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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Long-awaited repairs to College Point’s MacNeil Park Seawall have finally begun.

City Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), Borough President Melinda Katz and the New York City Parks Department announced the start of construction of the $5.2 million project, which will be carried out by AAH Construction Corporation and is slated to be completed by August 2019.

College Point residents have been fighting for repairs to be made to the waterfront path and seawall for years.

According to residents, there are holes in the seawall, which only worsened after Hurricane Sandy. Despite receiving multiple bids to contractors over the years, the Parks Department did not make any serious progress.

Construction on the seawall was initially set to begin in 2015, but nothing was done and the path was fenced off, angering many residents. Then in December 2016, two bidders withdrew their offers when they did not meet a apprenticeship mandate from the mayor’s office, further delaying the search for a contractor.

Last year, environmentalist Kathryn Cervino began a petition page on thepetitionsite.com — which garnered nearly 500 supporters — asking Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski to demand a contract be awarded. In November 2017, Vallone announced that a $4.4 million contract has been awarded to AAH Contractor.

Vallone said the beginning of the construction is a huge victory for College Point.

“These repairs have been needed urgently and I applaud the Parks Department for following through on this community request,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the College Point community so that the dream of a vibrant MacNeil Park with waterfront accessibility is fully realized.”

Katz said MacNeil Park has always been an essential recreational resource for the College Point community, which should soon be able to properly enjoy it.

“The repairs to the MacNeil Park seawall will enable full access to the park’s waterfront to be restored and make the park an even more enjoyable place to visit,” she said. “A vibrant waterfront esplanade will become a reality at MacNeil Park once this vitally important seawall repair project is completed.”

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

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Afrikan Poetry Theatre may be down a building for the moment due to an electrical fire, but do not count out the Jamaica cultural arts center just yet.

Despite having to cancel the last leg of its Black History Month film series, which was scheduled to take place at its headquarters at 176-03 Jamaica Ave. on Feb. 17, the art center is already in the process of finding funding for next year’s movie showcase along with a host of other programs its provides for free or for a low fee.

The arts center’s theatre director, Sekou Branch, and treasurer, Kerry Edge, met with the Department of Cultural Affairs and members of Queens’ City Council at Borough Hall Monday about securing funding for the 42-year-old establishment for next year’s programs.

“They understand that [Afrikan Poetry Theatre] is very important to the community,” said Branch. “The programs that we do, a lot of people don’t do it in this part of Queens. They sometimes have to go to Manhattan, but here we provide a lot of our programs for 100 percent free.”

Some of the programs that the Afrikan Poetry Theatre offers are open mic nights, jazz shows and art exhibits.

“This is a pillar and it would be a shame if this place didn’t exist because of the fire,” said the theatre director. “With the development going on in Jamaica… they are concerned with maintaining the cultural arts in Queens.”

As the center tries to secure funding for next year, it will close out its film classes at the Museum of the Moving Images in Astoria, and one of the acting instructors for Afrikan Poetry is scouting a new place in Jamaica for the center’s acting classes.

The electrical fire that occurred on Feb. 17 destroyed the second floor of the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, which included a computer lab, office space and film equipment.

Branch is searching for a new office space for Afrikan Poetry Theatre to operate as insurance adjusters and brokers itemize the damage done to the arts center before it can be rebuilt.

After speaking with a fire marshal about the Feb. 17 blaze that destroyed the second floor of the cultural center, Branch surmised from the conversation that the contractors who were supposed to fix the electrical wiring after an earlier fire in 2007 could have done a better job.

“Some work that was done wasn’t the greatest, that is what I’m learning,” said Branch, who is hoping to find a better contractor for the restoration efforts.

As Branch looks ahead to the future he wants to continue the center’s Cultural Immigrant Initiatives program that teaches theatre to ESL learners while directing them in their native language and English.

He wants to go forward with a Coalition of Theatre of Color program, a theatre program that addresses biases among the Black diaspora among Americans, Africans, West Indians and more abroad.

He also wants to do a horror film program.

“I think that it will be fun,” Branch said. “We are going to get professionals in the industry to teach more about lighting, set design and how to do horror makeup.”

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

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Students returned to class at Forest Hills High School following a soft lockdown Thursday morning, according to the NYPD.

The school — located at 67-01 110th St. — went into the lockdown after a note was found on a desk about a student having a gun, police said.

