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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Nearly 10,000 family members filled the stands at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to send off about 1,600 LaGuardia Community College graduates during Tuesday’s commencement.

The graduates of the Long Island City-based school left the 46th annual ceremony with about 60 different associates degrees and 93 percent had no student debt, according to LaGuardia.

The diverse graduating class spoke 96 native languages and about 71 percent came from families that make under $30,000 per year.

Journalist and Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King spoke about the need to continue the fight for equality and how New York City, despite being a progressive and diverse hold-out, is the unsuspecting front line for bigotry in the United States.

King touched on points that hate crimes have risen in the city while a recent report claimed multiple open bigots and white supremacists are running for public office across the country. The emboldened efforts of bigots have been inspired by President Donald Trump, according to King, who is from Queens.

“It’s hard to understand a moment of history when you’re in it. History is something is best seen and perceived and understood in retrospect, with hindsight,” King said. “Many very horrible moments and errors were not fully understood and appreciated until the horror was full underway… We need to come to grips with the reality that we live in the city that actually created Donald Trump. He was born and raised in Queens… He became the man that he is today in Manhattan… He rose to power in this city.”

King mentioned a chief supporter of Trump in former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and that a number of allegedly racially charged police killings have taken place in the city.

The 2018 class speaker, Karina Ramos-Caraballo, 25, graduated with a 3.95 GPA in Secondary Education alongside her husband in the same class and with their daughter in the stands.

“LaGuardia Community College helps people see their potential by providing a welcoming, diverse atmosphere,” Ramos-Caraballos said. “I am grateful to LaGuardia for opening the door of opportunity and for placing our education in the hands of extraordinary professors… I know that my family is on a better track. My husband, Marcos Ramos, also graduated today. We’re setting a great example for our daughter about the value of education.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered remarks as an alumnus of LaGuardia, speaking of his early career as an assemblyman at the age of 22, when he was serving in office while finishing his degree.

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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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Queens County HVAC business owner has been charged with attempted assault and endangering public health after allegedly placing mercury in the air-conditioning units of a Jamaica Estates home, causing the family to become sick, the Queens district attorney said.

The family had repeatedly complained to the owner of the company that had worked on their air-conditioning system that the second-floor unit had problems.

The family of three – the parents and their son – tested positive for mercury levels above acceptable norms. All three victims complained of various symptoms associated with mercury poisoning, including joint pain, headaches and lethargy, according to DA Richard Brown.

“The defendant allegedly had a final fix for the complainers and is alleged to have placed poisonous mercury in the new AC,” Brown said. “Exposure to the element could prove fatal over time and did make the residents sick. Fortunately, a family member spotted the chemical commonly referred to as quicksilver and alerted police.”

The defendant, Yuriy Kruk, 48, of Alderton Street in Rego Park was arraigned May 30. He appeared before acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron on a six-count indictment charging him with attempted assault as well as endangering public health, safety or the environment, according to Brown.

Kron set bail at $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash and ordered the defendant to return to court July 30. If convicted, Kruk faces up to five to 15 years in prison.

The victim, Roman Pinkhasov, hired A+ HAVAC and Kitchen Corporation — owned and operated by Kruk– to do heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work in his home. Pinkhasov persistently complained that the AC unit on the second floor was not working properly. In the summer of 2015, Kruk told the homeowner that the system could not be repaired and would need to be replaced and installed a new unit in July 2015, Brown said.

After the installation, Pinkhasov’s wife, Olga Yurgaueva, found drops of a silver substance on the floor. In August 2015, Pinkhasov also discovered several more drops of the silver material in the vents where the defendant had been working in the house. The family called 911. Members of the city Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit responded and recovered additional mercury from the first floor vent and other parts of the AC units on both floors, Brown said.

“Every New Yorker should feel secure about the people they hire to work in their homes,” said state Department of Environmental Conservation Commission Basil Seggos. who joined Brown in publicizing the case.

