt, also the author of sent the changing demographics as reported the “All About Redistricting” blog. “Indeed, by the Census, though everyone from good given the breakneck speed of the court process, government groups to civic leaders and legisa veto may be overstated even as temporary lators themselves have criticized New York’s relief. The meaningful veto threat, instead, pro- process, saying it leads to gerrymandered vides leverage to fix the broken system once maps with contorted boundary lines that and for all. It may be one step back, but it’s a divide residents of similar backgrounds or interests, to favor incumbents — namely more important two steps forward.” The Legislative Task Force on Demograph- Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in ic Research and Reapportionment, the group the Assembly. “There is a desperate need for permanent overseen by party leaders that drew the state lines and is often referred to as LATFOR, structural reform of the political process to released its proposed maps for Assembly and achieve independent redistricting,” Abrams

“A

said. “Let’s use the governor’s threat of a veto to get a constitutional amendment, along with a similar statute as insurance of its passage, to forever remove the redistricting pen from legislators’ hands.” In Queens, and throughout the state, civic leaders and legislators have blasted the proposed lines, saying they would divide communities of interest and pit Democrats against Democrats in the borough. The lines remove state Sen. Toby Stavisky’s (D-Whitestone) home from the area she represents, the 16th Senate District, placing it in the 11th Senate District, represented by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), meaning Stavisky would have to run against Avella if the boundaries were adopted. The proposal would also place state Sen. Michael Gianaris’ (D-Astoria) house in northeast Astoria in state Sen. Jose Peralta’s (DJackson Heights) district. Abrams, who first ran for Assembly in 1965, said the state lines have long been convoluted and drawn by legislators in the metaphorical back room. “In 1965, as a kid, wet behind the ears, two years out of law school, as a lark I ran for the state Assembly,” Abrams said. “I ran against the Bronx machine. I ran against a 17-year incumbent. I will never forget to my last breath when I looked … and saw my district, I said, ‘Oh my God, look what they did to my district!’ It was made up of pieces of five districts. It had a head, it had a body, it Q had a tail.”

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Research shows contract airport employees earn below poverty line Chronicle Contributor

Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) knows how the bad economy has affected his constituents, but believes some JFK Airport workers are not getting their fair share in wages. Many airport contract employees such as baggage handlers, security off icers and maintenance personnel, earn $16,000 a year, significantly below the federal poverty line of $22,040 for a family of four, according to the report “Above Board.” It was released by the Women of Color Policy Network at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service and funded largely by union SEIU-32BJ, which represents many airport workers. Members of the Southeast Queens Clergy Coalition for Good Jobs, along with New York Communities for Change and other residents, gathered last Friday at the Greater Refuge Church of Christ in South Ozone Park, to rally for proposed changes. The group is calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to put an end to wage and benefit disparities between PA employees and passenger service contract workers, who earn an average of about $8 per hour, to allow collective bargaining. That is the process of negotiations between employers and their employees to agree on and regulate work conditions. According to the report, more than half of non-union workers expressed having difficulties making monthly bill payments; roughly 20 percent receive food stamps and other food assistance. Sanders acknowledged that the workers often have to work two jobs just to get by, but if the PA allows collective bargaining, it will be beneficial to all involved. “Setting minimum standards for work conditions, wage and benefits will help raise the standard of living, making for happier employees and a more efficient airport,” Sanders said in a statement. The councilman said he is committed to working with the PA, who runs JFK, LaGuardia and Newark air ports, and employs thousands of southeast Queens

residents, noting how important it is for airports to show a commitment to the neighborhoods where their workers live. “Airports should be an economic and social boon to the communities in which they reside; not an economic boondoggle for ownership and their appointed employees,” Sanders said. The coalition sent a letter to Patrick Foye, PA executive director, expressing its need for jobs that offer a living, sustainable wage for its employees. Foye acknowledgd in a statement that he

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Sons of Italy seeking new members The Order Sons of Italy in America, Fiorello LaGuardia Lodge, is looking to expand its members in the Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven areas, though residents from any neighborhood are welcome to attend. The Sons of Italy is the largest organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the country. Its mission includes the encouragement and study of Italian language and culture in schools and universities, preserving Italian American traditions and culture, and promoting closer cultural relations between the United States and Italy. The Fiorello LaGuardia Lodge meets on the third Thursday of each month at Our Lady of Grace Convent in Howard Beach. For more information, contact Rosemary Ciulla-Frisone at (917) 734-2411 or Anne Romano at (718) 843-2642. Q

is sympathetic to the concerns of the workers and has since directed agency staff members to review the findings. Sanders reaffirmed his promise to work with the PA and is optimistic about improvements in wages. “I want to applaud Executive Director Foye on his commitment to fight for justice for airport workers,” Sanders said, “and I look forward to working with him, local clergy and community members to help invest in Southeast Queens, its resiQ dents, and their future.”

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Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sanders fights for better paychecks

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On Friday state Sen. Shirley Huntley (DJamaica) released a teen bullying and suicide pamphlet to raise awareness about an increase in social media bullying — just three days before another national tragedy. Information covered includes how to recognize signs of depression and the results of bullying among children. The pamphlet was coincidentally released just before another school shooting occurred — this one at an Ohio high school, killing three and injuring two others. Investigators are still attempting to conclude if the violent attack was the result of either school or online bullying by the shooter’s fellow students. Whether bullying played a role there, suicide is now the third leading cause of death among young people in the United States, with an estimated 44,000 fatalities per year, according to the information in Huntley’s pamphlet. An unknown number of those are caused by bullying, something Huntley seeks to prevent. “After visiting Albany University, where there have been several student suicides this year, I started getting letters from young people who needed to talk about their social anxiety and I realized a lot of them were thinking about suicide,” Huntley said. “For one reason or another, young people are taking their lives when they have so much ahead of them and it needs to be discussed.” In a student survey cited in Huntley’s pamphlet, 58 percent said they had been harassed substantially online. This past January, Amanda Cummings, a high school student from Staten Island, committed suicide by jumping in front of a bus. Police realized later that heinous notes were posted on her Facebook profile even after her death was made public. According to iStrategy Labs, a website detailing social media demographics, 54.3 percent of Facebook users are ages 13 through 24, the prime age for bullying. The site suggests this demographic is least likely to report an incident to someone who can help, a fact that Huntley says must change.

• An estimated 44,000 young people commit suicide each year in the U.S., many the victims of bullying. • Bullying victims, on average, are five times as likely as their peers to consider suicide. • A British survey found that at least half of teen suicides there were related to bullying. Source: bullyingstatistics.org, via state Sen. Shirley Huntley

“Young people today are pressured from their parents to get good grades; ridiculed for being gay and for the way they look,” she said. “They result in these tragedies that just do not have to happen.” Over half the students surveyed admitted that they have ridiculed someone else online without giving it too much thought. Huntley said she is working on an anti-bullying bill resembling New Jersey’s “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,” which passed with nearly unanimous support in both houses on Nov. 22.

The bill will call for strict school punishment for bullies, situational training for school staff and prompt reporting of an incident. Huntley is also highlighting that prevention is the key to avoiding further incidents. Further assistance and information can be found by calling The Samaritans hotline at (212) 673-3000 or the National Suicide Hotlines at 1 (800) SUICIDE (784-2433) and 1 Q (800) 273 TALK (8255).

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 16

C M SQ page 16rev Y K

More than 133,000 people have joined a campaign by a bullied high school student urging the Motion Picture Association of America to change the rating of the new film “Bully” from R to PG-13. Katy Butler, a high school student from Michigan, launched her campaign on Change.org after the MPAA by one vote rejected an appeal from the film’s distributor, The Weinstein Company, to lower the rating of the film to PG-13. This would allow the film to be screened in middle and high schools across America. Butler, who endured brutal bullying in middle school, says that by maintaining an R rating, the MPAA is essentially ban-

ning the film from those who need to see it the most. “I can’t believe the MPAA is blocking American teenagers from seeing a movie that could literally save thousands of lives,” Butler said in a press statement. “Bully,” a film by Lee Hirsch, documents the epidemic of bullying in American schools. According to the film’s website, more than 13 million kids will be bullied this year alone. The film is scheduled for release in select theaters on March 30. To learn more about the film “Bully,” go to thebullyproject.com. The petition can be Q found on change.org.

SQ page 17

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In schools, a question of cops vs. students Calls for change in school safety after NYPD releases arrest data by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

As a student at Flushing High School, Nilesh Viswashrao said police unfairly punished him, and other minority students, so often that he and many of his friends dreaded going to class — so much so that Viswashrao ended up dropping out of school days after his 17th birthday. “When I was a student in high school, every day I was harassed by the school safety agents and NYPD officers,” said Viswashrao, now 18. “My friends and I were threatened, frisked and discriminated against, to the point where many of us never made it past high school.” The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Dignity in Schools Campaign say Viswashrao’s story is all too common and charged that it highlights a systemic problem within the city — that minorities make up the overwhelming majority of individuals ar rested or ticketed in the public schools. According to data released by the NYPD last week, police arrested or ticketed about 14 students each day from October through December of last year. Of those arrested, about 94 percent of the students were black or Latino. To protest these numbers, Viswashrao and other students, teachers, advocates and legislators gathered outside One Police

Plaza in Manhattan on Feb. 22 to call on police to change the way they handle school arrests. “These numbers are shocking,” Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Sunnyside) said. “… These numbers and figures are out of line with the mission of the Department of Education, which is to educate and protect students, not prepare them for the school-toprison pipeline.” According to the data, which the NYPD and city DOE began to collect and make public after a 2011 City Council law forced them to do so, there were 279 arrests throughout the city schools from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011 — more than five per day. Police issued 532 summonses, or about nine a day. About 20 percent of the youth arrested were between the ages of 11 and 14. It was reported that black students were nine times more likely to be arrested than their white peers. “This data demonstrates that the impact of heavy-handed policing in city schools falls mostly on African-American students, who suffer more than 60 percent of the arrests, and on male students who suffered nearly three-quarters of all arrests,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “If the Bloomberg administration is truly serious about helping young men of color succeed, then they must address these disparities and

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Students protested outside One Police Plaza in Manhattan last week against what they said are PHOTO COURTESY DRUM discriminatory police practices in the city’s public schools. focus more attention on educating children — not arresting them.” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne criticized the NYCLU’s analysis. “The NYCLU talks about arrests in schools but, conveniently, not crimes,” Browne said in a prepared statement. “There were 801 felonies in the schools last year, compared to 1,577 in 2001 before the current administration took office.” Now a youth leader with the Jackson Heights-based Desis Rising Up and Moving organization, which is a part of the Dignity in Schools Campaign, Viswashrao said he was often severely punished for what seemed like slight infractions, such as chewing gum. According to the NYCLU, many students confirmed that they were arrested for offenses like writing on a desk, cursing and pushing.

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SQ page 18

“This data confirms that in just three months, too many school children were treated as criminals for minor infractions and pushed into the criminal justice system — often for behavior that probably should merit a trip to the principal’s office,” Lieberman said. Advocates said they are hoping the release of the data will prompt the City Council to further investigate how police treat students within schools. “We really need the City Council to have hearings on the student safety data,” said Roksana Mun, an organizer at DRUM. “The numbers are so startling you need to investigate what the NYPD is doing in public schools that disproportionately results in youth of color being arrested.” Dromm said he’s pushing the Council to Q hold a hearing on the arrest data.

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Temporary injunction in religious freedom v. state endorsement case by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Determining that allowing religious institutions to rent space in public schools for services does not violate the Constitution’s precept against the establishment of religion, a federal judge on Feb. 24 ordered the city to allow a Bronx church to continuing meeting in a school while a lawsuit over the issue continues. District Court Judge Loretta Preska issued the order, a preliminary injunction barring the city from banning religious groups from renting schools on weekends, in response to a request from the Bronx Household of Faith, a community church that has been meeting in that borough’s PS 15 since 2002. The issue has been the subject of legal action before various judges since then at least. The court had previously issued a temporary restraining order against the city’s planned eviction of Bronx Household of Faith from PS 15, but that decision was only effective for 10 days. Preska’s new order continues to block the city from keeping the church out of the school building. The judge determined that the Bronx Household of Faith has a good chance of winning its suit against the Department of Education — called the Board of Education in the court documents, as the case was filed under the old school system — and that it would suffer irreparable harm if no longer allowed to hold services in PS 15.

