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‘Wicked Frozen’ pokes fun at theater classics

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

Have you ever heard of a mash-up? It’s when a producer puts the vocals to a popular song on top of the beat and melody of another.

“Wicked Frozen” is kind of like that.

That’s the title of what Write Act Repertory Producing Artistic Director John Lant describes as “the untold parody musical of some magic ice witch princesses and other stuff like that.” In other words, it’s a satire dedicated to the Broadway shows “Wicked” and “Frozen.”

“Wicked Frozen” follows a character known as Adele Dazeem (John Travolta might be familiar with her) and her teacher Kristen Chenobell (a portmanteau of “Frozen” and “Wicked” stars Kristen Bell and Kristen Chenoweth), who become trapped in a Boston classroom during an unexpected blizzard as Adele sets off on a journey through a magical land known as Scandinorfindelle.

Directed and choreographed by Zoe Farmingdale, the cast of 11 features Kathleen Armenti, Lily Davis, Allison Frasca, Wills Jacobs, Tyler Joseph, Vanessa Magula, Jake McKenna, Chris Evan Simpson, Natalie Sullivan, Bethany Nicole Taylor, and Meagan Wells. Two of the actors have taken up residency in Queens.

Sullivan, originally from Omaha, Neb., has lived in Astoria for the past five and a half years.

“Whenever I visited New York, prior to moving here, I would stay with one of my best friends who lived in Queens. Once I stepped off the N train for the first time, I knew I had found my home,” she said. “When I finally made the move to New York, I didn’t look at any other borough. Queens just felt right. In addition to all of the wonderful family-owned businesses and restaurants, Astoria has a real community feeling that I’ve not found anywhere else in the city.”

Sullivan, who has been with the show since February, portrays featured ensemble characters including a zany student named Hildegard Von Schwargenstarm and is “also a swing for some of the other female roles”

Sullivan is a New York based singer, actor, and improviser. Prior to moving to New York, she worked as a touring actor/director with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Her most recent New York credits include many humorous takes on recent pop culture, including “Star Wars: The Farce Awakens,” “Unauthorized! The Musical’s The Hungry Hungry Games,” “A Bad Dream on Elm Avenue,” and “Ghostblasters.”

She’s also a seasoned musical improviser and sketch comedian.

“In addition to ‘Wicked Frozen,’ I currently perform every Tuesday night at the Magnet Theater with musical improv house team Pyros,” Sullivan said.

Wells is another new Astorian who originally hails from Madison, Wis., where she graduated with a degree in musical theatre. She’s been living in “the same cute little house for the entire five years I’ve lived in New York” and considers the move to be “really lucky.”

“One of my friends from college who had recently moved to New York was moving out of her place in Astoria to go live with her boyfriend,” Wells said. “She gave me a tour of the place via Skype and I fell in love with it right away. A few weeks later, I packed up everything I could fit in a car with my dad, who moved me across the country.”

Wells plays the part of Miss Chenobell, who she describes as “a young actress-turned-earth science teacher at a Boston elementary school who is so pumped to hold her first after-school drama club… but then only one student shows up: Adele Dazeem, who begins to share with me the play she has “written” and the story begins.”

The show is a long-term labor of love for Wells.

“I’m lucky to say I’ve been cast in every version of ‘Wicked Frozen’ since its very first incarnation at the 2014 West Village Musical Theatre Festival, where I played Glindanna. It’s been an incredible journey,” Wells said.

Wicked Frozen is currently playing 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings at St. Luke’s Theatre — located at 308 W. 46 St. — through July 22.

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Source: Times Ledger

Bayside Little League kicks off new baseball season

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Bayside Little League parade drew families out to the sidewalks of Bell Boulevard Saturday to kick off the new season with elected officials and businesses sponsoring teams from around northeast Queens.

City Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) was looking forward to the season coaching the St. Andrew Avelino team, which was set to play its first game later that day. His son plays for the team.

“You know spring is here when you’re doing the Bayside Little League parade up Bell Boulevard,” Vallone said, explaining how his office takes part in sponsoring teams and securing permits for the event. “Probably the most important thing is we got $2 million for brand new fields at the Crocheron Fields, so we’re pushing for Parks to get that into Design and Construction.”