Police received a call about the threat at 11 a.m. Thursday morning, forcing the school into the soft lockdown,

At 12:57 p.m., the 112th Precinct tweeted that the situation was under control.

“Soft lockdown at Forest Hills High School. Everything is alright, it’s just precautionary, kids and teachers all ok.”

According to police, no one was injured and the lockdown was over as of 1:30 p.m.

Police said the individual responsible for the note had been apprehended.

“Lockdown at Forest Hills High School has been terminated. Students and faculty are all ok. Individual responsible for today’s hoax is in custody,” the 112th Precinct tweeted at 1:58 p.m.

According to the NYC Department of Education, a soft lockdown implies that there is no identified imminent danger to the sweep teams.

According to the DOE website, the school puts out an announcement on the PA system at the start of soft lockdowns.

“Attention: We are now in soft lockdown. Take proper action,” is repeated twice over the PA system.

Students are trained to move out of sight and maintain silence and teachers are trained to check the hallway outside of their classrooms for students, lock classroom doors, and turn the lights off.

Students and teachers are instructed to move out of sight, maintain silence, and wait for first responders to open door or for the “All Clear” message to be announced with specific instructions. Finally, teachers take attendance and account for missing students by contacting main office.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

A day before they took part in the national walkout to protest congressional inaction on gun violence at schools, students at the Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights held a roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights).

The National Student Walkout occurred Wednesday to honor the 17 victims of the mass shooting that took place exactly one month earlier at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

“Today I stand with these students and teachers and their parents who are no longer going to tolerate inaction by Washington,” Crowley said. “Tragedy after tragedy has left our fellow Americans dead in classrooms, in churches and in their communities and quite frankly, enough is enough. An overwhelming majority of Americans support bipartisan common sense proposals that will protect out children.”

Among those proposals mentioned by Crowley are strengthening background checks, banning bump stocks and closing the gun show loophole.

“Who in their right mind would not want any of the measures I just mentioned?” Crowley said.

Renaissance junior Loren Francione said the federal government should have done more to address gun violence in schools following the Columbine School shooting in 1999, when two students gunned down 12 students and a teacher.

“How many children have to not return from school for it to matter,” she asked. “How many children and teachers need to be murdered across the country for the government to begin to care?”

Loren grew more defiant as she spoke, and dozens of her fellow classmates nodded in agreement when she implored them to participate in something larger than themselves.

“People have tried to hush the youth into submission, but as the next generation of voters in this country, we refuse to back down,” she said. “Our power lies in our unity and our willpower to push for change. It may not come quickly, but the way it will affect our nation is beyond what anyone thinks the youth are capable of.”

Nicoo Cortez-Alvareza, a senior at Renaissance who attended a summer camp run by the American Civil Liberties Union, rejected President Donald Trump’s school safety plan, suggesting instead more funding for social workers to work with troubled students.

“We don’t want more thoughts and prayers,” she said. “ What we need is action and we need it now.”

Nadia Hussain, the maternal justice campaign director with advocacy group MomsRising, railed against the National Rifle Association and its influence over members of Congress. She urged lawmakers to reject the organization’s campaign donations and sign the “No NRA Pledge,” which she held in her hand.

“By accepting NRA money politicians are complicit,” she said. “The real change has to come in Congress and that’s why we’re asking them to sign this pledge promising that they will not accept campaign donations from an organization that has done everything in its power to oppose the gun policy reform that keeps our children safe,”

Crowley signed the document.

“Truth in advertising be told, I don’t think I get that much from the NRA,” Crowley said. “I think I have an F-minus (grade) from them.”

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

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

As Astoria restaurants and stores continue to reel financially due to subway station closures on the N/W line, state Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) introduced legislation to give tax relief to any New York small business that experiences significant loss or dislocation from a state or local infrastructure project.

The MTA’s renovations that completely shut down the 30th and 36th Avenue stations have caused a big drop in foot traffic and far fewer customers at the small shops, restaurants and bars that are the economic backbone of the neighborhood, according to Simotas.

“I cannot sit still while small businesses become sacrifices on the altar of subway maintenance work and renovations,” she said. “My bill will strike a balance so that costs of achieving a common good stemming from infrastructure projects are shared and not borne solely by a struggling small business sector. Astoria’s merchants, small shops and restaurants are absolutely essential to the life of our community, giving the neighborhood its vibrancy and character. These businesses must survive.”