If a religious congregation does not have a church of its own to attend, should it be allowed to meet in a school on Sunday? A federal judge has indicated the answer may be yes, but has only FILE PHOTOS made temporary rulings so far, including one last Friday. Among other arguments, Preska said that letting the church use the school does not constitute state endorsement of religion because other groups can also rent space for their events, that no city employee has anything to do with the service and that children who might perceive an endorsement of the church would not because they do not attend school when the group meets on Sundays. And, the judge said, the church has the right to worship under the First Amendment’s other religious clause: that barring

the government from preventing the free exercise of religion. “In this Court’s view, losing one’s right to exercise freely and fully his or her religious beliefs is a greater threat to our democratic society than a misperceived violation of the Establishment Clause,” Preska said in her ruling. Since the city sought again to bar the Bronx Household of Faith late last year, in response to a ruling in a separate federal case, state lawmakers have introduced bills

that would prevent it from doing so. The state Senate has passed its version of the measure, while the Assembly has not done so yet. In the City Council, a nonbinding resolution asking the Legislature to move the bills forward is before the Education Committee, which held a hearing on it Feb. 2. The bill has 36 cosponsors among the council’s 51 members, 37 if one counts the public advocate, Bill de Blasio, whose position allows him to introduce legislation to the council. In Queens, it is supported by a bipartisan group of council members ranging from Republicans Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) to Democrats James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton) and Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria). Others, including Councilman Danny Dromm (DJackson Heights), oppose it. The resolution’s main sponsor is Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), who said in a prepared statement that Preska’s ruling should help push the Assembly to pass its version of the bill. “The New York State Assembly should wait no longer,” Cabrera said. “Speaker Sheldon Silver expressed concerns about the bill and now it is sufficiently evident that there are indisputable grounds to repeal this policy. The bill has 74 formal cosponsors in the Assembly, and others who support it. If it were brought to the floor today, it would pass. I urge Speaker Sheldon Silver to bring this bill to the floor Q for a vote.”

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City must let church use a school: judge

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 20

SQ page 20

City officials are proposing to downzone residential portions of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill and upzone commercial areas like Jamaica and Liberty avenues.

FILE IMAGE

City launches rezoning review by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor

The public review process for a 229-block rezoning in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill that many residents say will help to prevent overcrowding has officially begun, city Planning Commisssioner Amanda Burden said this week. The proposed rezoning seeks to keep the one- and two-family homes in residential areas and prevent the building of more of the multi-family units that have sprung up in recent years, while funneling higher-density housing and commercial development to main business corridors, like Jamaica and Atlantic avenues, city officials said. The plan was crafted in response to concerns raised by Community Board 9, area civic organizations and elected officials. “The Woodhaven and Richmond Hill neighborhoods in Queens are characterized by very appealing one- and two-family wood-frame homes built in a variety of traditional styles,” Burden said in a prepared statement. “The neighborhoods have seen

Woodhaven, Rich. Hill plan praised their populations grow in recent years, but due to antiquated zoning, they are experiencing growth in the wrong places.” Burden, as well as a number of legislators and other civic leaders, lamented the fact that the neighborhood’s old homes, including many of the prevalent Queen Anne Victorians, have been torn down and replaced with structures that they said do not fit in with the rest of the community. “Numerous homes have been demolished and replaced with out-of-character buildings, while major corridors that have access to transit and can accommodate growth have not seen development opportunities,” Burden said. The rezoning area is generally bounded by Park Lane to the north, 103rd Avenue to the south, Eldert Lane to the west, and the Van Wyck Expressway to the east. Community Board 9 now has 60 days to review the proposal, during which time it

will hold at least one hearing on the plan, after which the plan will go to the borough president and the city Planning Commission for further assessment. Ultimately, the City Council will vote on the proposal. Planning officials and legislators have noted that the zoning in the area has not changed since 1961 and say it no longer reflects the community’s needs. For example, portions of Liberty Avenue would be zoned R6A instead of the current R5. The shift would change the maximum building height from 40 to 70 feet, permitting businesses to expand. In the more residential areas, a downzoning would occur to limit most homes to one or two stories. All of the Council members representing the area have thrown their support behind the proposal, including Councilmen Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Ruben Wills (DJamaica), and Councilwomen Elizabeth

Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills). “This proposal will preserve the residential character of these communities and allow for modest growth along our major shopping corridors, Jamaica and Atlantic avenues,” Ulrich said. But Vishnu Mahadeo, president of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Corporation, is not in favor of the downzoning because, he said, it does not address the needs of a rapidly growing community. For example, Mahadeo said, many large families wish to live together in the same house. He did say that he supports funneling more growth to places like Atlantic Avenue. Still, most of those speaking out about the rezoning seem generally in favor of it. “By stabilizing the zoning that encompasses single- and two-family homes, the current practice of tearing these homes down is decentivized, thus stabilizing and preserving the vitality and balance of these communities,” Community Board 9 Chairwoman Q Andrea Crawford said.

Official troubled over FDNY test locations by AnnMarie Costella Assistant Editor

An FDNY official, in his capacity as a private activist, has expressed numerous concerns over the upcoming firefighter entrance exam, among them, he says, is that some will be given outside the city or state and at least one will be held at an area tavern. “It’s probably because they need so many computer terminals, and they needed to cast such a wide net,” Deputy Chief Paul Mannix, who is not a spokesman for the department, said Wednesday. “But it just proves the ridiculousness of how they are doing things.” Mannix, who is the founder of Merit

Exams out of city, state, and in LIC bar Matters, a group that opposes race-based hiring in the FDNY, said a number of candidates have contacted him to inquire as to why they are being sent to places like Philadelphia, Connecticut, New Rochelle, Albany — and Studio Square, a bar in Long Island City. “They keep stressing that they want city residents, which is code for minorities, but if they are looking for city residents why are they recruiting outside of the state,” Mannix said. “It doesn’t make any sense.” The FDNY has 15 exam locations, a

spokesman for the department said Wednesday, the majority of which are in the city and adjacent counties. They were selected by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which oversees the tests, to make it convenient for all candidates, even those who live outside the city and state, and because computers are already available at the sites. Those who signed up for the test first are more likely to get assigned an exam site closer to home, the spokesman said. Those who would like to change their site can do

so. As far as the bar location is concerned, the spokesman said the test is going to be given at a space in the same building, but not within the tavern itself. Controversy over the FDNY exam has been persistent over the last few years with the Vulcan Society, a fraternal group of black firefighters who have long lamented a lack of diversity in the department, joining a lawsuit launched by the Justice Department, accusing the city of discrimination. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis concluded the tests given in 1999, 2002 and 2007 were biased because of the small numQ ber of minorities who passed.

SQ page 21

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A points reduction defensive driving course will be held at the VFW Hall in Howard Beach on Saturday, March 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The hall is located at 102-17 160 Ave. The course can also help to reduce insurance costs. The cost per person is $35. Q Call Keith at (917) 599-6674 or visit progressive-training-ltd.com to register.

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Theater workshop in Howard Beach begins March 6 The Howard Beach Senior Center will be starting a theater workshop, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6. Residents with an interest in trying their acting skills, or who have experience acting, are encouraged to join. The group will meet on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (718) 738-8100. The Howard Beach Senior Center is located at 156-45 84 St. Residents are asked Q to use the 85th Street entrance.

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

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branch of the American Postal Workers Union, who also attended the meeting, had similar concerns and was equally dismayed by what he considered management’s evasiveness on questions. “They’re playing games is what they’re doing,” he said. Larkin said they were told there are about 300 open positions at the Brooklyn plant where people could be moved. Others nearing retirement age may be able to do so early without penalty. Those changing jobs, going from mail handler to letter carrier, for example, would be required to take a test, and if they fail, they would be

fired, Larkin said. Reid, however, said that isn’t true, claiming that those changing positions would only need to prove that they have the required skill set. For a letter carrier position that means being able to lift 35 pounds, among other things. Larkin, a longtime union representative, added that the USPS’ plan is “not logical” and believes that if the mail is sent to Brooklyn to be processed before returning to Queens, with all the traffic and logistics, there is no way it could be delivered in two to three days, it would be more like three to five days; and that would have a severe and negative impact on customers. “Their answer is the postmaster is going to go ahead and do what he’s going to do,” Q Larkin said.

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SQ page 23

Ongoing increases have motorists struggling with sky-high fuel prices by Kevin Korber Chronicle Contributor

Queens residents are feeling their wallets get lighter at the pump amid reports of rising gas prices across the country. Queens, as well as the rest of New York City, normally has some of the highest gas prices in the country, and the ongoing spike is likely to make commuting even more of a financial strain for drivers. The jump follows a steady increase in prices after they had reached a low average of $1.85 per gallon in 2009. According to newyorkgasprices.com, prices dropped slightly this fall before rising again. As of a few days ago, gas prices stood at $3.95 per gallon on average, with a peak of $4.29 per gallon in some parts of Queens. Even the lowest gas prices in Queens are relatively high. At $3.83 per gallon, the borough’s cheapest gas was still more expensive than the average gas price in New Jersey, which stood at $3.50 per gallon. Connecticut’s average gas prices were slightly higher at $3.89 per gallon, but their lowest available rate of $3.71 was still lower than that of any gas station in Queens. New York State doesn’t make things easier: it is one of only eight states that charges a sales tax on gasoline. New York’s separate gas tax also sits at 44 cents per gallon, which is the second-highest gasoline tax rate in the country. In comparison, New Jersey has a gas tax rate of 14 cents per gallon. Robert Sinclair of the American Automo-

Queens drivers are going to have to start being more frugal while pumping gas. An unexpected increase in gas prices has both station owners and drivers straining to find cheaper alternatives to PHOTO BY KEVIN KORBER losing money at the pump. bile Association in New York said that the tax burden is likely going to remain in place. “The state’s budget is hurting right now, so they’ll probably keep any source of income that they can,” said Sinclair, the group’s spokesman. State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (DFlushing) agreed, noting that reducing or eliminating the gas tax and the gas sales tax

would cut revenue that the state needs. A number of other factors play into rising gas prices. Michael Watt of the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association says that oil companies are putting the crunch on both drivers and gas station owners. “Service stations don’t benefit as much from prices being as high as they are,” Watt said. “It’s a competitive business, so stations

can only raise their prices so much before they start to hurt their profits.” Watt also noted that the structure through which gasoline is purchased from oil companies serves to increase prices. “Oil companies don’t deal with service stations directly anymore; they sell barrels in bulk to wholesalers who then sell the gas to stations while charging a little more,” he said. Wholesalers played a part in the defeat of legislation to reduce the state gas sales tax. “I’m all in favor of lower prices, but there was no guarantee in the legislation that distributors would pass any tax savings on to the consumer,” Stavisky said, explaining her opposition to the proposed tax cut. Drivers are also paying as a result of international influences. “Demand for gas is usually low this time of year in the United States,” said Sinclair. “However, demand in Asia and South America is particularly high, so everyone has to pay a little more as a result.” Watt cited rising tensions in the Middle East as another factor driving higher prices. “Every time there’s any sort of tension in that part of the world, gas prices go up,” Watt said. “We’d probably be better served finding oil sources that aren’t located in a part of the world where there’s so much tension and unpredictability.” Gas prices are likely to keep rising as the year progresses. The summer always sees a rise in fuel costs to coincide with what is continued on page 55

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 24

SQ page 24

Bill targets crimes at houses of worship Lancman measure would increase jail time for theft and vandalism by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) has introduced a bill that would significantly increase the penalties for anyone vandalizing or stealing from a house of worship, or stealing or damaging religious items and artifacts found inside. Lancman made the announcement Monday at Congregation Ohr Natan, a Jewish religious center on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park. Vandals late last year scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti on the wall near the center’s front door, a discovery that was made by worshippers as they arrived for Sunday morning services. “Violating the sanctity of a house of worship through vandalism or theft violates our most fundamental values as Americans and New Yorkers, and merits the additional punishment that this legislation imposes,” Lancman said. “Let anyone lowly or cowardly enough to consider defacing or stealing from a sanctuary think twice, knowing that such crimes will be taken extremely seriously.”

The bill would increase the maximum penalty for the theft or intentional damage of a scroll, vessel or any other item from four years to seven, and would make both felonies. The maximum penalty for intentional damage to a house of worship would increase from one year in jail to four years. Just a day after the press conference, police reported that 13 silver artifacts were stolen from a Queens synagogue [see separate stor y in some editions or at qchron.com]. Rabbi Nahum Kaziyev said he and many in his congregation fled Europe for the religious freedoms of the United States. “Many of them lived through the persecutions in the Soviet Union. Some survived the Holocaust,” he said. He did say that his faith calls him to forgive the person or persons who vandalized their center. “For sure, for sure. Right away,” Kaziyev said. “He’s forgiven, but, I would think that we always forgive, but the person, I hope he’s going to realize how much he hurt the feelings of so many people. Sometimes you

Casino staff stole — DA Two employees at the Resorts World Casino New York City have been charged with generating and distributing up to 200 phony casino player cards worth $100 each over the past seven weeks, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said on Wednesday. Two gamblers were also charged with using at least seven of the cards at the South Ozone Park casino, according to the DA. Casino employees Moises Jones, 29, of the Bronx, and Rolanda Roberts, 33, of Brooklyn, allegedly created and passed out at least 71, and as many as 200, fake casino player cards, Brown said. Resorts World officials typically authorize and issue the player cards, worth $100 in casino credit, to certain high-rolling gamblers. Jones allegedly pocketed as much as $2,000 from the cards, the DA said. Sonny Vlado, 40, of Brooklyn, and Richard Ulado, 45, also of Brooklyn, were charged with using the fraudulent items, Brown said. They were arraigned on Tuesday on charges that included grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Jones was ordered held on $5,000 bail and Roberts was released on her own recognizance. They will return to Queens Supreme Court on March 9. Vlado and Ulado were charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of stolen property, the DA said. They will return to Q court on March 12.