“In this case, the victims were merely asking for a repair of their heating and air0conditioning units, but instead found themselves fighting for their lives. If not for the persistence of these victims and the investigative work of our DEC investigators and the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the mystery surrounding these victims’ ailments and the criminal conduct outlined in this indictment may never have come to light.”

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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By Larry Penner

TimesLedger Newspapers

While Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo continue to fight over who is responsible for the management and funding of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Washington continues to be a reliable financial partner.

Finding $38 billion over 10 years to fund NYC Transit head Andy Byford’s proposed recovery plan will be a four-way dance between riders who pay at the fare box along with funding from City Hall, Albany and Washington.

Federal support for transportation has remained consistent and growing over past decades. When a crisis occurred, be it Sept. 11, 2001 or Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Washington was there for us. Additional billions in assistance above and beyond yearly formula allocations from the Federal Transit Administration was provided. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided billions more.

Most federal transportation grants require a 20 percent hard-cash local share. In most cases, the Federal Transit Administration accepted toll credits instead of hard cash for the local share. This saved the MTA over $1 billion in the previous 2010-2014 five-year capital program. The same will be true with the 2015-2019 five-year capital program. Washington provided over $1.3 billion in 2017 Federal Transit Administration formula funding for the MTA, which helps pays for its capital program. There is $1.4 billion more in federal funding available in 2018.

The MTA can’t afford to wait for both City Hall and Albany to step up and help provide billions in additional funding. Neither can transit riders and taxpayers who are looking for accountability, efficient and timely completion for both capital projects and routine maintenance to assure more reliable and safe on-time service.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Parents who take their children to Bowne Park Field House for entertainment at a beloved toddler program known as Mr. Eric, led by Eric Friedman, will resume in September after the city Department. of Parks and Recreation nearly terminated the program.

Mr. Eric’s Toddler Time was originally set to return to Bowne Park after renovations were complete on the playground and field house until Parks informed state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and City Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) that northeast Queens parents would have to travel to Kissena Park for the program.

“Bowne Park is a gem in North Flushing and the programming offered at the field house has been a treasured community resource for kids and parents alike. The passion and support expressed by the parents could not go unheard and I’m thankful that the Parks Department will be reinstating this vital program,” said Vallone. “Mr. Eric is here to stay and the children and families of North Flushing will be able to enjoy the program for years to come.”

Vallone said his office will be allocating funds for a programs called “Kids in Motion” in which a Parks employee will oversee seven hours of organized sports, games, fitness demos, board games and water games.

“The updates to Bowne Playground have made it one of the coolest places to play – and now this summer, thanks to Council member Vallone, it will be staffed with a Parkie, who is dedicated to keeping all of the local kids active and having fun!”Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said.

This new program, confirmed by Parks, will run from the time the new staffer starts July 5 to Sept. 1, Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“I want to thank DPR for listening to the concerns of the community and doing the right thing by returning Mr. Eric’s Toddler Time to Bowne Park in the fall,” Avella said. “It goes to show you the power of the people having a say about what goes on in their community. The Families for Bowne Park Association did a wonderful job organizing and it goes to show you that the one thing the city cannot fight is mothers and their kids.”

Avella said his office issued “many letters over many months” to speak with Lewandowski, who told him the program would be returning after all.

“We’re not politicians, we’re moms, and we come to this park and want the best for our kids,” said Tamar Chicavich, Families for Bowne Park Association.

A Parks Department spokeswoman said the program was initially moved on account of the availability of indoor space, which was under renovation at Bowne Park.

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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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

Dark clouds and rain couldn’t dampen the high-spirited celebration of Queens College graduates who earned their degrees at the 94th commencement ceremony held at the campus Quadrangle in Flushing last week.

More than 10,000 attendees — including graduates, faculty, staff, family members, and alumni — gathered at the May 31 ceremony as the president of Queens College, Felix Matos Rodríguez, congratulated the class of 2018 on their achievements. Cristina Jimenez Moreta, a 2007 alumni receiving an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, delivered an inspiring address to the graduating class.

Jimenez Moreta, graduated from Queens College cum laude in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business. She is a 2017 MacArthur “Genius Award” recipient and was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018. She is also the co-founder of United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the country with over 400,000 members in 26 states.