Construction equipment has also made it difficult to access or even see some of the businesses along 31st Street. As part of the MTA’s Enhanced Station Initiatives, the 39th Avenue and Broadway stations are scheduled to shut down this summer once the 30th and 36th Avenue stations open.

“This is not just an issue affecting western Queens because subway station repair plans will have a detrimental consequences for neighborhoods throughout the city,” the lawmaker said.

Florence Koulouris, district manager of Community Board 1, said, “We’ve been monitoring the situation in Astoria since the subway renovations began and sadly some businesses have already been forced to close by losing so many customers. Others are struggling to survive.”

Frank Arabascio, acting director of the 30th Avenue Business Association and owner of Redken Saloon Salon, located at 36-17 30th Ave., said businesses have put up with Con Edison repairs “countless times” but those disruptions last between two and four weeks.

“The eight-month shutdown of the 30th Avenue train station is crippling our businesses, with my losses now at nearly 30 percent,” Arabascio said. “What the MTA has done is to devastate this business corridor with an eight-month disruption and that should be illegal. Tax relief would be a huge help for the businesses that have been hurt to receive some sort of tax relief for such a lengthy and unprecedented project.”

The Simotas legislation would give small businesses an income tax and franchise tax credit covering 100 percent of their lost income due to state or local infrastructure projects, for taxable years commencing with 2018. A small business is defined as one that is independently owned and operated and has 100 or fewer full-time employees.

Small businesses would be eligible for the tax credits when they suffer a financial loss of at least 25 percent of projected revenue as a result of an infrastructure project.

“Giving these businesses tax credits for their losses would show Astorians that our government cares about the livelihood of our small business owners and their families,” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) said. “It would also ensure that our neighborhood can continue to grow while providing world-class opportunities for shopping, food, and entertainment for all residents.”

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

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Three Queens neighborhoods — Flushing, Woodhaven and Kew Garden Hills — dominated the top 10 list of seller friendly markets in the city, according to a new study from Streeteasy.

The real estate website released its trends and data report earlier this month in which it listed the top markets for New York City buyers and sellers in 2018.

To determine the neighborhoods where either home buyers or sellers have more negotiating power, the real estate website created the Buyer/Seller Index, which combines the sale-price-to-list-price ratio, the percent of homes with a price cut, and the number of days homes spent on the market. StreetEasy said relative to other neighborhoods in New York City, buyers’ markets are identified as those with a higher index value, driven by more price cuts, homes staying on the market longer, and lower sale-price-to-list-price ratios compared to other neighborhoods in its analysis.

Sellers’ markets were classified as those with a lower index value, where homes are less likely to see a price cut, sell more quickly, and have sale-price-to-list-price ratios closer to or exceeding 100, indicating that buyers are paying above initial asking prices. StreetEasy based its 2018 analysis on all listings available on its site in 2017.

The report said Flushing residential properties spent an average of 52 days on the market last year and that 11.4 percent of properties saw price cuts while on the market. Woodhaven came in second place, with 6.9 percent of the properties on the market seeing price cuts and properties spending an average of 56 days on the market and there was a 100 percent sale-price-to-list-price ratio, indicating buyers are buying at the initial asking price.

Coming in third in the city was Kew Gardens Hills, where 20 percent of listings saw price cuts while on the market and properties spent an average of 61 days on the market.

Rounding out the top 10 of the sellers’ market in the city was Prospect Heights in fouth place, followed by Flatbush, Glendale in sixth place, South Jamaica in seventh, followed by Cobble Hill, Kensington and Briarwood coming in 10th.

Queens did not make the same impact on the buyer friendly market where the only neighborhood to crack the top 10 was Long Island City.

Streeteasy said neighborhoods offering buyers the most negotiating power tend to be located in Manhattan, or just across the river from it, where properties tend to be expensive. Areas in greater Midtown, where several pricey new condo developments have come on the market over the past year, dominated the buyer friendly list.

Dumbo and Long Island City, which are just one subway stop from Manhattan, were the only two neighborhoods outside of Manhattan to make the list. Streeteasy said one reason is that both tend to have the highest-priced units in their respective boroughs. With a median asking price of $1.1 million in 2017, Long Island City is the least expensive neighborhood among the top markets for buyers.