State Assemblyman Rory Lancman, center, announces a bill that would significantly raise the penalties for those who vandalize or steal from a house of worship on Monday at Congregation Ohr Natan in Rego Park. Ohr Natan was vandalized last year. Assemblyman Charles Levine, president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, left, and state Sen. Toby Ann PHOTO BY MARIA FITZSIMONS Stavisky also spoke. don’t need to hurt people physically, but by an ugliness, you can hurt them so much. I hope some people can get the message.”

While Kaziyev is willing to forgive, Lancman and the legislators present Monday are not willing to forget.

State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) said her own synagogue was vandalized several ye a r s a g o . S h e i s b a c k i n g a companion bill in the Senate introduced by state Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx and Westchester). Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) said Lancman’s bill has his total support. Klein was not present, but in a statement issued through Lancman’s office, he said, “an assault on a house of worship is an assault on the entire community.” Assemblyman Charles Levine was at Ohr Natan. He said even the most mindless offense against houses of worship must be addressed, quoting Rabbi Abraham Joseph Heschel, who lost his family in Nazi-occupied Europe. “He said the Holocaust did not start with the construction of the crematoriums, and Hitler did not come to power though use of guns and tanks,” Levine said. “He said they happened through small acts of hate that were tolerated.” Maria Fitzsimons contributed Q to this story.

13 Torah pieces are stolen Kew Gardens Hills congregation is shocked by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

Police are crediting media coverage for the quick recovery Tuesday of 13 Torah-related silver items stolen from Congregation Rachel Degel Israel in Kew Gardens Hills. Efram Sanders, 28, of 69th Road, near the synagogue, was arrested and charged with burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. All but two items were recovered. A spokesman at Con- Three of the silver pieces stolen from Congregation Rachel Degel gregation Rachel Degel Israel include a breastplate, left, a pointer and a crown, all used Israel, located at 144-02 68 with the Kew Gardens Hills synagogue’s Torah. PHOTO COURTESY NYPD Drive, said on Wednesday, “We don’t know who he is,” referring to Two of the pointers were not recovered. Zvi Sporer, who has belonged to the synSanders. Police were tipped off by a pawn shop agogue for more than 30 years, said the owner who had seen news reports after estimated value of the items is $15,000, but that the loss is incalculable. Sanders allegedly tried to sell the items. “People donate these objects in memory The theft was reported to police on Monday by Rabbi Dovid Sheinfeld, who said of someone so they can’t be replaced,” the burglary could have occurred anytime Sporer said. The synagogue has 150 members and is between Feb. 18 and 25. The time frame is when the sanctuary is locked and not open one of the oldest in the area, dating back to to the public. At other times, the congrega- the 1960s. Sporer said on Tuesday that there was no tion meets downstairs. Items stolen included three Torah crowns, apparent break-in. “Maybe the rabbi didn’t two Torah mini-crowns, three Torah breast- lock the room or someone found the hidden Q plates, four Torah pointers and one chalice. key,” he added.

The congregation’s sanctuary from which the PHOTO BY LIZ RHOADES silver pieces were stolen.

SQ page 25 Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

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State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., left, received the Keith Romaine Elected Official of the Year Award from Touro Law School for his work in Albany in a ceremony held on Feb. 24. Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), who graduated from Touro in 1992, received the award from Law School Dean

PHOTO BY DENIS DECK

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

by Denis Deck

Lawrence Raful, right. The award was named after the late Brookhaven, LI Town Councilman Keith Romaine, a 2003 graduate of the school. The son of former longtime Suffolk County Clerk and Legislator Ed Romaine died of heart failure at age 36 in 2009.

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E-ZPass made easier The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has started a pilot program that will allow E-ZPass customers to pay cash into their bridge and tunnel accounts at 2,500 retail stores throughout the New York region. The MTA Reload Card will allow EZPass users with cash-based accounts to add a minimum of $20 to them at participating merchants like CVS and Duane Reade using the Visa ReadyLink system. Merchants will charge a transaction fee of $1to $5. Funds will be available in accounts within 24 hours. The fee is not being charged by the MTA or Visa.

Currently cash customers must pay at walk-in centers in Queens, Yonkers and Staten Island. MTA officials hope the card will both serve existing cash customers and entice those who have not yet used E-ZPass because they do not find it convenient. They also said the new system has the cost benefit of joining an existing payment system rather than creating a new one. Those interested can obtain an MTA Reload Card, an E-ZPass or further infor mation by calling 1(800) 333 TOLL (8655), or by visiting the MTA’s E-ZPass customer service website at Q www.ezpassny.com.

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Seniors don’t need to let falls get them down by AnnMarie Costella Assistant Editor

“I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” That catch phrase from a late 1980s medical alarm company commercial has become part of American pop culture and provided material for numerous satires and parodies— but the sad fact is, falls among older adults can lead to serious injury, hospitalization and even death — something that is no joking matter. One in every three adults age 65 and older falls annually, and it is the leading cause of injury-related death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2008, more than 19,700 seniors in the United States died from unintentional falls. Non-fatal accidents can lead to a number of injuries — everything from lacerations to head traumas. Fractures to the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand are also common. In 2009, 2.2 million seniors were treated in emergency rooms due to non-fatal falls, and more than 581,000 of those patients needed to be hospitalized, according to the CDC. Most seniors with hip fractures are hospitalized for about two weeks, with about half of those being unable to live independently at home after their fall, according to MedicineNet.com an online healthcare media company.

In addition to physical injuries, falls can cause emotional trauma and fear. Many older adults who have taken a tumble, even if they weren’t injured, develop a fear that it could happen again, leading them to limit their activities and become less mobile, the CDC says. Not only does age play a role in fall frequency and extent of injury, but so do gender and race. Women are more likely than men to get injured from falling and are twice as likely to suffer a fracture, but men are more likely to die from a spill, according to the CDC. Elderly caucasians are about 2.5 times as likely to die from falls as older African-Americans, while Hispanic seniors are less likely to suffer a fatal fall than non-Hispanics, the CDC says. Someone who knows firsthand just how scary a fall can be is Bishop Melvin Artis, 73, of St. Albans. Early last year, his knee gave out and he fell down six flights of stairs at the subway station at 59th Street and Columbus Circle in Manhattan, fracturing several ribs. “The fall was really traumatic,” Artis said Monday. “I was going at a constant pace, and I wasn’t listening to what my body was telling me — to slow down. I felt tired, and I was getting dizzy spells, but I didn’t pay any attention. If I would have paid attention, I would not have

fallen down those steps.” The minister at Greater Universal Highway Deliverance Church in St. Albans didn’t want to be taken to the hospital initially, but police officers at the scene convinced him that it was in his best interest to go. He spent three days at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, and made a full recovery. Luckily, falls are usually preventable, and there is a lot of information and tips out there on how to do just that. The CDC lists a number of them on its website and the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has a whole health bulletin on the subject. Both agencies agree on several key steps. It is important to exercise regularly, because physical activity increases muscle strength and balance, thereby reducing the risk of a fall. Any amount of exercise, even a brisk walk a few times a week, can help improve or prevent conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Even though many people over 65 have taken a fall at some point, less than half are likely to tell their doctor about it, according to the CDC, and that can be a mistake. There are plenty of medications or combinations of drugs out there that can cause side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness, so it’s a good idea to

remind your physician to periodically check and review all the medications you are taking, according to the DOH. Vision can deteriorate with age or due to some medical conditions like diabetes, so it is important to have one’s eyes checked regularly. Good eyesight reduces the chance of tripping over a piece of furniture or even the family dog, or colliding with another object or person. For people who are 65 years of age or older, 60 percent of fatal falls occur in the home, 30 percent occur in public places, and 10 percent take place in healthcare institutions, according to MedicineNet.com Homes can be made safer by eliminating anything that might be considered a tripping hazard — throw rugs, wires, and any kind of clutter such as papers, boxes, books or shoes. Adding grab bars inside and outside of the tub or shower and next to the toilet can also reduce the risk of a fall as well as installing staircase railings and improving lighting. The kitchen can also be a room rife with accidents just waiting to happen. Reaching for an object on a high shelf while trying to balance oneself on a chair, rather than using a sturdy step stool, can be a recipe for disaster. The DOH also recommends a number

of other general safety tips including getting up slowly after sitting or lying down; wearing shoes, as opposed to slippers, both inside and outside the house; keeping emergency numbers in large print near the phone; placing a phone near the floor, so it will be in easy reach just in case you can’t get up; and wearing some type of alarm device that will summon emergency services in case of an accident. To lower the risk of hip fractures, seniors should make sure that they are getting enough calcium and vitamin C from their diet or by taking supplements; doing weight-bearing exercises; and getting regular screenings and treatment for P. osteoporosis.

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C M SQ page 29 Y K Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

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C M SQ page 30 Y K PRIME TIMES: 50 PLUS

Medicare Part B deadline approaching by Sharon Knight If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2013 to apply. Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical supplies and services. When you first become eligible for hospital insurance (Part A), you have a seven-month period in which to sign up for medical insurance (Part B). After that, you may have to pay a higher premium — unless you were covered through an employer’s group health plan or a group health plan based on a spouse’s employment. You are given another opportunity to enroll in Part B during the general enrollment period, from January 1 to March 31 of each year. But each 12-month period that you are eligible for Medicare Part B and do not sign up, the amount of your monthly premium increases by 10 percent. There are special situations in which you can

apply for Medicare Part B outside the general enrollment period. For example, you should contact Social Security about applying for Medicare if: • you are a disabled widow or widower between age 50 and age 65, but have not applied for disability benefits because you are already getting another kind of Social Security benefit; • you worked long enough in a government job in which Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program and became disabled before age 65; • you, your spouse, or your dependent child has permanent kidney failure; you had Medicare medical insurance (Part B) in the past but dropped the coverage; or you turned down Medicare medical insurance (Part B) when you became entitled to hospital insurance (Part A). You can learn more about Medicare by reading our online electronic booklet, Medicare, at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html. Or visit the Medicare website at medicare.gov. You may also call Medicare at 1 (800) MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). P Sharon Knight is the Social Security district manager in Cypress Hills.

Women and Social Security March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus not just on the past, but on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century. Social Security plays a vital role in the lives of women. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. With the national average life expectancy for women in the United States rising, many women will have decades to enjoy retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a girl born today can expect to live more than 80 years. As a result, experts generally agree that if women want to ensure that their retirement years are comfortable, they need to plan early and wisely. What you can do: The best place to begin is by knowing what you can expect to receive from Social

Security and how much more you are likely to need. You can start with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator. There, in just a few minutes, you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your retirement benefits. You can find it at socialsecurity.gov/estimator. You should also visit Social Security’s financial planning website at social security.gov/planners. It provides detailed information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security. If you want more information about the role of Social Security in women’s lives today, Social Security also has a booklet that you may find useful. It is called Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know. You can find it online at social P security.gov/pubs/10127.html.

ASK SOCIAL SECURITY Question: I worked for the last 10 years and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I can stop working and get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit when it’s time to retire? Answer: The 40 credits are the minimum number you need to qualify for retirement benefits. However, we do not base the amount of the benefit on those credits; we base it on your

earnings over your working lifetime. To learn more about Social Security retirement benefits and how your benefit amount is figured, read our online publication, Retirement Benefits, at socialsecurity. gov/pubs/10035.html. For additional information on this topic or any additional information, visit social secuP rity.gov or call 1 (800) 772-1213.

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SQ page 31

On the road again — Sedona, Arizona by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Located two hours north of Phoenix, Sedona is to that city what the Catskills are to New York City. In the summer, the locals make the two-hour trek up their route 17 to seek relief from the stifling heat while in the winter Sedona is a gateway to northern Arizona ski and snowboarding resorts, though there are none within the Sedona city limits. Mountain biking, hiking and hot-air ballooning are popular throughout the year but more so in the winter, when the cool temperatures are easier on the body than the 100 degree-plus days of summer.

Tiger Splash at the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in PHOTO BY PRAYERI HARRISON Camp Verde.