“Despite the odds and challenges you have made it to your graduation day,” said Jimenez Moreta. “The journeys that we, our parents, and ancestors took to get us here at Queens College needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. Regardless of the races and hateful agenda some politicians are pushing, we ought to be proud of who we are and where we come from.”

Jimenez Moreta’s message to the class of 2018 was one of encouragement for everyone in the fight against adversity to share their stories, never be afraid to step forward and let their voices be heard, and taking on the challenges of tomorrow to help build a better future and country together.

Born in Quito, Ecuador, Jimenez Moreta immigrated to the United States in 1998 at the age of 13 with her parents, who risked everything to pursue the promise of a better life in Queens. As undocumented immigrants and people of color, her parents struggled through multiple jobs, experienced wage theft, and exploitation at the workplace, while living in fear of deportation.

It was not until Jimenez Moreta became a student at Queens College that she found the courage to publicly share her undocumented status.

“Sharing our stories and feeling proud of where we come from is a political act of bravery,” said Jimenez Moreta. “We are in a moment where as a country we’re hearing from leaders and some people that immigrants of color and people of different faiths are a threat to our country, or who are trying to claim that as women or immigrants or members of the LGBTQ community, Jewish or Muslim, you do not have equal rights.”

There were more than 2,600 degree candidates at the commencement and more than 4,300 undergraduate and graduate degrees were be awarded this year to candidates from the summer and fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018. Of those more than 3,200 were bachelor’s degrees, the highest number awarded in five years.

Rodriguez , who has been the Queens College president for four years, said the class of 2018 represents the 80th graduating class, and will “always have a special place in his heart.”

“We celebrate your hard work, your accomplishments, your countless sacrifices, that they have all finally paid off,” Rodríguez said. “Whether it took you two years, four years, six years, or a little longer, earning a degree from Queens College is a splendid achievement. You should be proud of yourselves as we’re all proud of what you have accomplished.”

Special guests included U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest), and alumni from the classes of 1943, 1948, 1958, 1968.

Josephine Cooke, the valedictorian of the class of 2018, and a Marshall Scholar, who is a neuroscience and psychology double major, graduated summa cum laude. Cooke will continue her post-graduate studies at Imperial College London, where she plans to pursue a Ph.D focusing on how dance therapy can be used to rehabilitate neurological disorders.

“The advisers and mentors I have had while at Queens College have been invaluable in helping me get to this point, and I’ve gladly come to accept New York and Queens College as a second home,” Cooke said.

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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By Tammy Scileppi

TimesLedger Newspapers

Jackson Heights has its own vibe. You can sense it just walking down the street.

So, if you’re getting bored with your recent Spotify playlist selections and need a major change of pace, head on over to Spaceworks in Long Island City — located at 33-02 Skillman Ave. — Saturday evening, for a live music concert experience like no other.

Described as a house concert on steroids — where four acts play five sets in two hours — Microsessions NYC is back for a fourth round — and with complimentary beer. It’s a great place to take your date or meet new friends.

Sprung from the tempo of New York City’s streets, this mind-blowing Indo-Latin funk jam music will get your hips shaking and heart racing. When you groove to Salsa Masala’s passionate mix of Indian spiced Latin and African-American beats — fusing Bhangra with Bachata, Cumbia with Dandiya, Salsa with ragas — you’ll feel that vibe deep down in your soul. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m.

You’ll be in one of four audience groups that rotate through four rooms, listening to 15-minute sets by each of the four acts along the way. The event winds down with a longer set — 20 to 30 minutes — where you can listen to anyone you’d like.

Microsessions has once again teamed up with the Queens Council on the Arts, which will be represented by Artist Commissioning Program Awardee, as well as guitarist/sitar/oud player Neil Padukone and his project “Salsa Masala: a Jackson Heights Block Party.”

The local musician will be presenting a preview of his Jackson Heights opus, which he has written for QCA’s Artist Commissioning Program, at the upcoming music event.