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

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Community News Group’s Elder Care Expo at Queens College Sunday drew sponsors from a full spectrum of business and organizations to inform families of the best options for the well-being of loved ones entering their golden years.

Seminars from Dime Community Bank, Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Korsinsky and Klein, among others, offered advice on building strategies for managing funds, preventative heart disease screenings and a how-to on avoiding scams targeting the elderly.

“Be concerned if you get a phone call asking for you as if it’s some type of emergency or threatening you might be locked up if you don’t pay a certain fine. Be aware of anybody who asks for cash, wire money or prepaid cards. Always verify the sources,” David Panetta of Dime Community Bank said. “Over half a million people last year reported their grandparents were scammed, and that’s just what was reported… Some people lose their entire life savings.”

Quinton Stephenson, who works in the Medicare retirement department at United Healthcare, was educating seniors on how Medicare works and plans that would fit their individual needs whether it’s a vantage plan or a supplement plan.

“Three-quarters of strokes we can stop by just doing ultra-sounds to people who are high risk such as people with hypertension, diabetes,” Perry Frankel of Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics said in between consultations at the expo. “Forty-five percent of people who have a heart attack don’t know they’ve had a heart attack–called a silent heart attack–and have triple the risk of dying, according to a big study by the American Heart Association.”

Some symptoms of a silent heart attack do not include chest pain. Women in particular are at risk of experiencing sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion, fatigue and anxiety.

“We are conveying to the public what we do and presenting options that are available to them with regard to long-term care planning and estate planning,” Joseph Klein, of Brooklyn-based Korsinsky and Klein, said. “People worry. What if they need a nursing home, what if they need home care? They don’t want to spend all their money, end up with nothing and then apply for Medicaid. They would rather protect their assets now.”

Crys Cooper, program manager at MTM, which offers wheelchair-accessible transportation, said her company provides alternative options to Access-a-Ride and offers wheels to anybody looking to get from point A to B.

“We provide services across a continuum of needs from insurance products, home care, nursing homes, rehab and hospice and palliative care,” Toby Weiss of Metropolitan Jewish Health System, said. “We’re here to help people become more proactive in managing their health care needs throughout their lives and we believe education and awareness helps people become better consumers.”

Marketing representative for Village Care Max, Jean Francois, said their company supplies care for people in their homes by providing resources for them to be safe and comfortable with caregivers familiar to them.

Nurses with Essential RN offer companionship to home-bound senior citizens as well as other services, such as housekeeping, errands, meal preparation and shopping, according to Ismet Pupovic, who heads up marketing.

CNG will hold another Elder Care Expo in Brooklyn on Oct. 28.

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

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An open letter to MTA Chairman Joe Lhota:

We write today to bring to your attention the problems posed by a proposed revision to the “Freedom Ticket” plan that would significantly limit the plan’s effectiveness by preventing commuters from using Freedom Tickets to travel to and from Penn Station.

As you know, we have been avid supporters of the “Freedom Ticket” plan put forward by the New York City Transit Riders Council in 2015. The plan, if enacted as originally proposed, would ease the commutes of thousands of southeast Queens residents by allowing them to buy discounted tickets for the Long Island Rail Road, the rail line that offers southeast Queens the fastest transit option for getting to and from Midtown Manhattan but is currently cost prohibitive for many.

Specifically, the original proposal would have allowed passengers entering or exiting the LIRR at six southeast Queens stations (Rosedale, Laurelton, Locust Manor, St. Albans, Hollis and Queens Village) to take a one-way trip to or from Penn Station in Manhattan or Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn using a “Freedom Ticket” sold for a discounted price of $6.50. The Freedom Ticket would also include a free transfer to New York City Transit subways and buses. The present plan by the MTA, however, only allows the Freedom Ticket fare to Atlantic Terminal and excludes Penn Station.

The Freedom Ticket has great potential to reduce the cost and time burdens faced by southeast Queens transit users who commute to Manhattan. Right now these residents must either pay a high price (currently $10.25 for a one-way peak fare) for a quick trip on the LIRR, or a lower fare for a much longer trip via New York City Transit.

The NYCTRC’s proposal would give southeast Queens residents a LIRR fare to and from Manhattan that is 37 percent cheaper than the one-way peak fare. It would also give transit users who do not currently use the LIRR a more affordable way to travel and would cut their commuting times almost in half, according to a 2015 NYCTRC report.