No disrespect to the Catskills, but they can’t hold a candle to the mountains and wondrous scenery of Sedona. The red rock mountains that greet you as you enter town are nothing short of awesome, the desert landscape making it obvious why the region has become a mecca for the spiritually inclined. The best way to appreciate Sedona’s spectacular terrain is to take a Pink Jeep Tour. Pink Jeep has been around 50 years, and you truly need a rugged off-road vehicle that can navigate the rocky ups and downs of the various state and federal parks that surround Sedona. You will feel like you are on a roller coaster so it is advisable not to have a heavy meal before embarking on a four-hour Pink Jeep Tour. In addition to being great drivers, Pink Jeep tour guides are knowledgeable on the history of the ancient peoples that populated the area and the artwork which may have told their story. The wide open spaces that appear untouched by time are a leading reason why Sedona has long been a favorite spot for filmmakers, particularly those making westerns. Among the famous films that have been shot here are “Stagecoach,” “Johnny Guitar,” and the original “3:10 to Yuma.” The Sedona Trolley provides an hour-long tour that acquaints you with the modern side of Sedona as you go past its numerous shopping centers and art galleries. The unquestionable highlight is a stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a 250-ft tall glass structure that was built in 1956 and is surrounded by two huge red rock walls. The view from the Chapel looking down on the valley is breathtaking. While it is a far cry from California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys, Sedona has become a hotbed for

wineries as its hilly terrain and fluctuating seasonal temperatures are ideal for chardonnay and red wines like merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. If you have visited the San Diego Wild Animal Park, then you know how special it is to watch large mammals in natural surroundings, as opposed to a zoo. The Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, a 30-minute drive south of Sedona, is a far more intimate experience than its Southern California cousin. While there are lions, giraffes, hyenas (yes, they do laugh) and pumas, Cathedral Rock is one of the Sedona area’s top attractions. the unquestionable stars here are PHOTO COURTESY SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE the tigers. You can watch them The south rim of the Grand Canyon is 120 miles swim at the Tiger Splash show and you can even feed a hungry male named Hunter red meat — with north of Sedona but the town of Williams, where you can catch a train to the Canyon, is only 35 a long pole through the bars of his enclosure. There are several local dining options. The Mar- miles away, so Sedona is ideal either to stay in ketplace Café at the Oak Creek Outlet Mall is a good overnight before going there or to use as your place to enjoy such seafood dishes as mahi mahi home base. There are plenty of local hotels and chains to and grilled salmon, as well as sandwiches. There is also nightly entertainment and a weekly wine tast- choose from in Sedona. The Adobe Grand Villas ing. The Hideaway, located in the heart of town, is offers very spacious rooms, a fireplace (very helprenowned for its chili, pastas and thin crust pizza — ful in the winter!) and a complimentary homemade which will pass muster for even the most skeptical breakfast, as well as other amenities such as of New Yorkers who detest eating our signature fast freshly baked bread and snacks in your room. For more information, log onto visitsedona.com food out-of-town. If you are seeking a more formal and romantic dining experience, L’Auberge is one of or call the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at 1 (800) 288-7336. P the best French restaurants in the Southwest.

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

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Most of us have an idea of how we would like to spend our golden years — in good health, socializing with friends, spending wonderful holidays with children and grandchildren, perhaps spending part of the year in a warmer climate playing golf, or sunning on a beautiful beach. As hardworking New Yorkers, don’t we deserve all that after a lifetime of working hard and saving? Hopefully, we can all live out the scenario described above. Whether we are fortunate enough to have good health and adequate finances to reach these goals, or whether we encounter some obstacle in the path toward a happy, healthy “golden” age, taking steps to prepare for the future should be the highest priority for you and your family. This message is being sent to us lately on a regular basis; last year there was a series on ABC NEWS World News Tonight, with Diane Sawyer called “Families on the Brink: What to do about mom and dad?” The New York Times had a “New-Old Age Blog” — which addressed issues facing the elderly. The message is clear — with people living longer lives, more and more often, the elderly will need some type of assistance in the future. The type of assistance one will need will vary, obviously, from person to person — perhaps simple assistance of a family member with bill paying, assistance with getting to appointments for elderly who can no longer drive or get out in inclement weather, to those needing assistance with their physical needs — from either family members or from healthcare providers. Whatever an individual’s need for assistance may be, the recurring message regarding planning for the unexpected needs for the aging population is to PLAN AHEAD. As we have written before in this column, it is important for everyone to have at least the basic estate planning documents in place, and updated regularly, especially in the event of major life changes. Consultation and completion of these documents by an attorney is time, effort and money well spent because countless dollars can be saved in probate costs, longterm care costs and in some cases taxes.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 32

SQ page 32

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SQ page 33

Gardeners, meteorologists fear late frost on fruit blossoms, more bugs by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

Crocuses are in bloom at the Queens Botanical Garden’s herb garden in Flushing. Many bulbs are two to four weeks ahead of schedule due to the mild winter. PHOTO BY LIZ RHOADES

There’ll be no early sowing of vegetable seeds at the farm either. “I still cannot wrap my head around a snowless winter, so I am still bracing for some wild March weather,” the agriculture director said. Experts say gardens need a chance to rest and winter’s cold • CHANDELIERS • CRYSTALS • PENDANTS • CEILING FANS • BATHROOM FIXTURES • RECESSED & TRACK LIGHTING •

usually provides it. But that is not the case this year and Kay finds it concerning. “Crocuses are in full bloom on the farm right now. Daffodils are not far behind,” she said. “Though their color cheers me up, their early appearance makes me so anxious. The spring buzz is

buzzing all too soon.” Patty Kleinberg, deputy director of the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing, is also a trained meteorologist who understands the effects of the jet stream. “This is the earliest I’ve ever seen crocuses in the 18 years I’ve been here,” Kleinberg said. “It could be a problem with plants blooming too early.” The spring bulbs are two to four weeks ahead of schedule. Kleinberg is particularly concerned about the weather’s impact on insects. “The freezing cycle does suppress a lot of insects and since that didn’t happen, expect to see more mosquitoes and garden pests,” Kleinberg said. “We dodged the bullet this winter, but there’s a price to pay for it.” Wysocki agrees with Kleinberg’s assessment, adding that gardeners can expect more bugs, fungi, mold and a bad allergy season because of the lack of frost killing off the pests and allergens. But as he pointed out, the predictions are just that, increasing the potential for the problems cited. “With weather there are no guarantees,” Wysocki added. “If La Nina strengthens, it may linger Q into spring with cooler air.”

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Colorful crocuses are dotting the landscape alongside snowdrops, and in some sunny spots, daffodils are in full bloom. Spring is here, almost a month ahead of schedule. Although most people are not complaining about the mild winter and early signs of spring, Mother Nature always extracts her due, and scientists say there will be a price to pay later this year. Insect infestations and potential crop failures are two of the possibilities suggested by experts. Meteorologists say the lack of snow and cold temperatures this winter are due to La Nina, a weather condition over the Pacific Ocean that powers a strong jet stream. “We are in a pattern now where the ocean is cold and it causes the jet stream to change position and go further north to Alaska and Europe,” said Mark Wysocki, the top climatologist for New York State. The National Weather Service says the November to January period was the sixth warmest in recorded U.S. history. And in November and December, the pattern got stuck, which kept storms away from the Northeast and tem-

peratures higher, Wysocki said. Since there is more sunlight in March, the climatologist, who is stationed in Ithaca, believes any snow that might come will melt quickly. Although spring doesn’t officially arrive until March 20, Wysocki said winter has really left already. Historically, it’s impossible to predict what spring will bring, he noted. “Looking at records with winters like this one, springs are all over the place,” Wysocki said, adding it could be rainy, dry, cold or have normal temperatures. What he is concerned about is a possible cold spell that could damage fruit trees if they bud early and the blossoms are killed during a frost. Then the plants won’t bear fruit. Also watchful is Kennon Kay, director of agriculture at the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park. “I’m worried about all trees,” Kay said. “Tender magnolia blossoms and other buds, I fear, are in for a zap.” Although the working farm museum does not have many fruit trees, she is concerned about its vineyards, which have been growing grapes for its own wine label. “That could be an issue if a frost knocks off buds,” Kay said.

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Spring has sprung, but plants may suffer

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 34

SQ page 34

PS 52 aide charged in abuse allegation Allegedly groped six female students; fifth DOE sex abuse arrest since Jan. by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

A teacher’s aide was arrested on Feb. 24 for allegedly sexually abusing six female students at PS 52 in Jamaica. Brett Picou, 30, of Far Rockaway has been charged with seven counts of firstdegree sexual abuse, seven counts of forcible touching, one count of seconddegree course of sexual conduct against a child and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged incidents took place between Nov. 1, 2011 and Feb 15 of this year. “I am sad to report, once again, that a professional employed in our public schools has been accused of of inappropriately touching his students,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement issued by his office. Picou allegedly hugged 9- and 10-yearold students and ran his hands down their backs to touch their buttocks on multiple occasions. He also is accused of slapping one child on the buttocks and grabbing the buttocks of another as they walked up a staircase. The allegations were brought to light when a teacher at the school allegedly overheard a conversation between two students discussing the alleged abuse. Picou was the fifth teacher or aide in the last few weeks to be arrested on sex abuse charges involving students. A sixth, employed at the High School of

An aide at PS 52 was arrested Feb. 24 for allegedly sexually abusing six female students. His arrest comes one week after a computer teacher at PS 174 in Rego Park was charged with abusPHOTO BY JANNE LOUISE ANDERSEN ing two boys on multiple occasions. Graphic Communicaton Arts in Manhattan, was arrested Wednesday. DOE officials said Picou has been suspended without pay since the alleged incidents came to light on Feb. 15. He started as a substitute at the school in 2008 and became full-time in January 2010. “We take every allegation of physical or sexual abuse very seriously,” said Schools

Chancellor Dennis Walcott in a statement issued by his office on Thursday. “We have already made significant changes to the way we flag and address employee misconduct to ensure the safety of our students, and we are fully cooperating with ongoing police investigations.” The significant changes Walcott referred to were instituted last week following the arrest of 49-year-old Rego Park resident

Wilbert Cortez, a computer teacher at PS 174 in Rego Park. Cortez was the second school employee arrested in recent weeks who had a previously substantiated sexual abuse complaint against him in DOE records that were not made available to the principals hiring them. Cortez’s f irst incident took place in March 2000 at a school in Brooklyn. He was transferred to PS 174 six months later. Walcott said in a press conference at Cortez’s school that all such complaints would be made available to principals in the future. The statement issued by his office did not address whether or not Picou has any previous complaints in his file, a question included in an e-mail sent by the Chronicle. City schools, including PS 52, were not in session on Thursday due to spring recess. Parents on the school’s busy playground with their children said they had not heard of the arrest, but were very concerned. Genara Serano said her 7-year-old daughter is a pupil in 2nd grade in that school. “It was a shock to me,” Serano said. She said there had never been any incidents of that character at the school before but she is getting increasingly aware of it. “I ask my daughter every day if anybody touched her,” she said. Janne Louise Andersen contributed to Q this story.

Message to mayor: ‘Keep your promise’ Officials, UFT call on Bloomberg to keep Flushing HS open, improving by Michael Gannon Associate Editor

Dating back to 1875, Flushing High School is the oldest public school in the city. But the Bloomberg administration, citing poor academic performance in recent years, has the school on a list of 33 that are facing radical reorganization, including the termination of 50 percent of all teachers and possibly the administration. On Feb. 24, civic and elected leaders from Flushing rallied outside the school to tell Mayor Bloomberg to back away from efforts to reorganize it, and permit recent progress to continue. State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) who used to teach at the school, said its five-year graduation rate has increased from 54 percent to 60 percent in the last three years. Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) said the rate was 39 percent a decade ago. “Over the past few years, Flushing High School has improved,” Stavisky said. “There’s work to be done, but closing this school and replacing the principal and staff with multiple layers of bureaucracy is not the solution.” The school had been in “reset” mode, which allowed the dedication of time and resources to turn

underperforming schools around. In December, following what had been an impasse on implementing a teacher evaluation system, Mayor Bloomberg said the school and others would be placed in “turnaround” mode. Bloomberg said the move was made in an effort to save an estimated $58 million in federal funding for city schools that was predicated on having teacher evaluations in place. “Then Gov. Cuomo stepped in and settled that dispute,” said Dermot Smyth, representing United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. Bloomberg still has not relented on his intention to put Flushing HS and the 32 others in turnaround mode. “The problem was solved, but Mayor Bloomberg threw a tantrum because he didn’t get his way,” Smyth said. “We have evaluations. Mayor Bloomberg should keep his promise.” Flushing High School has about 3,000 students and more than 200 teachers. Under Bloomberg’s current plans, 50 percent of the latter would be removed from the building, but kept in the school system. The union representing the city’s principals estimates that

Ken Cohen of the NAACP, center, and area officials called on Mayor Bloomberg to reverse his stand on a policy that would lead to a major reorganization of Flushing High School. The school is one of 33 that teachers and elected officials PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON thought had been saved by an agreement on teacher evaluations brokered by Gov. Cuomo. hiring new teachers and keeping those they replaced on the payroll could cost the city upward of $180 million annually in an effort to secure the one-time $58 million in federal funding. City Councilman Peter Koo (DFlushing) and Ken Cohen, director of the regional council of the NAACP, said turnaround plans would further crowd surrounding

schools, break up the neighborhood school concept even further, and bring a halt to the progress that already has been made. “It would be like when you are getting ready to drive up a hill and then you suddenly have to stop,” Cohen said. “It takes a long time to build that speed up again.” “It’s not about numbers,” said Jane Reiff, president of the Queens

High School Presidents Council. “We all know they have to go up.” Meng, like all present, acknowledged that a 60 percent graduation rate still requires much work. But she said she would be willing to send her own child to the school. “Yes, if it keeps improving,” she said. “Because if you have a school at 90 percent but is trending downward, that’s not the answer either.” Q

SQ page 35

Managing Editor

Embattled city Comptroller John Liu said he is reassessing his political options after his campaign treasurer was arrested on Tuesday. “We’re going to sort through all this stuff and f igure out what the next course of action will be,” Liu said at an impromptu press conference in Manhattan. The comptroller was considered one of the frontrunners to replace Mayor Bloomberg when his term expires next year. But things started to fall apart when his top fundraiser, Xing Wu (Oliver) Pan of New Jersey, was arrested in November and pleaded not guilty two weeks ago to conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Pan, a real estate developer, is accused of telling an undercover FBI agent that he would use straw donors to filter a $16,000 donation, which is three times over the limit allowed by law. The money was to go to Liu’s 2013 mayoral campaign. Straw donors are contributors who are later reimbursed as a way to funnel illegally high donations to a campaign. Jia (Jenny) Hou, 25, of Flushing, Liu’s campaign treasurer, was arrested on similar

