Its Queens, Winter 2007

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Volume 1.1

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THE WRIGHT

STUFF

DAVID TALKS BASEBALL AND PLAYING IN QUEENS

The It’s List Top 20 People Shaping Queens in the 21st Century

THE BOROUGHS HOTTEST

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

PLUS

QUEENS’ TOP 5 DEVELOPERS

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IT’S QUEENS TAKES A BITE OUT OF ASTORIA LIVING IN... A GUIDE TO MASPETH WHAT’S UP WITH YOUR LOCAL CIVIC

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Publisher Walter H. Sanchez Executive Editor Shane Miller Associate Editors Phil Guie Jeffrey Harmatz Accounts Executive Michele Karpowicz

Production / Design Director Justin Zimmer Contributors Nick D’Arienzo, Orianne Cosentino, Kristina Kalpaxis, Nancy Cataldi, Timothy Fleming, Sherry Mazzocchi, Jesse Almonte

Volume 1 Number 1 – Winter 2008 It’s Queens is published quarterly – one for each season of the year. Periodicals Pending, Flushing NY. Postmaster, send all address changes to It’s Queens – PO BOX 780376 – Maspeth, NY 11378. It’s Queens is a consumer magazine covering the people who move and shake Queens. From real estate trends to transportation, politics, and entertainment in Queens, It’s Queens will bring our readers the ins and outs of the borough. It’s Queens is wholly owned and published by the Queens Ledger/Greenpoint Star Weekly Newspaper Group. We know enough about the borough, covering it week in and week out since 1873. Bulk mail Flushing, NY Permit #652. Copyright ©2008 It’s Queens. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any news or feature solicitation for publication in It’s Queens should be done so without expectation of use and without expectation of return to solicitor. Send correspondence to editor@ itsqueens.com . Subscriptions are $7.95 per year. Inquiries for subscriptions - Mail to PO BOX 780376, Maspeth, NY 11378. (718) 639-7000.

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Features 8 Top 20 Movers & Shakers We count down the 20 people who make Queens.

14 Interview: David Wright The Mets 3rd baseman sat down with It’s Queens to discuss life, baseball, and the team’s historic season-ending collapse.

36 Queens of Pain Enter the world of women’s roller derby with the bruisers from Queens.

Departments 19 • Living In.... Get to Know Maspeth

33 • Industry Atlas Park Transforms Shopping

40 • Tasting Queens Sample the Best of Astoria

46 • Shopping From Cheap to Chic, The Borough’s Best

53 • Property Development Around the Borough

56 • Technology Internet: Good or Evil?

58 • Community Tour Maple Grove Cemetery Behind PS 128’s Success

PUBLISHERS NOTE•WALTER SANCHEZ It’s Queens - The magazine that’s all about fun, adventure, and keeping you informed.

It’s Queens - The magazine is all about fun, adventure and keeping you informed.

Our mission as a quarterly newsmagazine is to keep Queensites abreast of all that is going on in this great borough. Sure you can read the weekly newspapers in Queens. There are about two-dozen of them - some cover all of Queens, some cover parts of Queens, and some cover very little, but they all have a lot to say. We publish six of those weeklies in Queens, and two in Brooklyn for that matter, but that’s beside the point. It’s Queens is a different animal entirely. We’ll come out four times a year and promise to bring you things you will see nowhere else. Check out what’s in this issue: 20 people you need to know – the top 20 movers, shakers, and even some troublemakers, the latter which just might include the Queens of Pain, who are bringing pleasure to the borough’s roller derby fans. Everybody knows that Queens is the place when it comes to great food. Take a trip through Astoria with a chef, who will guide you on a culinary tour and even offer you a few tips on how to make some of the treats you find in your own kitchen. Everybody hates shopping for gifts. Let It’s Queens show you a few unique places where you can find something for everybody who has it all. In each issue we will feature a new neighborhood in our “Living In…” section that will give you tips and info to have you living like a local. In this issue, find out what it is about Maspeth that has been attracting people for decades and keeping them there. It’s Queens is going to be about the people of Queens – I promise. Whatever you do, have fun with our magazine. I hope you enjoy it. The staff who puts it together is having a great time and awaiting your reaction. Let us know at www.itsqueens.com, where you can leave a comment, advertise or subscribe ($7.95 per year, $12 for two). If you want your favorite newsstand to carry our magazine, drop us a note. Tell our advertisers you saw their ad in It’s Queens. And if you think we missed something great about the borough, let us know. Happy reading, Walter H. Sanchez

PHOTO CONTEST

We want to get our readers involved, too. Starting with our next issue, we are going to have a photo contest. Send us your photos of Queens and we’ll pick the six best. First prize gets $100, second prize receives $50, and four honorable mentions will each receive $25! Visit www.itsqueens.com for more information.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

QUEENS BUZZ•HOT & COLD

Trader Joe’s: Don’t get us wrong, we still think it’s great, but the store opened weeks ago. Can somebody get Queens a Safeway already?

A quick rundown of what Queens residents are talking about, and what they no longer care about.