Little Leaguers began their march at 11 a.m. from 43rd Avenue, where officers from the 111th Precinct ceremoniously set aside wooden barriers blocking traffic onto Bell. Led by a marching band, along with Vallone and state Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside), children accompanied by parents made their way to 35th Avenue where they continued east to Crocheron Park. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) was also in attendance.

“It is always fun to march in the Bayside Little League Parade,” Braunstein said. “As a former player myself, I remember the anticipation of starting a new season. I want to thank Bob Reid, the 111th Precinct, and all of the volunteers who work to keep this tradition going.”

Players carried banners bearing their sponsors, prominent businesses in the community and one for state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside).

Reid, the commissioner of Bayside Little League, was eager to speak about the boys who joined the parade to play their first game of the season and the crowd turnout.

“I’m very excited about this year, we have a lot of young Little Leaguers,” Reid said as he voiced concern that children were not getting involved in sports like generations past. “A lot of kids just don’t come out to play sports. Lots of kids stay in the house and play video games. Throughout youth baseball the numbers of players have been dropping over a number of years. We need parents to push them out there to play sports.”

Reid has enthusiastically been a part of the Bayside charter for over 30 years, first getting involved in 1986 before becoming commissioner in 1991.

Bayside Little League has been in the community since 1953 and has 27 teams.

Reid will be honored with the New York State Liberty Medal in July, a recommendation that came from Avella.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Dromm urges DOE to inform parents of right to opt out of state exams

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) rallied with parents, students, teachers and education advocates Monday in Jackson Heights to demand that the city Department of Education inform parents of their right to opt their children out of state exams.

With the New York State English Language and Arts exams scheduled for this week and math exams next month, Dromm, a public school teacher for 25 years before his election to the City Council in 2009, is adamant that parents be informed of this right.

“Our children are more than just test scores. They are more than just a number on a sheet of paper,” Dromm said. “Test scores alone tell you little about a student and the school they attend. These exams were originally intended to assess academic development. They were never intended to be used to rank and evaluate schools and grade students. While minor changes have been made to the tests in response to parent outcry, unfortunately, these exams are still being used inappropriately. The DOE has still not done an adequate job of informing parents of their right to opt out despite demands from parents, educators and activists.”

He pointed out that in 2015, the City Council passed a resolution asking school officials to inform parents about the opt-out provision. “Why has the department made so little progress over the past three years?” Dromm asked.

Last year nearly 225,000 New York state public school students chose to opt out. Parents decided not to put their children through the pressure of testing because they disagree with policies that reduce education to a few test scores. In New York City the percentage of students opting out of state exams has always been lower with just 3 percent sitting out the math exam last year, according to the New York Times.

“Because 20 percent of the parents across the state refuse the tests for their children, we have seen some improvements,” Jackson Heights People for Public Schools organizer Amanda Vender said. “But in NYC, there is a lot of fear among parents. We know of many cases of immigrant parents being misinformed and even threatened by administrators if they want to opt out. We need to do our part and take a stand for the rich curriculum we know all children deserve, not test-prep.”

Other activists complained that school curricula has been narrowed to tested subjects at the expense of meaningful learning.

“Public education, which is a democratic institution and part of the common good, is sliding into the hands of privatizers and the corporations that make the tests,” NYC Opt Out Organizer Janine Sopp said. “Our tax dollars pay for our schools and they belong to us. Exercise your right to refuse the tests and do your part to boycott the corporate agenda. Do what you know is right for your child and for public education.”

The organizations NY State Allies for Public Education and NYC Opt Out have resources on their websites, www.nysape.org and www.optoutnyc.com, on how to opt out of high stakes standardized tests.

“Students are more than a single test score, and state tests are one valuable tool for schools and educators to know how they’re doing and how they can improve instruction,” DOE Press Secretary Toya Holness said. “The state has made real changes to its exams over the past three years in response to legitimate concerns from the community. The DOE also continues to share detailed information on the state exams through its Parent and Schools Guides.”

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Far Rockaway to get expanded health center while losing transit option

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Elected officials and community leaders joined Denham Wolff Real Estate Services Tuesday to break-ground for the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center expansion project in Averne.