Also on the bill: Queens rock band Spells and Curses, who represent the Spaceworks Queens community, as well as amazing Gotham-based singer/songwriters Elle Pierre and Kamryn.

“I’m very excited to play at Microsessions and present ‘Salsa Masala’ — music I describe as Indo-Latin Jazz-Funk with some hip-hop thrown in,” Padukone said. “The project is inspired by my neighborhood in Queens. Walk down Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, and you hear Bhangra and Bollywood on one side, Cumbia and Bachata on the other. What would happen, I wondered, if we all brought our instruments out and had one big block party? This project is the music that would provide the soundtrack.”

The six-piece ensemble features guitar, sitar, oud, congas, tablas, clave, shekere, dhol, drum set, baritone saxophone, trumpet, bass, cowbell, guiro, and … well, you’ll have to see for yourself to find out what else.

QCA’s inaugural Artist Commissioning Program, which selected Padukone’s opus, provides support to projects that fill gaps in the American canon – untold stories that emerge from underrepresented communities in Queens.

“And what’s more American, and more New York,” asked the guitarist, “than the interaction of different cultures?

“Jazz emerged from blues, ragtime, and classical in New Orleans; rock and roll came out of electric blues and country music; salsa from mambo, jazz, and bomba in East Harlem; hip hop from funk, disco, and Caribbean music in the Bronx and Queens… and now the interaction of Indian and Latin music is coming out of Jackson Heights!”

The Artist Commissioning Program brought together a panel of 14 arts presenters from throughout the borough, who reviewed about 100 submissions and selected the award recipients, according to Padukone.

“They (ACP) and QCA have been mentors to us artists throughout the process, helping us think through the execution of the project, making introductions, and putting in their thought, time, and effort,” he said.

In fact, an actual block party will be held Sept. 15 on 82nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue, as the final premier of Salsa Masala.

QCA’s ACP manager Kelly Olshan weighed in about the special musical project. ACP provides Queens choreographers, playwrights, and composers $10,000 towards the creation and production of a new, original work.

“Neil is one of four artists chosen by a panel of Queens-based community members, or art producers, who are committed to supporting the artists’ projects,” Olshan said. “A very competitive application pool, the art producers and I reviewed 97 artist applications for this opportunity. Neil’s work stood out to us for its ability to integrate a variety of cultural influences native to Jackson Heights. Dynamic and visceral, the resulting fusion builds bridges across places, spaces, and cultures. While it can be very difficult to facilitate cross-cultural connections, Neil’s work aptly tackles this an artistic and cultural challenge.”

Describing the three-way partnership between QCA, Microsessons and Spaceworks — a rehearsal, studio and community creative space — Olshan said it works like this: “QCA helps provide access to the artists creating dynamic work in this borough; Microsessions creates a dynamic way of showcasing this music; and Spaceworks provides an amazing space which engages the public in this unique event.

“If our relationship was a book, QCA helps provide the writing, Microsessions is the distinctive formatting and graphic design, and Spaceworks is the local book store.”

Microsessions, a revolutionary live music format founded and produced by Schomer, first launched in February 2016, in Austin, Texas. It debuted in New York City in July 2017 at Spaceworks. That first showcase jumpstarted a quarterly residency there.

Schomer said he was thrilled to partner with QCA and “the incredible Queens-based musicians” in their 2018 Artist Commissioning Program.

“It will be a magical night,” he said.

Tickets are available for $20 and can be purchased at microsessions.ticketbud.com/nyc-6-9.

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Some of our most-often overlooked first responders are getting their due after Mayor Bill de Blasio Monday declared June 3-10 appreciation week with child protective specialists being honored for the first time citywide.

There are 1,700 child protective specialists who work at 17 field offices across New York City, as well as 500 supervisors and managers who oversee these teams of first responders. They investigate nearly 60,000 cases of child abuse, neglect or work to help struggling families with children, according to the Administration for Children’s Services.

In Queens there are three offices in Jamaica consisting of 67 supervisors and 16 assistant supervisors who manage 308 child protective specialists in the borough, according to Chanel Caraway, a city ACS spokeswoman.