WOODHAVEN

charges Tuesday that included conspiracy to commit wire fraud, attempting to commit wire fraud and obstruction of justice. If convicted, she faces up to 60 years in prison. Hou appeared in Manhattan Federal Court and was released on $100,000 bail. In a prepared statement, Liu said he was “stunned” by the charges against his campaign treasurer. “These accusations against her are uncharacteristic and unexpected,” he added. “Jenny is a smart, hardworking person who I hope will be treated fairly.” He told reporters that he would continue to serve as comptroller: “I have vigorously followed through on my responsibilities, and will continue to do so.” Hou is charged with instructing a campaign volunteer to imitate the handwriting of campaign donors on contribution forms and trying to defraud the city by using 40 straw donors to get campaign matching funds. The complaint also refers to several instant messages that Hou sent in which she allegedly tried to cover up the illegal practices. Liu has never been implicated in illegal campaign fundraising and has contended his office is cooperating with authorities. Q

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As I have written before, as I watched the Academy Awards this past weekend, there was a thread of positivity which is evident in the fact that many winners thanked their mothers and fathers. It made me think of my parents and all parents and how they influence their children into what they become. So, pause to thank your parents for they made you the unique person you are. Our weather is so important to our state of mind. When it is warm with bright sunshine it gives a lift to our spirits. So as the weather warms and we look forward to spring in 22 days and the change to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 11, leave your porch lights on all night. It only cost pennies and is well worth the protection of your property and safety of your family and neighbors arriving home late at night. The 102nd Precinct will give you a free security survey of your home. To schedule an appointment, call (718) 805-3217. Important phone numbers: the 102nd Precinct, (718) 805-3200; the Anti-Terrorism hot line, 1 (888) NYC-SAFE (692-7233). For emergencies, crimes in progress and suspicious persons, dial 911. Also, report illegal guns. If you know of an illegal gun, call 1 (866) GUN-STOP (486-7867) or 311. In my last article I stated that redistricting was very important to Woodhaven. This is because the newly drawn lines “slice and dice” our community — adding a senator, Michael Gianaris, and diminishing Sen. Joseph Addabbo’s area of Woodhaven. Please write to Governor Andrew Cuomo to encourage him to veto

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Liu ‘reassesses’ after arrest made

Co-ops complain over sidewalk costs Unlike most homeowners, they pay when street trees damage concrete by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

Bob Friedrich, left, holds up city violations for damaged sidewalks caused by trees that his co-op in Glen Oaks must pay for. With him are state Sen. Tony Avella and Warren Schreiber of the Bay PHOTO COURTESY NYS SENATE Terrace Community Alliance. private homeowners when it comes to sidewalk repair damages caused by trees.” Bob Friedrich, president of Glen Oaks Village, said last year a city inspector looked over one block there and found hairline cracks and what the co-op owner described as marginal damage. The co-op had to pay $59,000 for the repairs. “It’s not equitable,” Friedrich said of the sidewalk repair costs. “We pay the same taxes and we should be treated the same.”

Schreiber called the policy “an unfunded mandate,” saying, “If someone falls, they sue us and that’s expensive.” He added that Avella’s legislation would provide a safety net for all property owners. When asked why he was taking up a city issue, the state senator said it would cause the mayor to discuss the matter. He is optimistic his measure will clear Albany, although he says it may require a home rule measure from the City Council too. “But it

gets people talking,” Avella added. Home rule grants the city the power to govern in certain areas. But New York State can pre-empt New York City legislation. Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), who was not invited to the press conference but was contacted later, said it would be great to expand the trees and sidewalk program but that it’s not realistic. “The program is so woefully underfunded,” Weprin said. “There is a waiting list to get the sidewalks fixed.” He said he has complained for years about the underfunding and that “at the moment there’s not enough money to expand it to include co-ops.” Avella suggested that the mayor cut back on his push for more bike paths to save $100 million that could then pay for more sidewalk fixes. “People don’t want them and the city needs to protect its infrastructure and get back to basics.” A spokesman for the Parks Department, which regulates the trees and sidewalk program, issued the following statement: “Parks’ trees and sidewalks program is a free program to help owners of one-, two-, and threefamily homes repair sidewalks damaged by curbside trees. Since the program began in 2005, more than $18 million has been spent fixing more than 9,200 trees and sidewalks throughout the city, including nearly $9 million for 4,200 locations in Queens. “In the case of larger buildings, condominiums and co-ops, the program does not Q currently apply.”

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Queens co-op owners are feeling picked on again by the city and state Sen. Tony Avella wants to do something about it. First it was property tax assessments that in some cases were set to jump more than 100 percent from the previous year in 2011. Now co-op owners are complaining that they are treated differently those living in one-, two- and three-family homes when it comes to sidewalk repairs. Under existing city policy, sidewalks that are damaged by city trees can be repaired by the city at no cost to the homeowner, but the practice does not apply to coops, condominiums and houses of worship. At a press conference Friday outside Glen Oaks Village, a co-op, Avella (D-Bayside) was joined by two owners to complain about the double standard. The senator has proposed legislation to force the city to also pay for repairs at coops, condos and religious buildings. “It’s about fairness,” Avella said. “City trees cause the problems, and the trees and sidewalk program protects pedestrians from injury due to damaged sidewalks and improves tree health without unfairly burdening property owners with the significant cost of repairs.” Warren Schreiber, president of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance and president of Bay Terrace Co-op Section 1, said Avella’s legislation “would f inally level the playing field between co-ops, condos and

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 36

SQ page 36REV

SQ page 37 Page 37 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Weekend Service Changes

March 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 24–26, March 31–April 2 12:01 AM Saturdays to 5 AM Mondays There will be no service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Sq-42 St for 5 consecutive weekends. t Take the / at Times Sq-42 St or Queensboro Plaza. t Take the & at 74 St/Roosevelt Av, Court Sq-23 St, 42 St-Port Authority, or Lexington Av/53 St. t Free shuttle buses replace the at Queensboro Plaza, Court Sq, Hunters Point Av, and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av stations.

For service to/from: t Times Sq-42 St: Transfer between the and the / at Queensboro Plaza. t 42 St-Port Authority: Transfer between the and the & at 74 St/Roosevelt Av. t 5 Av: Transfer between the and the ' at 74 St/Roosevelt Av. t Grand Central-42 St: Take the / at Queensboro Plaza to Lexington Av-59 St and transfer to the , , or , or take the & at 74 St/Roosevelt Av to Lexington Av/53 St and transfer to the . Court Sq station is closed to allow for replacement of platforms and windscreens, as well as installation of components to make the station completely ADA accessible. It will reopen on April 2.

NYPS-056824

We understand the inconvenience this may cause you, and we will do everything possible to help you get to your destination safely and easily. For updated information, look for station posters, visit mta.info to sign up for free email or text message alerts, or call 511.

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Caught red-handed, and soon, on film by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

It’s been five years since his company, Rooftop Films, was taken in by Marie Castaldo — a con artist who as director of the Queens International Film Festival stole money from so many that she was eventually deported — and filmmaker Dan Nuxoll, Rooftop’s program director, says he’s moved on. “Whatever thirst for revenge I might have felt years ago, I really don’t feel that anymore,” Nuxoll said. It helps that Rooftop eventually regained the more than $2,000 Castaldo owed the film company once that sum, and thousands more she owed others, was returned to her victims when she was convicted of fraud in 2010. But Nuxoll, a Bayside native, and his filmmaking partner, Martha Shane, might be getting an even bigger last laugh: they successfully raised $25,545 last week via Kickstarter, a fundraising website, for a documentary about Castaldo the pair have been working on since 2009, called “The Mystery of Marie Jocelyne.” “Our objective at this point ... is to tell an interesting story, to tell a story that is as honest and truthful, factually and emotionally, as we can,” Nuxoll said. As first reported in the Chronicle, Castaldo, who has gone by a number of different names — she was born Marie Jocelyne, according to Shane — scammed vendors and participants out of thousands during 2007 and 2008 QIFF events. She was eventually hit with 13 charges in Queens, including nine felonies, and pleaded guilty to fraud as well as animal cruelty for a boarding kennel she ran upstate. A French national, she was deported to Paris. And as Nuxoll and Shane discovered,

The cover of a Queens Chronicle edition dated Nov. 19, 2009, featuring conwoman Marie Castaldo, former director of QIFF. She is the subject of an ongoing documentary co-directed by one of the people she defrauded. FILE PHOTO tracing Castaldo’s life has meant encountering disgruntled people in many different places. Before their fundraising drive, the Brooklyn-based filmmaking duo had already conducted several interviews,

and managed to nab a major get: a marathon, 30-plushour face-to-face session with Castaldo herself, who was in London at the time. “She’s very compelling; she made a very persuasive case for her innocence,” Shane said. “In so many situations, it’s like the truth is not black and white. There’s many sides to every story and everybody remembers things a little bit differently than how they actually happened.” With the money they’ve now raised, Nuxoll, 36, and Shane, 28, said they will buy additional equipment, and will also be able to do some of the traveling required when following Castaldo’s trail, such as going to Los Angeles. “We definitely have a vision for the film. How we want to structure it, and sort of the kind of pacing and sense of excitement,” Shane said. The pair plan on finishing the film by 2013. Originally from Baltimore, Shane previously co-directed the feature-length “Bi the Way,” a documentary which premiered at South by Southwest in 2008 and screened at festivals worldwide. But Shane noted the Castaldo film’s conclusion is not yet set in stone. “It’s exciting because we don’t really know how it will end, “ she said. Both Nuxoll and Shane said they would be filming at the opening tonight, March 1, of the Queens World Film Festival, which two former QIFF volunteers — Katha and Dan Cato — launched last year. “I think there’s a lot that can be done to erase the memory of some of the things that went wrong,” Nuxoll said of Castaldo’s film shenanigans. “And I’m sure that Q Queens will be just fine.”

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Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

FIT

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A Forest Hills artist gets sartorially inspired

PHOTOS COURTESY DIRTY SUGAR PHOTOGRAPHY

icholas Tee Ruiz of Forest Hills always had an interest in music, the arts and design. And a chance encounter, along with his job at the Museum of Modern Art, has brought all three together in a collection of unique bow ties. Ruiz’s “Made in Forest Hills” collection features bow ties he created from common, everyday materials and was inspired by exhibits and events at MoMA, where he works in special programming and events. Ruiz said he met singer Janelle Monae in late 2010, and looked at the bow tie she wore in a video as wearable art. Then, in February 2011, MoMA opened an exhibit titled “Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914.” “In 1912, Picasso cut, folded, threaded and glued together a guitar from different materials including paper, string, wire and cardboard,” Ruiz said in an email. In 1914 Picasso made another out of sheet metal. Both were given to the museum. “Inspired by Mr. Picasso, and wanting to look sharp for the event, I sat down and crafted my first bow tie out of multicolored guitar picks, a wooden hanger and Super Glue.” A subsequent museum benefit that included Legos inspired another colorful haberdashery creation. An exhibit on design and communication was memorialized by a tie made from computer connector cables and wiring. continued on page 43 Continued on page

Works by Nicholas Ruiz. Clockwise from top: bow ties #6 (scanning the QR code will take you to Ruiz's website), #4, #2, #9, #10 and #1.

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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

EXHIBITS

MEETINGS

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

AARP Chapter 2889 meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at noon at the Elks Lodge, 82-20 Queens Blvd. New Members are welcome. March 7: Music by Tony Grant; March 21: “Fire Safety” by a speaker from the FDNY.

Ralph Weiss Photographs are on view through April 22 at the Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38 Ave., Flushing. Gallery hours: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Reception: Saturday, March 24 from 2-4 p.m.

Queens Best Toastmakers Club meets the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elmhurst Hospital Center, Conference Room, 79-01 Broadway.

Small Works Members’ Exhibition runs through Tuesday, March 6 at the National Art League, 4421 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston. Gallery hours: 1-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Admission is free.

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.

Continuing through April 24 the second of a twopart exhibition on the evolution of art will be on view at the Queens College Art Center, Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library, Level Six, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. Gallery hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free and open to the public.

“Oliver!” will be presented on some Saturdays and Sundays in March at Bay Terrace Jewish Center.

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.

A staged reading of “Leo” will be presented by the Kupferberg Centre and the Queens College Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance on Saturday, March 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m at The Performance Space, Rathaus Hall M11, Flushing. It’s free.

The exhibit, “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World,” has been extended through Sunday, 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 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.

“Cat Lady Without a Cat,” a hilarious and heartfelt story of one woman’s journey from a painful divorce to her new life in New York, will be presented on Friday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 10 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Secret Theatre, 44-02 23 St., Long Island City. Tickets are $18. Go to goingtotahitiproductions.com.

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.