With a new 22,000-square-foot addition to its facilities, the center will double in size to further its mission of providing essential health services to medically underserved residents of the Rockaway peninsula through increased patient capacity, enhanced storm resiliency measures, and new community empowerment and development services.

“Like my father, the Addabbo Family Health Center has dedicated itself to helping others,” state Sen. Joseph Addbbo (D-Howard Beach) said. “Providing quality affordable and accessible health care to the residents of the Rockaway peninsula is critical. The Addabbo family is truly appreciative and proud of the work done by everyone at the health center and its partners. This new expansion will have a direct benefit in improving health care for the residents of Rockaway.”

The health center, located at 6200 Beach Channel Drive, lies within a federally designated Medically Underserved Area. Since its establishment in 1968, the Addabbo Family Health Center has been the largest federally qualified health center in Queens, providing holistic services to the surrounding low-income community that is disproportionately affected by poor heath outcomes. The facility offers a comprehensive range of results-driven services, including primary care for children and adults, nutrition education, domestic violence support, and HIV intervention, prevention, and treatment among many others.

“The holistic, community-based health care provided by the Addabbo Family Health Center is needed more now than ever in Far Rockaway,” Denham Wolf Real Estate Services Co-President Jonathan Denham said. “Increasing the physical capacity of this facility is crucial to expanding the care, services, and economic opportunity available to a community that has been historically underserved.”

State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Beach) called on the city Economic Development Corporation to permanently reinstate the Downtown Far Rockaway Shuttle Bus to the Rockaway Ferry.

The shuttle provided transportation from the ferry terminal on Beach 108th Street to Mott Avenue, Wavecrest Gardens on Beach 20th and back to the terminal. Until Jan. 18, the EDC operated the shuttle as a pilot program that was utilized by residents living in Far Rockaway who commute to Manhattan.

“Since its inception the ferry has become an integral part of our community — not continuing the shuttle in the Far Rockaway community is ignoring the fact that the whole peninsula should have access to this service,” Pheffer Amato said. “The opportunity for transit must remain. The city needs to be looking for options to improve transportation for residents, not just tourists in the summer — it’s unfair and makes no sense.”

The EDC found that during the pilot only 3 percent of Rockaway Ferry riders used the DTFR shuttle service and an MTA bus provides the same connection and leaves much more frequently, every 10 minutes compared to a shuttle run every hour. Only 15 riders surveyed said they would not take the ferry once the shuttle trial ends. Given those findings, the EDC does not have plans to extend the pilot.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Corona cyclist remembered as bike lane plan continues to divide Sunnyside

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Street safety advocates marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Gelasio Reyes Sunday with a ride and rally at the Sunnyside intersection where the Corona father of three and an active member of the Queens cycling community was killed by a drunk driver while he cycled home from work.

Ten days after Gelasio’s death, another cyclist was critically injured by a turning truck in the same intersection at 39th Street and 43rd Avenue, leading to a public outcry for protected bike lanes in the area.

Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee and Ciclistas Latinoamericanos de New York hosted the ride and rally that began at Oaxaca Taqueria, where Reyes used his bike to make deliveries, and ended at the Sunnyside intersection where the groups placed a ghost bike in his memory. They were joined by his wife, Flor Jiminez, and members of the Reyes’ family.

“It was a sobering moment to hear Flor plead for no more families to be ‘left the way our has,’” TransAlt Queens Organizer Juan Restrepo said. “It is clear that we have a moral responsibility to the hundreds of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers to make Skillman and 43rd Avenue safer, and we implore the Department of Transportation to move forward with the plan.”

Astoria resident Macartney Morris, a member of the TransAlt Queens Committee, took part in the ride and rally.

“No one should ever die just because they were riding their bike crossing the street,” Morris said. “Especially not when we have the tools to make the streets safer and prevent these deaths. I didn’t know Gelacio Reyes personally, but hearing his widow Flor and his friends remember him one year after his death broke my heart all over again. We won’t ever stop fighting to make Skillman and 43rd Avenues safer, so no other family has to suffer a similar loss.”

Restrepo and Morris have taken part in an outreach mission to drum up support for a city Department of Transportation proposal that met with stiff resistance from the small business community as originally 158 parking spaces would be lost along the two business corridors to make way for the protected bike lanes. DOT presented a revised proposal at a town hall meeting last month and further tweaked the proposal they presented to Community Board 2’s Transportation Committee Monday, which Morris attended.

