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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city has agreed to bring traffic calming measures to a dangerous stretch of Skillman Avenue in Woodside to protect students at the newly expanded P.S. 11 in Woodside.

When work was completed on a 350-seat, $92 million annex in time for the new school year, parents complained that the new main entrance put the school’s 1,000 students and faculty at risk. After months of advocacy by City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and the P.S. 11 Parent Teachers Association, the city’s Department of Transportation agreed and announced Monday it would install two traffic signals in front of the school.

“Two traffic signals — one each at the northern and southern legs of 54th St. — will be installed at Skillman Avenue,” a DOT spokesman said. “The signals will be installed by the end of May 2018, and both signals will be coordinated to avoid any queue backups on any of the approaches.”

In January, Van Bramer held a rally at the school while the PTA submitted a petition to the DOT with over 1,000 signatures calling for safety improvements to be made.

“We came together as a community to demand DOT do the right thing, and they’ve heard our voice,” Van Bramer said. “This is a great win for the P.S. 11 families, the Woodside community and our children’s safety. I am happy that DOT is taking this seriously.”

In addition, the DOT is in the process of restudying the area for additional safety enhancements around PS 343 on the south side of Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside. This review includes another traffic signal study at 47th Ave. and 42nd St., as well as potential signage or markings adjustments.

“After speaking with the DOT, I am hopeful that their current work will produce results,” Van Bramer said. “I will continue to advocate for needed traffic calming measures throughout the district, especially in areas where children’s safety is so obviously at risk.”

With the safety issue resolved at P.S. 11, the community’s focus is expected to return to the DOT’s controversial plan to redesign Skillman and 43rd avenues with protected bike lanes that met with stiff resistance from small business owners who feared that the loss of 158 parking spaces would devastate the neighborhood’s economy. Street safety advocates marched in Sunday’s St. Pat’s for All Parade and renewed their call for the bike lanes.

Macartney Morris of Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee reacted to the news Monday, hours after a car ran a red light Monday killing two children in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

“I’m thrilled to hear DOT was able to address the safety concerns of P.S. 11. Any day that the city is able to make it safer for kids to get to school is a good day for Queens — but especially on a day with such horrific traffic violence against children that has occurred today in Brooklyn,” Morris said. “I hope that the full plan DOT designed for Skillman and 43rd avenues is now able to move forward with a fair hearing by the community without further delay. The thousands of Queens pedestrians and cyclists who use this corridor daily deserve the safest streets possible and nothing less.”

The DOT is organizing a town hall meeting with the date to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, the agency is performing outreach to businesses on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights to alert them to changes coming the week of March 19. The city will begin implementing its Clean Curbs initiative, a six-month pilot program that will ban curbside loading from Broadway to 90th Street during weekday peak hours, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Since the proposal to implement a pilot program in a stretch of Roosevelt Avenue with curbside restrictions became public, the community and business owners along the corridor have raised several concerns, including how and when delivery trucks will be dropping off their merchandise, especially to supermarkets,” state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) said. “It is my hope that the many questions and concerns the community has will be answered during the length of the pilot program, and if the results are positive, we will work with all stakeholders to determine how to best approach all traffic-related matters under the 7 train.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

The 111th Precinct bid farewell to Deputy Inspector William McBride and welcomed a new face to the role of leading law enforcement in northeast Queens.

Community Council President Jack Fried said McBride was rotated out of the precinct, as is customary in the NYPD every two three years. He pointed out that the precinct is looking forward to a new chapter with a familiar face in Capt. John Hall.

“We were very happy with McBride. When he was here, he was out there. You could always sit down in his office and talk to him. We feel bad losing him, but we know Capt. Hall – he’s been at our precinct as a deck officer,” Fried said. “[He’s] a very nice guy, pleasant, and hopefully we have a good relationship with him like we did with McBride.”

Hall, a Sunnyside resident, appeared before Community Board 11’s monthly meeting on March 5 and explained he had worked with the 48th and 52nd precincts in the Bronx and spent some time with the 5th Precinct in Manhattan’s Chinatown

“I know what we face as Queens residents — parking is a big issue,” Hall said, explaining he planned to keep enforcing against illegal parking of abandoned cars on residential streets.

One board member asked Hall how he planned to address the fact that residents often report calling community affairs at the 111th without receiving a response, and recently one called without even reaching an answering machine on the other end.

Hall said the new neighborhood policing program in the precinct should give residents a line to officers in the program through email to address non-emergency issues.

Others hoped the new commanding officer would help alleviate their woes regarding illegal fireworks in neighborhoods, an issue which Hall said the precinct would be handling.

McBride had come to the 111th in 2015 after having spent all 24 of his previous years with NYPD in Queens at other precincts, including the 108th.

The 111th was McBride’s first opportunity to lead a precinct of his own, which he said was always his goal upon being promoted to captain.