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 Forest Hills Jewish Center, 10606 Queens Blvd. Interested players should contact the conductor, Franklin Verbsky at (718) 374-1627 or (516) 785-2532.

FOR KIDS PHOTO COURTESY THEATRE BY THE BAY

THEATRE

Theatre By The Bay’s production of the Broadway musical “Oliver!” will be presented on Saturdays, March 3, 10 and 17 at 8:30 p.m. and on Sundays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 3 p.m. at Bay Terrace Jewish Center, 13-00 209 St., Bayside. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors (62 and older) and children under 13. To make reservations go to theatrebythebayny.com or call the temple office at (718) 428-6363, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday.

MUSIC The original Kyrkostas Quintet with Ivy Adrian, pianist, will perform on Friday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Armenian Society Center, 39-03 Little Neck Pkwy. Tickets are $10. The 17th annual Queens College Chamber Music Live concert series will feature six programs and two one-act operas. Concerts will be presented at Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, in LeFrak Concert Hall on six Fridays: March 2, 23 and 30; April 20 and 27; May 11, and in the Goldstein Theater on one weekend: May 4-6. Subscribers can choose from three performances of the operas on Friday, May 4 (7:30 p.m.), Saturday, May 5 (7:30 p.m.), or Sunday, May 6 (2:30 p.m.) in the Goldstein Theatre. View the full schedule at qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/music/cml. Tickets are available only as a series subscription priced at $95. To purchase call the Aaron Copland School of Music at (718) 997-3800 or email Jane.Cho@qc.cuny.edu. Subscribers are entitled to free campus parking in Field 15.

Musica Reginae Productions presents the Praxis String Quartet on Saturday, March, 3 at 7:30 p.m. at The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills. Tickets are $20 adult/$15 seniors/$10 students/kids under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. For tickets call (718) 894-2178, or order online at musicareginae.org. Daniel Bernard Roumain and the Mission perform a musical exploration of iconic figures from the civil rights movement on Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Tickets are $25/$20 members/$10 students. Call (718) 4637700 ext. 222. The Queens College Orchestra will perform on Friday, March 9 at 8 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Donation $20/$10 members. Call (718) 463-7700 ext. 222.

LECTURES Colum McCann is the National Book Award-winning author of “This Side of Brightness,” “Dancer,” “Zoli” and “Let the Great World Spin.” McCann will be interviewed by Leonard Lopate on Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at Queens College’s Music Building. Tickets are $20 at the door. Three of the Voelker Orth board members, Jim Driscoll, Fred Gerber and Chuck Wade, offer an illustrated talk about the community’s horticultural history and foodways on Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. at the museum, 149-13 38 Ave., Flushing. The program includes tea tastings and guests can take home a plant cutting. Admission is $10/$8 museum members. Call (718) 359-6227. A lecture/demonstration of basic and comprehensive approaches of painting portraits by Yuka Imata will be held on Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. at the National Art League, 44-21 Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston.

HEALTH Young Israel of New Hyde Park, 264-14 77 Ave., will hold a blood drive on Sunday, March 4 from 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

“Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a puppet show, will be held on Saturday, March 10 at 2:15 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Children will watch the cultural and bilingual English/Spanish blend of dialogue, songs and surprising new charecters. Tickets are $12/$10 members; $8 children/$6 member children. Call (718) 4637700 ext. 241

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. Cost for nonmembers is $5 per session. Prepayment of 10 classes is $40. Free onsite parking. For more information call (718) 961-0030 or freesynagogue.org. The Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal-Prince Street Senior Center at 45-25 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing offers a series of computer classes geared towards seniors. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced computer user, there is a class for you. Sign up now for winter classes. For information call John at (718) 559-4329. 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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Swimming in options at Howard Beach’s Frenasia by Anna Gustafson

bursting to life in every windowsill, I could hear the other As the mid-afternoon sun- diners as they debated what light poured into Frenasia in they should order. Miso soup or Howard Beach last Thursday, spicy salmon salad for appetizeveryone from elderly couples ers? The Howard Beach dragon to groups of businessmen gath- roll or the Tribeca roll? Grilled ered at wooden tables with garlic prawns or sesame-crusted views of the Shellbank Basin tuna loin for entrees? The and hovered over menus offer- options are almost daunting. ing seemingly endless options For me, owner Sam Lin, a of Asian fusion cuisine. Hong Kong native who opened From my own corner of the Frenasia in 2004, brought perrestaurant, with a view of a col- fectly presented dishes that orful Gustav Klimt print, ornate were almost too pretty to eat — wooden carvings and flowers almost. To start things off, I had the tuna carpaccio, which included sliced tuna, mango, cilantro, cucumber and diced onions served with Thai lemongrass and a vinaigrette sauce. Next came the crispy spicy tuna, which included a sweet rice spring roll topped with spicy The crispy, spicy tuna is made up of a sweet tuna — customers rice spring roll and topped with tuna and spicy can also order it with lobster — and served mayonnaise sauce. Senior Editor

with spicy mayonnaise sauce. By the time the grand finale — the surf and turf — arrived, I was already pretty full, but the filet mignon looked so juicy and the shrimp’s muted orange contrasted so perfectly with the vibrantly colored carrots and fresh asparagus, that I couldn’t help but hear my stomach begin to rumble again. As I began to wonder if I would ever need to eat again, Lin pointed out that since opening the restaurant nearly eight years ago he has increased the portion size and cut the customer’s price tag. Recently, Lin began to offer a three-course lunch and dinner special. For $13.99 for lunch, or $19.99 for dinner, patrons can get an appetizer, entree and dessert. Customers can choose from a number of options, including a sun-dried tomato and avocado roll or dumpling soup for an appetizer, and surf and turf, sauteed mussels or crispy chicken and shrimp with honey walnuts, sesame sauce and lemon creme for the main course. As for dessert, there’s ice

Frenasia owner Sam Lin shows off his restaurant’s surf and turf entree. PHOTOS BY ANNA GUSTAFSON

cream, banana flamble or a mango fruit tart. In the warmer weather, customers can take in the water views from the outside patio, and Lin noted that there’s an indooroutdoor bar.

Frenasia is located at 163-35 Cross Bay Blvd. and is open for lunch and dinner. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week. The restaurant can be reached Q at (718) 322-7690.

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Divergent portraits of life in the 1930s by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

Vastly different glimpses into history are available for all to see via a pair of classic plays from the 1930s that are being performed on community stages. “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” a light-hearted comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, made its debut on Broadway in 1939 and focuses on radio wit and lecturer Sheridan Whiteside, who comes to visit a prominent family in small-town Ohio one December morning. As fate has it, he slips on a patch of ice on their stoop and is forced to stay with them well beyond his welcome, all the while meddling in their lives, abusing their staff and hosting a parade of personal guests from all walks of life. With a cast numbering more than 20, the play allows for a veritable who’s who of local theater to traipse across the stage. In the demanding lead role, Parkside Players veteran W. Gordon Innes puts his mellifluous voice to good use, tossing off well-aimed barbs with precision and commanding the stage at every turn, even while confined to a wheelchair. While the first and longest of the play’s three acts moves at a fever pitch, the remainder of the evening never fully

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re-gains the momentum, though things do pick up considerably with the late appearance of Ian McDonald in the role of Banjo, a character fashioned after Harpo of Marx Brothers fame. Nice work is also provided by Bridget Bannec, totally believable as Maggie, Whiteside’s loyal secretary, and Nick Radu as Bert Jefferson, a budding journalist who catches Maggie’s eye, much to her self-centered employer’s chagrin. Among the many supporting players, Rosemary Innes provides the right touch of mystery to the shady Harriet Stanley; Lori Santopetro conveys the suffering of Whiteside’s much-abused nurse with a variety of expressions; Eugene Sullivan is frustration personified as Whiteside’s doctor; and Rich Weyhausen (a Queens Chronicle staffer) clearly relishes his stint as a flamboyant, Noel Coward-like character who sings and does impressions. Less effective are Joe Pepe and Natalie Jones, both of whom tend to overplay their roles as Whiteside’s hosts, while Susan Young, playing an actress with a tarnished reputation, never quite makes the requisite sparks fly between herself and Maggie. Director Mark Dunn keeps the large company on its toes throughout the play’s nearly three-hour (with two intermissions) continued on page 00 43

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W. Gordon Innes, center, with Laura Cetti and Nick DeCesare in “The Man Who Came PHOTO BY DEBORAH ERENBERG to Dinner.”

‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’ When: March 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. Where: Grace Lutheran Church, 103-15 Union Turnpike Forest Hills Tickets: $14, $12 for seniors (718) 353-7388

Michael Wolf, left, and Cody Parham, as Jacob and Ralf in “Awake and Sing!” PHOTO BY TERESA ZUGGER

‘Awake and Sing!’ When: March 2 at 8 p.m. March 3 at 2 and 8 p.m. Where: Zion Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 44th Avenue off Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston Tickets: $15, $13 for seniors (718) 482-3332

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continued continued from from page page 39 00

A guitar sculpted from common materials by Pablo Picasso inspired Forest Hills resident Nicholas Ruiz to do the same thing — with bow ties, including the one above inspired by artist Willem de Kooning. PHOTO BY SCOTT RUDD

But a tribute to the works of Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar had Ruiz turning his back on the digital age entirely, creating yet another tie out of a material that past generations once called film. Other artists’ exhibits that inspired him were by Willem de Kooning, the Dutch abstract expressionist, and Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera. Items he has used for his collection, currently at 11, include wine and champagne corks, an aluminum soda can, wall plaster, plastic eating utensils, cloth, chandelier beads, any and all kinds of wire and string, flour, bottle caps, jewelry, and capsules of acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol. “The bow ties have style and design influences from the art in the correlating exhibitions, and also a sustainable aspect because all of the materials were found and recycled from my day-to-day life,” he said. And the ties are wearable, he added. While they have not yet hung on the walls at MoMA, each had some time around his neck as he attended the related exhibit. Ruiz, 24, is a native of Brandon, Fla., and attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he majored in design and merchandising. He moved to Forest Hills in 2010 when he was hired by the museum. In his spare time he works as a party DJ under the name DJ Bow Tie Boy. He enjoys reading the novels of Chuck Palahniuk, who wrote “Fight Club,” and listening to Kate Nash. He does hope eventually to merge ties with his design and marketing background, with the aim of selling not only his original 11 designs but 89 Q more for a nice even 100 for sale.

1930s plays continued continuedfrom frompage page42 00

running time, and much of the dialogue, though decades old, still elicits laughter. The production wisely takes some liberties with the play’s many topical allusions, though it remains replete with references to names long since forgotten. Still, it goes a long way to show how sophisticated, clever writing never goes out of style. Under the direction of Teresa Zugger, a much different atmosphere pervades the Douglaston Community Theatre production of Clifford Odets’ “Awake and Sing!” a serious look at the Depression’s impact on an impoverished Bronx family. Bessie Berger, the indomitable matriarch, is brought to life by Marilyn Welsher, a resourceful actress who easily shifts gears to reveal her character’s changeable emotions, making them all credible. Cody Parham, close on the heels of a previous DCT appearance, offers another sensitive portrayal as Bessie’s naive 20-something son, Ralph. He brings out the young man’s inner turmoil and proves a particularly good listener on stage as he silently reacts to all that’s said around him. In a twist that must have been

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particularly shocking during the play’s initial Broadway run in 1935, Ralph’s older sister, Hennie, becomes pregnant by a man who has since disappeared. Lisa Lawrence comes up short in this complex role, playing much of it as a pouting child. As Uncle Morty, Bessie’s successful businessman brother, Marty Edelstein is artificial, reciting most of his lines as if by rote. Al Carbuto is serviceable as Bessie’s henpecked husband, Myron, a natural-born follower if ever there was one. Eric Leeb is powerful as Moe Axelrod, a bitter, wounded veteran who becomes a boarder in the Berger home, where he pursues Hennie. And Dean Schildkraut is touching as an innocent foreigner who gets unwittingly taken advantage of. A special word is due to Michael Wolf, who plays Jacob, Bessie’s 77year-old idealistic father with leftist leanings. Forty years ago he took on the same role while a student at Queens College. At the time, this critic, a student reviewer for the college newspaper, wrote,“Wolf makes the audience sympathize with him, evoking gasps when his death is announced.” Today, though Wolf has still not quite aged into the role, the words Q still apply.

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A FEW WORDS FROM OUR FRIENDS:

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.

¸...everyone was so wonderful there, it was where my daughter was meant to be to get better.¹ ¸...a rising tower of the future for special kids like my daughter, a patient already benefiting from their expertise and dedication.¹

Italian Charities of America at 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, offers Italian classes for adults and children. 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.

¸ I worked in the Home Care dept. It taught me things that allow me to help my patients better to this day. Love you St. Marys!¹

Ongoing drawing class every Wednesday 1-4 p.m. at the National Art League, 44-21 Douglaston Pkwy, Douglaston. Instructor, Marc Jasloff. Call (516) 2237659. 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 Sacred Heart School at 84-05 78 Ave. in Glendale will host a 50’s/60’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 10 from 7-11:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and include a hot buffet, soda, cake and coffee (BYOB). Adults only. No ticket sales at the door. Call (718) 366-5234.