“DOT’s patience with complaints and accommodation to community concerns continues to be impressive,” he said. “Over and over again, they’ve engaged and changed the plan based on feedback. Even on Monday night, they continued to give back parking spots. At some point though, we’re going to water it down too much and lose all the safety benefits.”

The latest DOT proposal would eliminate 66 spaces along the two miles of “neighborhood corridor,” and 116 spaces overall, and is still facing skepticism from small business owners.

“Sean Quinn of DOT said it best: This community is tight-knit and has amazing businesses, and that’s why this plan does everything to keep it that way,” Morris said. “It quiets the streets. It slows down cars. It makes Skillman and 43rd avenues more inviting places to spend time and money, whether when walking or biking or taking mass transit. The inconveniences of minor parking losses are more than made up by other benefits to make the streets more hospitable to all road users.”

A DOT spokesman said the agency is reviewing the comments heard at Monday night’s CB2 meeting to determine the next steps and would be in touch with the board.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Bellerose mom opens after-school center in Flushing

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

After a suggestion from a friend a Bellerose, a stay-at-home mom completely switched careers and opened her own after-school center in Flushing.

Shalini Outram was in the medical research industry as a research scientist. Outram earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of North Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Science in 2009. After graduating she worked as a post-doctorate fellow at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey until 2012.

“I was working as a scientist studying breast cancer,” she said. “I was in a lab setting, and it became kind of daunting. I knew right away it wasn’t the right fit for me.”

She said during her time in the research field one of her colleagues had a child whom she took to Kumon.

Founded in Japan by educator Toru Kumon in 1954, Kumon is the world’s largest after-school enrichment program. The centers teach math and reading skills to students from pre-K to high school, using the Kumon method, an individualized-study plan. Even seniors or adults who need help are accepted. There are hundreds of centers around the country, and over a dozen in Queens alone with centers in Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens and Sunnyside.

Outram’s friend told her that her children were doing really well in school and that the people in Kumon were very helpful. This was when the Kumon program first came onto her radar and she was intrigued but had no children of her own at the time.

“I made a mental note that when I had a kid I would enroll them into Kumon.” she said.

After graduating from medical school Outram got married had two children, and was a stay-at-home mom with the kids. It was during this time when she was reminded of Kumon, because her daughter was 2 1/2 years old and had a love of books,

‘She really enjoyed reading and memorizing the books,” she said. “I wanted to encourage her, but I wasn’t sure how to do it at home because she could not go to school yet. That’s when I contacted a nearby Kumon Center.”

She brought her daughter in even though she was only 2 years ago, a year younger than the 3-year-old requirement, to see how well she tested and it turned out her daughter enjoyed doing the work. Outram said it was a lot of fun, so she enrolled her daughter.

“I was so impressed with the culture,” she said. “How instructors are so attentive, the staff knew everyone by name. It was just a very welcoming and supportive environment and we both enjoyed it.”

Outram said spending time at the center helped reveal her real passion in life, and after three months of training and help from people at Kumon she was ready to open her own center.

“It was completely different,” she said. “Night and day. I knew that from my training with medical research that I wanted to do more teaching. I wanted something different than just being in a laboratory setting. I wanted to interact with students. I had that passion from the beginning and I wasn’t sure what age group I wanted to work with, but having kids can change your entire outlook on life.”

She said she realized very quickly that she liked working with the younger age group. Outram believes her background in science gave her the basis for teaching math and reading, something she believes you have to have in order to teach.

She opened her center on March 12. The class sizes are still small but she is excited about what is to come. Right now her center, located at 149-36 Northern Blvd., is open on Monday and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Outram said Kumon is a great business for someone who has a love for education but does not necessarily want to go down the road being a traditional teacher.

“It’s teaching kids in a way that is a little different,” she said. “I love that I know them personally and depending how long they’re in the program, I can watch them grow and mature with their education.”

Outram thought Flushing was the perfect location for her center. She grew up in Rosedale and attended Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, so she was familiar with the area.