Some specialists focus on helping families in need of support services or work to protect children in sex abuse cases, while other units of responders are based in hospitals, or respond to cases of neglect or abuse on weekends or overnight, Caraway said.

One of the specialists being recognized this week is Edgar Kab from Forest Hills, who works at 92-31 Union Hall St. in Jamaica. He has worked as a child protective specialist at the Administration for Children’s Services for seven years.

“Children are our most vulnerable population,” said Kab. “If there is abuse going on in the home, they often can’t verbalize it and child welfare is relatively new in this country.”

The Administration for Children’s Services, the government-sponsored body tasked with protecting city children and families in need with kids, was established in 1962. It investigates and reports suspected cases of neglect or abuse of children, and if kids are being mistreated, the agency intends to put them in better homes.

“It wasn’t too long ago that there were orphans in the streets,” said Kab. “There used to be no oversight that the needs of our most vulnerable children were being met.”

Kab works with the hospital unit for ACS.

“There is this wonderful training I did on forensic interviewing and analysis with the NYPD,” said Kab. “For instance, in hospital cases, there are burns that are commonly associated with abuse and there are burns that are accidental, so we learn to identify if a burn is consistent with what a parent is saying and how a child became injured.”

Caraway and Kab want to use this Child Protective Specialist Appreciation Week to raise awareness about ACS’s other role, which is to help families on the brink.

“If you need support or resources, we are here,” said Kab. “We provide childcare vouchers, we purchase cribs, baby supplies, and we will advocate for you.”

In 2016, city Comptroller Scott Stringer accused the agency of not doing enough check-ins at troubled homes or follow-ups in cases of domestic violence situations.

Last year, the agency took steps to address those issues by hiring 600 more child protective specialists. They will employ an additional 400 in the coming months, according to ACS.

There will be a newly created quality assurance team that will provide real-time feedback on safety assessments, the decision-making of CPS staff and the service that they provided.

The agency has hired 28 percent more investigative consultants who are former law enforcement officers handling the most serious child abuse cases, and case aides will carry out more administrative tasks or help to supervise visits in order to help specialists.

ACS will also provide more counseling, substance abuse treatment, parental coaching, and other preventive services to over 20,000 families.

“CPS workers are first responders for children experiencing abuse and neglect, and the compassion, patience, and understanding they bring to these challenging situations help to put young people on a path to a better and brighter future, ” said de Blasio.

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

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police have identified Denzel Floyd as a suspect in the fatal shooting of Jonathan Polanco and the wounding of two others on Memorial Day in Ozone Park last week within the 106th Precinct, the Queens DA said.

Floyd was charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence on May 29, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown’s office.

The four men were hanging out at Floyd’s home at 104-30 104 St. May 28 and at around 11 a.m. Floyd allegedly fired a pink .38 caliber Taurus semi-automatic pistol that struck the three other men, the DA’s office said.

The defendant allegedly fled the scene, jumped into a 2010 black Mazda on 111th Street and 107th Avenue and was believed to be speeding when he crashed into another vehicle and exited the car to dump the loaded gun at 104-75 110th St., police said.

Polanco, 27, a resident of 102nd Street in Ozone Park, was struck in the neck and sent to Jamaica Hospital, where he died from his injury, according to the NYPD. A second victim was hit in the torso and a third in his hand.

The two surviving victims, both 28, were sent to Jamaica Hospital and Long Island Jewish Hospital Medical Center, where they were in stable condition, according to police.

The disposed-of-gun was later recovered by police, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Queens DA.

“This was yet another senseless act of gun violence,” said Brown. “A man is dead and two others injured. This kind of frivolous gunplay will not be tolerated in Queens County.”

Floyd could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

“My office will continue to work tirelessly to combat the proliferation of illegal guns in our community and will vigorously prosecute those who disobey our laws,” said Brown.

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

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By Phil Konigsberg

TimesLedger Newspapers

It’s June once again, and a proposed New York State Tobacco 21-minimum legal sales age law is once again in jeopardy of running out of time. With bipartisan support in the Senate and Assembly, both full chambers in Albany should be given an opportunity to pass this common sense, bipartisan-supported law.