¸...St. Mary kids are full of joy and always happy.¹ ¸an amazing place to learn about love.¹

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.

¸...my son Danny

SPECIAL EVENTS

did so well, and this wellness stays with him, and all of us.¹

Queens Theatre in The Park in Flushing Meadows Park presents “Bubblemania” on Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Come see the beauty, wonder and fun of bubbles as bubble performer Casey Carle brings his one-man show. Tickets are $14. To reserve go to queenstheatre.org/bubblemania. The Church of the Nazarene in Richmond Hill is sponsoring a free soup and rolls lunch for those in the community on Saturday, March 3 from noon-2 p.m. The church is located on the corner of 95th Avenue and 108th Street. Seating is limited. Call to reserve your place, (718) 849-5734.

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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.

SAIM-057109

Maspeth Town Hall Community Center, 53-37 72 St., is sponsoring an Irish celebration on Sunday, March 11 from 3-7 p.m. at St. Adalbert’s Parish Hall on 84th Street off Grand Avenue in Elmhurst. Tickets are $25 for adults. Children 6-12 - $12 and under 6 - $7. Includes hot buffet, Billy Hickey’s band, Emigrant Eyes and Irish Step Dancers. Free arts, crafts, games

and a magic show in the lower cafe offered for the children. Call MTH to reserve (718) 335-6049.

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

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 747769, Rego Park, NY 11374, fax to (718) 205-0150.

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King Crossword Puzzle Get in the Bluesmobile with

Blues Brothers review at QPAC

ACROSS 1 Forum garb 5 Life story, for short 8 Snake’s tooth 12 Grand tale 13 Conclusion 14 Operatic rendition 15 Painter Chagall 16 Being philanthropic 18 Dull indifference 20 Soda-shop treat 21 Dire prophecy 23 Two fives 24 Try 28 Antelope’s playmate 31 Meadow 32 Weary 34 Firmament 35 Departed 37 Check beneficiary 39 Dandy 41 Garbage barge 42 Anchored 45 It gets the lead out 49 Ingratiated 51 Staff member? 52 Use a teaspoon 53 Eggs 54 Two-way 55 14-Across, e.g. 56 Apiece 57 Partner in wartime

by Paula Neudorf Associate Editor

DOWN 1 Office part-timer 2 Colorful fish 3 Child without a Y chromosome 4 Give consent 5 2007 film featuring Seinfeld’s voice 6 Hostel 7 Probability 8 Was obsequious 9 Sahara-like quality

10 1492 ship 11 “Eleni” author Nicholas 17 See 29-Down 19 Capricorn 22 Early periods 24 Right angle 25 Born 26 Jonquil’s cousin 27 Fragrant wood 29 With 17-Down, supplement 30 Deli bread

33 Entrance 36 Matador 38 African nation 40 Carrot companion? 42 Disarray 43 Aware of 44 Let fall 46 “Heart and -” 47 List-ending abbr. 48 Depend (on) 50 First lady Answers at right

“The Official Blues Brothers Revue” will hit the stage Saturday, March 17, at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center in Bayside. The show, which has been on a national tour, features songs from the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers,” starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as Jake and Elwood Blues. In the movie, the brothers try to save an orphanage by staging a benefit concert, all while being pursued by Nazis, a crazy mystery woman and the cops as they drive their “Bluesmobile” around Chicago. Belushi and Aykroyd formed the band in 1978, and songs from the group’s albums in addition to those in the film are performed in the review. “It really recreates to an incredible degree the excitement ... the comedy and the great music featured in the movie,” said Susan Agin, QPAC’s executive and artistic director. Aykroyd and Belushi’s widow, Judith, handpicked the actors who play Jake and Elwood in the show: Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty. Tickets are $35. For more information, call QPAC at (718) 631-6311 Q or go to visitqpac.org.

Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty as the PHOTO COURTESY QPAC Blues Brothers.

Crossword Answers

ALBA RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA F I N E I TA L I A N C U I S I N E

t Ever y T hursday Nigh

P g n i i z g za Du n i S e de” “Th r

Dancing Dinner0 pmand To Midnight 8:0

It aly” “Best Singer From

Francesco Sc la fa ni

Dancing Shoes!” “Don’t Forget Your

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Page 45 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

boro

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 46

SQ page 46

Commercial & Residential

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SQ page 47

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Page 47 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

REPAIRS

LATE APPLIANCE REPAIR

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 48

SQ page 48

Eric Clyde

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SQ page 49

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Legal Notices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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At the SURROGATE’S COURT of the County of QUEENS on the 15th day of February, 2012 Order for Publication File No. 2012/123 HON. PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate In the Matter of the Probate Proceeding, Will of CLARETTA FREEMAN KING a/k/a CLARETTA KING, 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 CLARETTA FREEMAN KING, a/k/a CLARETTA KING, 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 CLARETTA FREEMAN KING, a/k/a CLARETTA KING, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, 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 Affidavit of service with copy of publication to be filed with the clerk of the court at least 48 hours prior to the return date.

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

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

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Merchandise For Sale Privacy Hedges - Blowout Sale 6’ Arborvitae (cedar) Reg $129 Now $59 Beautiful, Nursery Grown. FREE Installation & FREE delivery 518-536-1367 www.lowcosttrees.com Will beat any offer!

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Maximo A. Francisco vs. Dionys A. Valdez Docket No. SU11DO730DR Upon motion of plaintiff for an order directing the defendant to appear, plead or answer, in accordance with Mass.R.Civ. P./Mass.R.Dom.Rel. P.Rule 4, it appearing to the Court that this is an action for Divorce 1B. Pursuant to Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411, an Automatic Restraining Order has been entered against the above named parties. Defendant cannot be found within the Commonwealth and his/her present whereabouts are unknown. Personal service on defendant is therefore not practicable, and defendant has not voluntarily appeared this action. It is ORDERED that the defendant is directed to appear, plead, answer, or otherwise move with respect to the complaint herein on or before April 5, 2012. If you fail to do so, this Court will proceed to a hearing and adjudication of this matter.

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. Our Classifieds Reach Over 400,000 Readers. Call 718-205-8000 to place an ad.

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

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

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.

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: 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

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.

Apts. For Rent JERRY FINK R.E. HOWARD BEACH 1BR, 1BATH, KIT, LR, $1000, NO PETS, NO SMOKING AGT. CAROL #917-693-8235 3BR, 1BATH, 2ND FL, NO PETS, PAY CG AND ELECTRIC $1600 AGT. JOSEPHINE #917-680-6243 1BR, 1BATH, 1ST FL, NO PETS, EIK, PVT ENTRANCE, $1200 AGT. MARGARET #917-861-5037 3/4 BR HOUSE RENTAL, NO PETS, W/D, D/W, AC, YARD, $2500 UTILITIES INCLUDED, AGT. MARIA #718-757-2394

OZONE PARK 2.5 BR, 1 BATH, 1ST FLOOR, SMALL PET OK, $1500 BROKER JERRY #917-774-6121

Apts. For Rent Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, walk-in, pvt ent, studio, all new, $900/mo, incl all & cable. Owner, 718-710-1967 Old Howard Beach, 2 fl, 3 BRs, 1 1/2 baths, L shaped DR, closets galore, beautiful kit, great sunlight, $1,550/mo. Agent Fran, 646338-6646 Metro Net Realty Woodhaven, 2 BRs, also Ozone Park, garage avail, 1 BR, $850/mo, refs req. Owner 917520-7902

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Co-ops For Sale

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

CO-OP FOR SALE KEW GARDENS PRIME LOCATION

KRISCH REALTY Call 718-386-4680

Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 3 HOWARD BEACH, CO-OP FOR BRs, 1 1/2 baths, w/terr, close to SALE 3 1/2 rms, 1 BR, top fl, new all shops & trans, no pets/smokkit, updated bath, hardwood fls, ing, credit ck req. Call owner, 917all new appl, maint only $506/mo, 855-7390 move-in cond. Asking $114,900. Howard Beach/Lindenwood, modCALL NOW! 516-298-7422 ern 3 BR, 2 baths, balcony, EIK, LR/DR combo, credit ck & refs. Owner, 718-738-4013 Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 1 BR, Co-op wanted! Qualified buyer with no smoking/pets, credit ck & refs small dog looking to deal directly req, $1,000/mo, incl G&E, 917- with owner to purchase a studio/1BR co-op in Forest Hills or 496-8305 Kew Gardens, parking preferred. Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 3 BRs, Low $100’s. No brokers! Leave 1 1/2 baths, w/terr, 2 fl, credit ck, detailed message @ 917-324-3452 $1,600/mo. Owner, 718-845-6077

Co-ops Wanted

Condos For Sale

Howard Beach/Old side, studio, near buses/trans, credit ck, no NAPLES FLORIDA AREA! Bank pets/smoking, 718-736-4345 Acquired Luxury Condos. Brand Howard Beach/Ozone Park, call us new 2BR/2BA, only $239,900. for 1, 2 & 3 BR apts for rent. Same unit sold for $624,771. Own Agent Marion, 917-214-2333 & for below builder cost in warm, Agent Leeann, 718-664-4105. sunny SW Florida! High-end comOzone Park, garage avail, 1 BR, munity - walk to over 20 restau3 rms, near all, $850/mo, refs rants/ 100 shops! Must see. Call req. Owner, 917-520-7902 1-866-959-2825, x 43

Houses For Sale

WHAT IS YOUR HOME WORTH?

Maspeth, 59 St, 1 fl, 2 rms, sep ent/pvt bath, $2,000 deposit, OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best $800/mo, utils incl. Refs req, selection of affordable rentals. owner occupies house, gentleman Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE pref. David 845-807-8600 brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com

Queens Blvd & 82nd Ave. Excellent Condition Howard Beach, exclusive agent 1 Bedroom Co-op, 4th Fl, for studios & 1 BR apts, absentee Newly Finished H/W Fls. L/L. Call Joe Trotta, Broker @ 718Maintenance $499/mo. 843-3333 Asking Only $92K. Howard Beach/Hamilton Beach, 3 BRs, 1 Fl, CAC, parking, $1,600/mo, util sep, call 718-704-3553

Houses For Sale

Houses For Sale HOWARD BEACH ROCKWOOD PARK 1 Family Cape, 4 BRs, 2 Full Baths, Lg Bsmnt, Detached Garage, 50x100. Asking $619K Owner 516-884-0355

LOVELY HOUSE GREAT VALUE IN NEW HOWARD 2,300 sq ft, Beautiful High Ranch. Renovated 3 BRs, 2 Baths, Columns, Molding, Roofed Patio, Garage, Movein Condition. Asking $625K ForSaleByOwner.com 11414

JOE 718-848-8049 Delaware: 1 Family Ranch Homes. Peaceful Setting, 55 + Community. Close to shopping, beach,bay & I-95. Low 100’s, low taxes. Call 302-659-5800 or bonayrehomes.com Howard Beach. Old Side, Legal 2 family, 2 car pvt dvwy. Asking 619/K. Connexion I RE, 718845-1136

Open House OPEN HOUSE HOWARD BEACH ROCKWOOD PARK SUN 3/4, 12-3pm 159-16 88 St. 1 Family Hi-Ranch, 3 BRs, Possibly 4, 2 Full Baths, 2 Kits, LR, FDR, Lg Family Room, A Must See! Reduced $565K!

PAT 917-418-0415 Broker/Owner

Legal Notices RNG ENTERPRISES, LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/14/11. 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, 4721 41st St., Apt. 1D, Sunnyside, NY 11104. General Purposes.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF OTX NEW YORK LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/10/12. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Harald Oechsner, 90 SW 3rd St., Unit 3604, Miami, FL 33130. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Houses For Rent Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, 3 BRs, 1 bath, FDR, EIK, laundry rm w/W/D, no pets/smoking, $2,100/mo, incl all. Owner, 516698-6054

Open House Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sat 3/3, 12-2, 157-19 84 St. 4 BRs, 2 full baths. Asking $589/K. Connexion I RE, 718-845-1136

WITH A

205-8000

Page 53 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

NYME-057141

C M SQ page 53 Y K

SPORTS

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Keeping Richmond Hill clean — then and now

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Once again, apologies to HBO “Real Time” host Bill Maher for borrowing his signature line. New rules: Everyone has to stop obsessing about Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin at least until the NBA playoffs get underway. He was on Sports Illustrated’s cover for two straight weeks, and People’s once. Even the White House isn’t immune from Linsanity. Campaigning in Miami last week, President Obama expressed his frustration at having to miss a Knicks-Heat game to attend a fundraiser — held, ironically, at veteran NBA star Vince Carter’s home. I’m surprised the Republican candidates have so far been mum on Lin’s abilities to lead the Knicks to an NBA championship. At this point, however, there is probably nothing new that we can learn about Lin. Those massive Q&A press conferences arranged by the Knicks PR department after every game feel redundant, as Jeremy, who has handled his month in the public fishbowl extremely well, has had to give the same answers to predictable queries over and over. Teamwork will determine the Knicks’ success in getting to the playoffs and not a feelgood story that has now become overhyped. Madison Square Garden’s other main tenant, the Rangers, snapped a short slump last Saturday night as they topped the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime. For a good chunk of the game, it appeared that it would be yet another frustrating loss, as the Blueshirts were

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

One of Richmond Hill’s unofficial “landmarks” is not a home, not a restaurant but a shuttered laundry and dry cleaner’s. In the late 1920s Clifford Beatty of Great Neck got the idea to start what became Vortex Laundry at 129-09 Jamaica Ave., and it was an immediate success. In 1935 he took over another laundry and renamed his business the Some of the 24-truck fleet of Ideal Vortex Laundry, later Ideal Vortex Laundry Service. Uniforms for Industry, in Sept. 1940. Company founder Beatty was so proud of his Clifford Beatty is at the far left, below the sign. operation that he gave daily tours to the general public. He also provid- from which companies would only rent the ed many jobs to local residents, employing uniforms they needed rather than buy hundreds at his peak. them. The rentals were cleaned and delivAfter World War II business really took ered to your door, all in one service. off with the introduction of Beatty’s Cupid Business at the 1.72-acre site ceased in Diaper Service at the same address. With November 2002. The soil and groundwater the prosperity of the Eisenhower years, were found to be contaminated in several most mothers could afford to send out their spots — a common situation at old diapers to be cleaned. drycleaning sites — by solvents and petroIn the mid-1960s, following the advent leum that spilled from machinery and of the disposable diaper, Beatty tried out a underground storage tanks. new concept, starting the Day Rental UniMajor cleanup efforts began in 2011 and form Service and Uniforms for Industry, are scheduled to be complete this year. Q

HB y t l a e R

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

. WWW

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

IF YOU PRICE TOO HIGH, THEY WON’T BUY

RE JFINOKM

Call F or Listin Our gF Speci ee als!