“When new blood comes, in things change, but hopefully whatever changes are made will be for the better,” Fried said. “Our precinct is not a high-crime precinct. Most of our problems are local break-ins or tires stolen off of cars, or what have you, and it requires a different touch when dealing with the community.”

The 111th Precinct Community Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled so that Hall could have an orientation period with the officers he will be serving with.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Central Queens Y in Forest Hills announced the presentation of “ReelAbilities Film Festival,” an international array of films.

In its 10th Year, the festival will run from March 8 to March 14 in Queens at the Y, Museum of Moving Image and York College. Founded by Marlene Meyerson of JCC Manhattan, each venue give viewers the opportunity to view two days worth of award-winning films.

The motion pictures put people with disabilities in the spotlight. The films scheduled at the Y for March 11 and 12 will each be followed by a discussion with speakers including filmmakers, teachers, personnel from the film and social workers.

Peggy Kurtz, from the Y’s Hevisi Library, said they choose the films for their own screenings.

“We have a large and diverse film selection committee that selects films according to their relevance for our audience and the quality of the films,” she said. “Our committee includes special needs teachers and people who have had experience [with] some of the issues explored in the films. Year after year, I hear from the committee that being part of this festival is tremendously rewarding for them and has raised their awareness.”

Here are some of the films that you can check out during the festival:

“Perfectly Normal
for Me”

From Director Catherine Tambini, the movie tells the story of a unique after-school program in Queens known as Dancing Dreams.

“The kids, who have a variety of developmental and physical challenges come from at least two different schools,” Kurtz said. “They are paired with teenage volunteers to create an inclusive environment.”

“UNSTUCK: A Movie About Kids”

The 23-minute documentary from director Kelly J. Anderson centers on children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, observed through the children’s eyes.

“REEL Encounters”

A series of outstanding short films is headlined by the Oscar-nominated “Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405” — which revolves around a woman who battles depression and anxiety while creating artwork depicting her journey through the years of treatment — as well as “Mr. Connolly Has ALS,” the story of a beloved high school teacher who continues to lead his classes while battling the disease.

“The Barber of Augusta,” directed by Michele Hozer, is the final film scheduled.

“Scaffolding”

Winner of the Best Israeli Feature and Best Actor awards at the 2017 Jerusalem Film Festival, this 93-minute narrative directed by Matan Yair focuses on a 17-year old who has trouble learning and an inability to focus, as well as the teacher who lures his focus to the world of literature.

All films are open to the general public for free, but a voluntary donation is requested. The Y is located at 67-09 108th St. Tickets and more information are available online at www.cqy.org/reel or by calling 718-268-5011 (ext. 151).

MOMI will also be hosting viewings on Saturday and Sunday. Two of the films will be shown at both the Y and MOMI, but some of the features are exclusive to the Astoria venue.

“Partially

Compensated”

The animated film focuses on a classroom child with dyslexia and having understanding teachers willing to make a difference.

“Keep the Change”

The features is about an upper-class young man who wants to hide his autism. He is forced to attend a support group, where he falls in love with a young sheltered woman who disputes his identity of being “normal.”

“Out of My Head”

Susanna Styron directed the movie, which is about her own daughter who suffers from migraines, an often debilitating neurological disease. The film is meant to show the difference between migraines and what people think of as simply bad headaches.

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Fordham University freshman and Little Neck resident is aiming to bring his proposal for improved bus service to fruition after presenting his case to Community Board 11 this week.

Stephan Popa drafted the “Little Neck LiNK” to extend Q36 bus service from its terminus in Glen Oaks to the Little Neck LIRR station while increasing frequency of service so commuters can make their connection to the LIRR without having to rush.

“Under current operation, Q36 buses turn left at 41st Avenue and a right on 249th Street and a right on 40th Avenue,” Popa explained. “This is a problem for obvious reasons, because if it goes around the entire loop, it’s a disadvantage for commuters. So my proposal is to turn it back around on 40th Avenue and terminate immediately. This allows for quicker termination time for people to exit the bus and get to the Long Island Rail Road. This means there will be less running on the street, less trips and falls and most importantly, less ducking under the railroad gate, which is especially dangerous.”

Popa’s proposal would also move the footbridge spanning tracks of the LIRR station closer to the vehicle crossing at the western end of each platform.

The current bridge, replaced in December 2016 after the old one had reached the end of its feasible life, is situated in the middle of the platforms. As commuters arrive on the south side of the Port Washington line, they often race to meet their Penn Station-bound trains, dangerously crossing while the arms are down.

MTA police have been known to patrol the crossing, issuing criminal summons to people who duck under the arms as trains approach the station.

But safer, better service is not the only goal for the proposal. Popa hopes the plan could link people to community centers, businesses and events, in addition to getting cars off the road.

“Adding Q36 Saturday service… would increase connections between residents, businesses and cultural events,” Popa said. “Increasing service around the elderly and young people will make both demographics less likely to own or drive cars to easily tap into community resources, which is the Samuel Field Y, Queens County Farm Museum as well as various houses of worship [and] business districts.”