“It’s great and it hasn’t really changed as much throughout the years,” she said. “I’m happy to be back. I love the diversity, it’s honestly a melting pot of so many different cultures. It’s really great to see kids from all walks of life. It’s a wonderful place to work and grow in.”

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Corona, Jackson Heights and Jamaica lacking healthy food options: Report

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Corona, Jackson Heights and Jamaica were identified as food swamps in a report from Public Health Solutions, one of the largest public health nonprofits in New York City dedicated to helping families through research.

Public Health Solutions was established by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 1957.

In the summer and the fall of 2014 eight data collectors from the nonprofit examined 3,661 sites across the three neighborhoods and discovered that fast food joints and corner stores outnumbered supermarkets that provided fresh food in those areas.

For every one supermarket, there were six corner stores and five fast-food restaurants, according to the research.

Limited access to fresh food is not only a detriment to the health of an individual, according to the organization, but also to the survival of a community.

“When we think about the avenues for achieving health and wellness, we don’t often take into consideration the health disparities that are built into the geographic areas in which we live,” said Lisa David, president and CEO of Public Health Solutions. “We take for granted that healthy food options—even those as basic as supermarkets—are available and accessible, but this isn’t the reality for many New Yorkers.”

Corona had the most supermarkets (29) out of the three neighborhoods, but also the most fast food places (146) and corner stores (160). Jamaica had the fewest corner stores (114) and fast food places (97) as well as the least supermarkets (11). Jackson Heights fell in the middle in terms of supermarkets (27), corner stores (143) and fast food joints (125).

At the time of the report neither Jamaica nor Jackson Heights had a farmers market, and Corona had one, and all three regions had more liquor stores than fruit and vegetable carts and stores selling produce.

Another threat to the well-being of the communities highlighted during the 2014 research was the number of vacant lots, which the nonprofit associated with leading to higher incidences of crime that could affect the neighborhoods.

Jamaica had 40 vacant lots, Jackson Heights had seven and Corona had eight, according to the data. The empty lots outnumbered the amount of community gardens in two out of the three areas. In the research Jackson Heights did not have a community garden at all.

While the vacant lots were seen as a threat to the prosperity of each neighborhood, the nonprofit suggested each dormant space had the potential to be a boon in terms of providing healthy food options if they were transformed into community gardens.

“Laying the ground work for thriving and healthy communities across New York City requires a multi-pronged approach: first, identifying and bringing awareness to local issues, and second, working with communities to develop impactful solutions,” said Sabrina Baronberg, senior director of food and nutrition programs at Public Health Solutions.

The only businesses to outnumber the fast food restaurants, corner stores, liquor stores and vacant lots were beauty salons.

Jamaica had 173 beauty salons, Corona had 179 and Jackson Heights had 191.

Public Health Solutions suggested reaching out to the business owners of beauty salons to foster community health and having their employees act as wellness advocates by distributing public health materials and resources.

“This report provides a key resource for understanding what additional public health support is needed for residents in Jackson Heights, Corona, and Jamaica, and outlines ways in which we can engage with local businesses to improve health outcomes.”

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

Immigration groups call on city to fund adult learning programs

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Immigrants rallied at the steps of Queens Borough Hall Tuesday to call on the de Blasio administration to continue funding adult learning programs in the city budget, due for passage in June.

Organized by the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy, more than 100 people showed their support for the city to reserve $12 million for the programs and classes they claim are critical to the success of immigrants with varying degrees of education across the city.

“Currently New York has about 2.2 million adults who are lacking English proficiency or a high school diploma, which is about a third of the work force,” Kevin Douglas from United Neighborhood Houses, the leading organization in the coalition, said. “It’s a pretty significant portion of people who don’t have the skills they need to really survive and thrive in our economy.”

Douglas said the city has included $12 million for these programs in the budget for the past two years, but it was not included in the preliminary budget released in February, and this will be the second year in a row the coalition will have to rally for attention to their cause.

“Adult literacy classes are especially important to new immigrants who rely on these services to learn English speaking, reading and writing,” Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) said. “We are an immigrant city, and we must provide the necessary support to ensure our newest New Yorkers are fully equipped to enter the work force.”

Marlyn Suarez, an English as a second language teacher at LaGuardia Community College, gave an example of the position many of her students are in as new immigrants.