These cost and time benefits would be a boon to southeast Queens residents and do much to make southeast Queens more accessible to the rest of the city and make the area an even more attractive place to live, work and visit. The NYCTRC proposal has thus received our most heartfelt endorsement.

The inferior Freedom Ticket pilot program now under consideration, however, would force users seeking to get to and from Midtown Manhattan to transfer at Atlantic Terminal, a transfer that would substantially increase their commuting times compared to what they would be if they could travel directly between Penn Station and southeast Queens on the LIRR. This pilot would also not accurately be able to determine the amount of relief to the subway lines that the original Freedom Ticket would provide. We see very little change possible with this pilot.

For example, a weekday LIRR train departing Rosedale Station at 7:44 a.m. gets to Penn Station in only 34 minutes, which is about the time it takes for an LIRR train to get from Rosedale Station to Atlantic Terminal. But LIRR riders who transfer at Atlantic Terminal face a subway ride of at least a half-hour to reach Penn Station. That means a commute from Rosedale to Penn Station that takes only 34 minutes on the LIRR takes more than an hour for a commuter who transfers from the LIRR to the subway at Atlantic Terminal.

Given this significant limitation, without the option of Penn Station, I expect few southeast Queens residents would use Freedom Tickets if the pilot program is implemented in its current state. The pilot is therefore being set up for failure, an outcome that is unacceptable given the huge amount of promise that the original Freedom Ticket plan held. Therefore, the proposed six-month pilot to Atlantic Terminal is unacceptable, as it will not properly serve SEQ residents, allow for sufficient outreach in the community, nor gauge their use of a long term program.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Melinda Katz, President, Borough of Queens

Gregory Meeks, Member of Congress, 5th Congressional District

Leroy Comrie, New York State Senator, 14th Senatorial District

Alicia Hyndman, Member of Assembly, 29th Assembly District

Adrienne Adams, Member of the New York City Council, 28th Council District

Clyde Vanel, Member of Assembly, 33rd Assembly District

I. Daneek Miller, Member of the New York City Council, 27th Council District

James Sanders, New York State Senator, 10th Senatorial District

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

Theatre by the Bay is celebrating its 15th anniversary in style with its production, “Beau Jest.”

The show is a romantic comedy that revolves around Sarah Goldman (Nili Resnick), a kindergarten teacher who is a “nice Jewish girl” and whose parents want her to marry to a “nice Jewish boy.”

They are about to meet her boyfriend, a WASP executive named Chris Kringle (Kyle T. Cheng). Sarah tells her parents that she is dating a Jewish doctor, and they insist on meeting him. She plans a dinner party and employs an escort service to send her a Jewish date to portray Dr. David Steinberg.

Instead, they send Bob Schroeder (Stephen Kalogeres), an aspiring actor who agrees to the ruse. Bob’s performance at the dinner party is extremely convincing, and Sarah’s parents are enamored. Sarah has a decision to make: stay with Chris, or try to get closer to Bob.

Director Patrice Valenti, making her Theatre by the Bay debut, doesn’t disappoint. Though Theatre by the Bay has a reputation for musicals, a well-chosen cast highlights this funny and entertaining play, written by James Sherman.

It’s clear that both Resnick and Kalogeres have prior acting experience, both remaining in character at all times. Kalogeres was surprisingly exceptional, considering that he hasn’t acted in four years.

Chris, wanting to please Sarah, is in on the deception. Although Cheng seems a bit rigid in his role, he perks up when his character goes face to face with Bob.

One of the main scenes revolves around a dinner-time Passover seder. Having experience with the holiday, I was able to both understand the rituals as well as the humor involved in the scene. For instance, the father wanted to get through the Haggadah as quickly as possible so he could eat and enjoy the mandatory four cups of wine. Sherman’s script called for the prayers being cited in Hebrew. However, there was a one-line introduction for each prayer to help out those who have never attended a seder.

“Beau Jest” is certainly worth attending and there’s still time to catch a show. There is a performance scheduled for Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

The show is being held at Bay Terrace Garden Jewish Center, located at 13-00 209th St. in Bayside.

Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and children (ages 12 and under).

For more information or to purchase your seats, call (718) 428-6363, or visit www.theatrebythebayny.com.

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