The community board voiced openness to Popa’s proposal, which has yet to be reviewed by the MTA, and a liaison from Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) said their office would be interested in the plan, which would coincide with their opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s congestion pricing proposal.

CB 11’s Bernie Haber said the Transportation Committee was in favor of writing a letter of recommendation to the MTA in favor of the Little Neck LiNK proposal.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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TimesLedger Newspapers

As the principals of the Catholic high schools of Brooklyn and Queens, we have kept the administration, faculty, staff, students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in our prayers since the thoughtless tragedy on Feb.14.

We stand in support of the Parkland, Fla., survivors as they draw strength in knowing that their efforts to effect necessary change are heard. We call on our elected leaders to do everything necessary to help us protect students against senseless acts such as the one in Florida and too many others across our country.

The mission of Catholic education within the Diocese of Brooklyn is to form children in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ as celebrated in the Catholic Church, while providing a comprehensive, academic education that will help them reach their full human potential and contribute to the common good of our nation and the world.

The alumni of our schools are leaders in every stratum of society, and our current students are the leaders and policy makers of tomorrow. We must stand as examples to them of the morality, justice and peace which we expect them to go forth and spread in the world.

As principals, we are responsible for carrying out the mission of our schools, the education of our students and the safety and security of the adolescents in our care. As educators we are facing a world where we are increasingly called upon to become the last line of defense against unspeakable horrors.

Collectively, we as Catholic educators and as Americans know that these attacks must stop and the time for action on all levels is long overdue. We unite in one voice to call upon our elected officials to effect nothing less than meaningful, proactive change. In the words of Mahatma Ghandi, we must “be the change we wish to see in the world.” That change starts today.

Mr. Darius Penikas, Archbishop Molloy High School

Dr. Margaret Lacey-Berman, Bishop Kearney High School

Mr. Edward A. Bolan, Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School

Mr. Richie Diaz, Cathedral Preparatory School & Seminary

Ms. Geri Martinez, Christ the King High School

Ms. Mary Ann Spicijaric, Fontbonne Hall Academy

Mr. Edward Burns, Holy Cross High School

Mr. Joseph Dugan, Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School

Mr. James V. Castrataro, Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School

Mrs. Providencia Quiles, Nazareth Regional High School

Mrs. Susan Nicoletti, Saint Agnes Academic High School

Mrs. Allison McGinnis, St. Edmund Preparatory High School

Mr. Patrick McLaughlin, St. Francis Preparatory School

Mr. William A. Higgins, St. John’s Preparatory School

Mrs. Caroline Latham, St. Joseph High School

Dr. Paula T McKeown, St. Saviour High School

Sr. Kathleen McKinney C.S.J, Ed.D., The Mary Louis Academy

Dcn. Kevin McCormack, Xaverian High School

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police have taken action in clearing Willets Point.

On Feb. 28, the NYPD and city Department of Sanitation led an overnight operation to remove abandoned vehicles in the Willets Point area in Corona following multiple complaints from area business owners. From 8 p.m. to 11 a.m. the following day, NYPD said it removed and issued summonses to up to 100 cars.

Police said 85 cars were tagged for removal, 12 vehicles were summonsed and 50 were towed away for disposal. The following day, the 110th Precinct tweeted photos of the operation with the caption, “You spoke we listened, in and around Willets Point a joint operation conducted overnight with NYC Sanitation.”

Willets Point’s future has been in limbo for years. The land adjacent to Citi Field has been the center of a huge lawsuit. Queens Development Group had been fighting to build a proposed megamall and movie theater on the 30-acre site where Shea Stadium once stood. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court in February 2014 by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) — along with the City Club of New York, Queens Civic Congress, members of Willets Point United and nearby residents and business owners — challenged the transfer of Queens parkland worth about $1 billion.

The lawsuit focused on the proper use of the land. The megamall was slated to be built on the parking lot east of Citi Field, which is technically still parkland owned by Flushing Meadows Corona Park and under lease to the New York Mets. Arguments centered around a 1961 law allowing the construction of Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows Park.

In a 5-1 decision last June, the court decided that the developers needed consent from state Legislators before moving forward.

In early February, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Borough President Melinda Katz announced their new plan for the abandoned land that promised construction of 1,100 affordable apartments on six acres of Willets Point land starting in 2020. Of the entire 62-acre Willets Point area, the city purchased 23 acres located across 126th Street from Citi Field — named the Phase 1 development site with an early pledge to build affordable housing. The city evicted many auto-repair businesses that formerly operated in that section, and razed most of the structures.

The remaining 39 acres are filled predominantly with automotive parts and repair businesses, and the owners said that due to perpetual neglect by the city, the existing Willets Point community is forced to operate with substandard streets and roadways.

The remaining business owners have been fighting for the city to commit to providing roadway repair, maintenance services and other municipal services that they have long been denied to Willets Point.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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