“Ken was an amazing student, he had a Ph.D in math and science, he presented at numerous international conferences and was a tenured professor at his previous university,” Suarez said. “In response to my question, ‘What animal best represents you?’ he said, ‘Back at home I feel like a tiger, but in New York I feel like nothing but a bug.’ I’m sure he is not the only student who feels this way and which is why we are here advocating for the mayor to baseline funding for adult literacy.”

Make the Road New York, an organization which advocates for immigrant rights and legislation, is one of the groups involved in the coalition.

“More than ever, New York City needs to fully fund its adult literacy programs to safeguard and expand opportunity for immigrant communities,” Make the Road Co-executive Director Javier Valdes said. “The literacy and basic skills that participants gain through these programs are critical to employment opportunities and economic mobility, school performance, health and community safety. It’s critical that New York City step up for these vital services. Our centers in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island depend on this funding to drive the work we do.”

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Rockaway boardwalk reconstruction project wins national planning achievement award

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Rockaway Boardwalk’s Reconstruction Project has received a national planning achievement award.

Obliterated by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the 5-1/2 mile length of boardwalk was reopened just in time for Memorial Day weekend last year after the $341 million project was finished on time and under budget by $120 million, money that will now be spent on additional resilience projects on the Rockaway peninsula.

The project received the Silver 2018 National Planning Achievement Award for Urban Design from the American Planning Association recognizing the redesign and reconstruction of the iconic tourist attraction into a more resilient structure that now protects the waterfront communities with a multi-layered system of coastal defense that will resist future weather events.

“We are delighted to be honored by the APA for this unique and innovative infrastructure, which brings back an identifiable and important landmark to the Rockaways.” WXY Founding Principal Claire Weisz said. “We feel it is a model of how a multi-disciplinary planning approach and integrated design and engineering strategies are essential to create resilient, vibrant memorable communities.”

The city Parks Department commissioned the design team to reimagine the structure into a more resilient version that could withstand future storms. From the pile foundations to the walking surfaces, the entire boardwalk was rebuilt with reinforced concrete and raised to three feet above the new base flood elevation recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The boardwalk is situated on a newly planted sand dune that stabilizes and replenishes new beach infill and is supplemented by 4 1/2 miles of sand retaining walls and sand fences along the route. Blue concrete planks spell out Rockway on the boardwalk, which air travelers can see aboard inbound flights to JFK International Airport. With a walking surface three to five feet higher than the previous boardwalk, ramps were installed at access points from the street and beach sides and the entire peninsula was redeveloped with parks, playgrounds, skate parks and performance spaces — all with extensive community input in the planning process.

“The community took the opportunity to transform storm damage into another avenue of connecting neighborhoods to the waterfront,” APA 218 Awards Jury Chairman W. Shedrick Coleman said. “The thoughtful approach addressed both sides of the walkway, the waterfront and the street view, ensuring the more resilient walkway was an asset for visitors and residents alike.”

The APA’s national awards program, the profession’s highest honor, will be held in New Orleans April 23.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

Officers seize 71 guns, including assault rifles, from Oakland Gardens home

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

OAKLAND GARDENS – Officers executing a search warrant at an Oakland Gardens home uncovered 71 firearms, including pistols, assault rifles, rifles, handguns and shotguns Sunday, police said.

Resident Ronald Drabman, 60, was charged with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, nine counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and 17 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Officers also found dozens of high capacity magazines and about 50,000 rounds of ammunition at the residence.

“The defendant is accused of using his home as a warehouse for illegal firearms — along with tens of thousands of rounds of live ammunition,” Brown said. “This stockpile of weapons poses a great risk to the residents of Queens. It is extremely disturbing to find such an arsenal of firearms in a residential community. The defendant now faces a lengthy term of incarceration for this obsession with weapons.”

One of the weapons recovered was a homemade firearm known as a zip gun.

Police from the 81st Precinct in Brooklyn were following an investigation, which led them into the 111th to seize the weapons upon obtaining a search warrant from the Queens District Attorney’s office, according to cops.

Drabman has yet to be arraigned, but faces 25 years in prison if convicted, Brown said.

— Mark Hallum

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Source: Times Ledger