HOWARD BEACH

OPEN HOUSE SAT 3/3, 1-3pm 156-23 87 St.

OPEN HOUSE SAT 3/3, 1-3pm 158-31 82 St.

OPEN HOUSE SAT 3/3, 1-3pm 157-35 89 St.

Modern Updated 3 BR Ranch, 2.5 Baths H / W Flrs, Fireplace, Skylights In Kit And Bath, Jacuzzi Tub, Full Fin Bsmt, Beautifully Landscaped Backyard W/Pool, A MUST SEE!

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!

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!

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

Charming 1 Family Det home, Newly Renovated, H/W Floors, 3 BRs, 2 Full Baths, Foyer, Formal DR, Great Location, Walk to the park and sit by the water. Looking for a quick sale! Must See! $475K

trailing by a goal even though they dominated on the ice as evidenced by the large discrepancy in shots on goal. Rangers captain Ryan Callahan scored his 100th career goal to win the game, delighting coach John Tortorella, who praised the team’s patience against Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, who’s quite stingy when it comes to allowing the puck to slip by. Earlier that day at MSG the St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball team held off Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish 61-58. Assistant Head Coach Mike Dunlap has been amazing filling in for Steve Lavin as he recovers from cancer. Because of injuries and other factors Dunlap has been limited to having six players, mostly freshmen, play in a given game. Guard D’Angelo Harrison and forward Moe Harkless, a Queens native, have been outstanding. You have to wonder, though, if fatigue will take a toll on the Red Storm when the Big East Tournament gets underway next week. This has been a great year as well for the St. John’s University women’s basketball team, who accomplished the near impossible recently — beating the mighty UConn Huskies on their home court. Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico’s troops have been led by forward Da’Shena Stevens — the only athlete I’ve ever met who’s majoring in accounting. It’s somewhat ironic, and perhaps just, that Stevens, a Connecticut native, spurned UConn, since Jamaica native Tina Charles, one of the best female hoops players ever, chose UConn over Q St. John’s. Turnabout is fair play.

FREE MARKET APPRAISALS Thomas J. LaVecchia, Licensed Real Estate 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!

OZONE PARK

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 Dvwy w/ 1.5 Garage. Call Today!

BEAT

Let Lin be

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 54

C M SQ page 54 Y K

HOWARD BEACH

3.5 Rms 1 BR Hi Rise Co-op, All redone, New Kitchen, New Appliances. PARKING AVAILABLE! Asking $114,999

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

HOWARD BEACH ESTATE SALE 3.5 Rooms, 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op, Huge Terrace! Only $95K!

OZONE PARK Det 2 Fam Can Be Used As One Family, Fin Bsmt, Pvt Drive And Det Gar, 2/3 BRs, Mint Cond! $489K

Magnolia Court, Mint Cond, Move Right In, Lg Entertainment area in Bsmnt, Duplex 6 Rms, S/ S Appl, Granite Kit & Bath, W/D, 3 BRs, 2.5 Baths. Call Now!

HOWARD BEACH 2 BRs, 2 Bath, Condo Hi-Rise w/Huge Terrace (Southgate). Asking Only $227K

COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

HOWARD BEACH

HOWARD BEACH/OZONE PARK

High Rise Co-op, Perfect for Doctor's Office, Attorney or Dance Studio. 1st Floor, 21x40. Asking $2500/mo. Call now!

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

C M SQ page 55 Y K

continued from page 23 as a result.” often the busiest driving season of the He added, “It’s only going to get worse year. Also, many nearby oil refineries once the summer comes around. We’ll have closed in recent years, creating probably be up to $5 a gallon by then.” scarcity of product for city gas stations. The only viable way to cope with ris“Oil companies are getting out of that ing gasoline costs, according to Sinclair, business, too,” Watt said. “They prefer not is to use a smaller, more fuel-efficient to be involved in any aspect of selling oil car, but even that poses some problems directly to stations for drivers. anymore.” “I have a large Queens drivers family and could are feeling the pain have used a bigger he only real options at the pump, but car, but I’m not few see a real altergetting one now,” we have are either to native. said Kalmann. “Unfortunately, Assemblyincrease production or paying for gas is woman Aravella one of the necessiSimotas (D-Astoreduce consumption. ties of life now,” ria) proposed other There isn’t much else said Daniel alternatives, such Kalmann, a regular as carpooling and that we can do.” customer at the taking public transGunral service staportation when — State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky tion on Woodhaven possible. Boulevard in Rego “I have family in Park. “I’ve started Europe, where gas riding my bike more often, but I know a is twice as expensive as it is here,” Simolot of people who don’t have that option.” tas said. “The way they deal with high “I’ve had to start doing business in gas prices is by not driving; they find New Jersey just because gas is cheaper other ways to get around.” there,” Kalmann added. Stavisky suggested that tighter fuel Retailers are also feeling the pain at emission standards on large, gas-guzthe pump. Gunral co-owner Gunther Duy zling vehicles such as buses and trucks said that the sudden increase in gas could help, but not by much. prices hurts his business all around. “The only real options we have are “When gas prices are high, people either to increase production or to reduce just don’t drive,” Duy said. “We lose consumption,” Stavisky said. “There isn’t Q business from gas sales and from repairs much else that we can do.”

Get Your House

SOLD!

REAL ESTATE SERVICES INC. 161-14A Crossbay Blvd. Howard Beach (Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

Open 7 Days!

718-845-1136

ARLENE PACCHIANO

LAJJA P. MARFATIA

Broker/Owner

Visit us on the web for more photos!

www.ConnexionRealEstate.com

H appy Valentine's Day!

“T

U ED

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

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

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

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

Mint Tudor, Large LR w/Fireplace, Formal Dining Room, Updated EIK, 3 Large BRs, 2 New Baths, 9' Ceiling on 1st Fl, Radiant Heat in Kit & Bath, Sliding door to deck off kit, Basement framed & plumbed, 1 Car gar, Pvt Dvwy, New Roof, Asking $679K

OUR EXCLUSIVE!

REDUCED $619K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Legal 2 Family, 3 BRs, 2 Baths over Studio Apt. 2 Car Pvt Dvwy, Updated Kitchen & Baths. $619K

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

HOWARD BEACH OLD SIDE

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

U ED

RICHMOND HILL

Mint corner colonial, Huge master BR, Updated kitchen, All new baths, Large

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

HOWARD BEACH CO-OPS 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 - SUN, March 4 1pm-2:30pm • 162-35 85 Street

OPEN HOUSE - SUN, March 4 1pm-2:30pm 61-24 81 Street

HOWARD BEACH Mint 20 ft single family must see!

SEE YOUR HOME HERE!

OPEN HOUSE - SAT, March 3 1pm-2:30pm 635 East 83 Street

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!

CANARSIE

Great 2 family home, income producing with great potential!

MIDDLE VILLAGE

Must see gorgeous one of a kind extended empire style Hi-ranch on 40x100!

• Studio, Move-in Cond ..... $65K • Hi-Rise 1 BR Co-op ......... $89K • Hi-Rise, 1 BR ................. $100K • 1 BR Garden "Courtyard" $100K • 1 BR w/Terrace .........$114,900 RICHMOND HILL • JR4, Hi-Rise ...................$119K Great Location, 2 Family, • 2 BR, Garden w/DR ........$136K 2 BRs/3BRs, Basement, Conveniently Located Close to • Hi-Rise, 1st Fl, 1 BR Mint $149K Transportation & Shopping. • Immaculate Garden 2 BR $155K • One-of-a-Kind 1 BR w/Terrace, REDUCED $459K Custom Throughout.........$159K • 2 BR, 2 Bath Hi-Rise ......$165K • 3 BR 1 Bath Garden, Dogs OK .. $154,500 • Brand New 2 Brs w/Terr, New Ceramic Tiled Bath, Granite Kit WAKEFIELD w/Wood Cabinets...........$176K (114 Street Vicinity) Beautiful 1 family • 2 BR 2 Baths, New Kit ww/ 3 BRs, 2.5 baths, Walk up attic. Updated kit with breakfast nook, 3 Granite & S/S Appliances, New skylights. Pvt dvwy, fully det. $459K Master Bath, H/W Fls.....$179K OUR EXCLUSIVE! • 2 BR, 2 Baths, Terrace, Move-in Condition! ........$189K • Beautiful 2 BR, 2 Bath, Terrace .......................... $215K • 2 BR Garden w/Dining Rm, New Kit/Bath, Washer/Dryer.. $225K

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

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

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK Mint Corner Colonial on 100x40, Totally Redone w/New Kit, Granite Countertops & Stainless Steel Appliances, All Tiled Floors, 3 BRs, 2.5 Baths. $649K

OUR EXCLUSIVE!

HOWARD BEACH CONDOS HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

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

Mint Hi-Ranch, All Redone, 3/4 BRs, Brick/Stucco, Pavers Front & Back. Asking $699K

Page 55 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Connexion I

Gas prices keep going up

LIBERTY BELL

CAR CARE

American Owned and Operated

Complete Auto Repair, Maintenance & Diagnostics

When Service & Quality Count - We’re Here For All Your Auto Needs We Are Your

Official Automotive Repair Center and Towing & Road Service Provider Official N.Y. State Inspection Center (Done On-Site) Please Call For Appointment

Springerize

OIL CHANGE & LUBE WITH 13-POINT CHECK

INCLUDES:

Flush Radiator & Cooling System, Refill Up To 3 Gallons of Antifreeze, Check Belts, Hoses, Cooling System Operation

2995

$ Regular

4995

Extended Life

Cannot be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Most makes and models. Expires 04/15/12.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT Jimmy Kolm, with 30 years experience and factory certified and trained, will perform a computerized 4-wheel alignment. He will personally give you a computer printout stating the specs before he begins and what the specs are when he is completed, for the perfect alignment.

We Would Like To Thank The Community For A Very Successful West Hamilton Beach Fire Department Annual Gala Dinner

Increase Gas Mileage

Includes: Valvoline Oil Filter with up to 5 Quarts Premium Bottled Shell Oil WE WILL CHECK: • Brakes • Hoses • Lights • Belts • Wipers • Air Filter • Front End • All Fluids • Battery • Thermostat FREE • Charging System • Tire Pressure Tire Rotation • Plus Lube Doors & Hinges

Save $11 - Reg. $29.95

PREMIUM BRAKE SPECIAL • Wagner® Quick Stop Brake Pads & Labor • Check Hoses & Calipers • Rotors Extra

Reg. $79.95.

Cannot be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Most makes and models. Expires 04/15/12.

1895

Cannot be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Most makes and models. Expires 04/15/12.

INCLUDES:

7995 Reg. $139.95

Cannot be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Most makes and models. Expires 04/15/12.

DISCOUNT TIRE CENTER TOP QUALITY @ GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES! FREE WHEEL ALIGNMENT With Purchase of Any 4 New Tires Cannot be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Most makes and models. Expires 04/15/12.

Open 7 Days A Week

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To Shop With Repairs

We Accept

10% OFF To All Senior Citizens and

ASE Certified Techs

Members

LIBERTY BELL TOWING 24-HOUR TOWING & ROAD SERVICE Wheel Lift & Flat Bed Service - Damage Free Local and Long Distance - New Equipment - Highly Trained Drivers Approved: AAA,

Geico, Allstate, Signature, Service Provider Quality Drivers Wanted

D.C.A. #127343

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 1, 2012 Page 56

C M SQ page 56 Y K

J U N K CA R R E M OVA L C a l l Fo r I n f o r m a t i o n 917- 5 567-2 67-2 3 4 4

86-25 LIBERTY AVE., OZONE PARK • 718-323-9984