I’m calling on my local and surrounding area legislators, both in the state Senate and Assembly, to push for a T21 bill to be put on the table. In addition, I’m asking for them to reach out to their colleagues for support to see that their respective bills (S.3978; A.273) advance to a full vote in both chambers. Last year time ran out on the bill stuck in committee. The time for delays and excuses should be over. A full 95 percent of smokers begin their path to tobacco addiction before age 21. Just do the math.

The Senate Finance Committee passed S. 3978 on May 31, 2018. But once again A.273 has not been brought up for the crucial vote by the Assembly Rules Committee.

This should not be a political issue. Just take a look at last month’s Nassau County Legislature’s unanimous passage of its T21 bill.

Come on, already!

Phil Konigsberg

Bay Terrace

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By Julia Moro

TimesLedger Newspapers

With warm weather approaching, it is the perfect time to visit local parks. Further adding to the fun is the city Parks Department’s public art program, Art in the Parks, which announced new outdoor exhibitions at Forest Park, Lewis H. Latimer House and MacDonald Park.

Amanda Long and Tommy Hartung’s work, “Rainbow Mural,” is on display at the Greenhouse Playground off the Woodhaven Boulevard entrance to Forest Park. This piece runs along about 800 feet of retaining wall located across the playground and skate park near the historic carousel.

“The public interacting with my work has always been a central focus. Often the work is less about my intent and more about the public feeling,” Long said.

It was important to the two artists to make a collaborative piece with the community to show that art can be a social gathering. The making of this mural was, in part, the artists’ work; but it was also painted by local volunteers and children who enjoy the park.

The work the two artists and the community have done shows a painted, pixelated rainbow pattern. A portion of the mural is in colorful chalkboard paint so children in the park can continue to add to it.

“El Dorado – The New Forty-Niners” can be seen at the Lewis H. Latimer House on 34-41 137th St. in Flushing. Cecile Chong, the artist behind this work, drew her inspiration from El Dorado among other things. Chong recalls learning of the historic occurrence, when Spanish explorers came to Latin America, at school in Ecuador where she was raised. Chong combined her fascination with El Dorado with her respect for immigrants in the country and made 100 individual sculptures.

“With the current political climate, I really wanted to honor immigrants,” said Chong.

She was moved when she read that 49 percent of U.S households speak a language other than English. “I put that information together with El Dorado, and thought well what if El Dorado was discovered in New York City in the form of a modern contemporary archaeological site depicting 100 sculptures, and 49 of them are painted gold depicting the 49 percent of second language speakers.”

The 100 sculptures, 49 of which are gold, are modeled after tightly swaddled babies, or “guaguas,” that Chong saw while living in Ecuador.

Yvonne Shortt and Mayuko Fujino contributed the sculpture “Functional Bodies” to MacDonald Park at 87-20 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills. Shortt, a social sculpture artist, said “the Functional Bodies piece was inspired by the concept that all beings have some aspect of them that allows them to help out in their community.”

Steven Melnik, the founder of Friends of MacDonald Park, has a hard time trying to find volunteers to help maintain the local park. Shortt’s and Fujino’s work tries to show how individuals can give back.

The sculpture depicts a dog and a girl. The girl’s arms are made so water can come out of them, showing “how we as humans have arms that can be used for gathering different tools to water the spaces in our community,” as Shortt put it.

Jennifer Lantzas, deputy director of public art at New York City Parks, said that “all [the artists] are heavily rooted in community.”

Lantzas mentioned that it’s not just park beautification that her department is trying to achieve. A sense of community and togetherness have a profound meaning and intention behind all of these works.

“Of course, it’s parks beautification, but on a deeper level, we’re hoping that it is making people think about the usage of their public space differently. We’re hoping that it is intellectually and socially stimulating and creating conversations, even between strangers,” said Lantzas.

Reach reporter Julia Moro by e-mail at jmoro@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4574.

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