HOT

Vigilante justice: Can’t turn on the TV nowadays without hearing how a brave grocery store worker fought off some gun-wielding robber. If we can get these guys together, maybe we can solve that dog theft problem.

Dog runs: Hey, remember when everyone in Queens was talking about whether to allow dogs off-leash in city parks? Then there was that lawsuit, the Parks Department made its off-leash policy official, and the issue sort of vanished, doggone it.

Dog thefts: Rumors of thugs targeting Pugs, Malteses, and other small breeds abound. The prime suspects: cats.

Railroad crossings: A hot-button topic that inexplicably cools off for months at a time.

COLD winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

Environmentalism: Seems everywhere you look, somebody is either planting a tree, fighting to preserve green space, or starting up a committee to raise environmental consciousness. It’s enough to make us stop tossing our pizza boxes out with the regular garbage.

The Top 20

Movers & Shakers

20. Marcia Keizs

Post: President, York College Duties: Running the 6000-student college in the heart of Jamaica, Queens. Accomplishments: A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Keizs – that’s Dr. Keizs to you – has over 30 years of experience in the CUNY system, both as an administrator and professor. She is also the founding editor of the New York Carib News. Influence: York College may not be the biggest school in the CUNY system, but it is rapidly becoming one of the most influential and successful, due in no small part to the leadership of Dr. Keizs, whose role as president isn’t only affecting York College, but is helping to shape the transformation of Downtown Jamaica.

18. Leroy Comrie

What makes a mover and/or shaker? For It’s Queens, it’s that person that you know is going to be in the mix anytime something big is happening in the borough. They think big, they live big. The 20 people on the following pages are the names and faces that make Queens such a vibrant place to live and work.

19. Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer

Post: Executive Director, Queens Council on the Arts Duties: Running one of Queens’ premiere arts organizations. Accomplishments: Opening up the rapidly expanding Queens art world, not only focusing on the big boys in Long Island City, but the borough’s rich folk and ethnic art tradition as well. Influence: The art community in Queens might get overshadowed by similar scenes in Brooklyn and Manhattan from time to time, but Krakauer is ensuring that the borough gets its due by fostering a friendly environment for living and working. And as an accomplished children’s book author and a board member of Tony Bennet’s Exploring the Arts Foundation, she may just have more influence on your kids than you.

18 19 Post: Council Member, St. Albans Duties: General legislating and behind the scenes negotiating. Accomplishments: Elected to the City Council in 2001, Comrie has become one of the most influential members from Queens, which is why he was given the post of

Majority Whip. Influence: As Majority Whip of the City Council and sitting member of several powerful committees, Comrie leads the always-tight Queens delegation, and his role and influence no doubt helped Christine Quinn become speaker, in turn earning choice Council perks for his fellow Queens members. Forced out of office in 2009, Comrie is considered one of the frontrunners for Queens borough president.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

16. John Young

17. Dan Miner

Post: Vice President, Long Island City Business Development Corporation Duties: Miner may be second on the totem pole at the LICBDC, but as tirelessly as he works you can be forgiven for thinking that he’s running the show. Accomplishments: In addition to attracting businesses to Long Island City and Queens, Miner is also a driving force behind the New York City chapter of Peak Oil, preparing the city and the world for the inevitable day when oil production begins to rapidly decline. Influence: Long Island City is one of the main economic engines of Queens, due in no small part to its proximity to Manhattan, and charged with fostering that growth puts Miner in a unique position.

Post: Queens Director, Department of City Planning Duties: Explaining where DCP is rezoning, what it means, and why they’re doing it. He’s also fielded his share of complaints from angry Queens homeowners. Accomplishments: Proposed an upzoning of downtown Jamaica, rezoned the communities of Maspeth and Middle Village, and is looking to rezone large portion of southern Forest Hills north of the Jackie Robinson Parkway, among other projects. Influence: Whether or not you agree with DCP’s zoning proposals, there is no doubt the agency plays a key role in development throughout the borough, which in turn affects the quality of life for thousands of Queens residents. Not that there’s any pressure on you, John.

14. Jeffrey Rosenstock

15. Eduardo Marti

Post: Executive Director, Queens Theatre in the Park Duties: Running the borough’s premiere performing arts center situated in the heart of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Accomplishments: In addition to brokering a massive facelift for the Theatre and attracting internationally recognized talent, Rosenstock also had his sights set on smaller goals. Under his guidance, QTIP created an innovative program that gets Queens kids involved in performing and acting. Influence: Rosenstock’s achievement in the world of performing arts have come despite self-admittedly possessing absolutely no acting, singing, or dancing talent. He must have a way with words.

15 14

Post: President, Queensborough Community College Duties: Since 2000, making sure that one of Queens premiere educational institutions runs smoothly. Accomplishments: Led several community colleges for the past 25 years, somewhere along the way finding time to earn a Ph.D. in biology and take up portrait photography. Marti also played four years of high school basketball despite standing a mere 5’4” tall. Influence: Short in stature, Marti is a giant in the education profession, and he’ll be taking Queens kids who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance at higher learning and turn them into the nation’s next batch of doctors, lawyers, and scientists. winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

TOP 20 MOVERS & SHAKERS

12. William DeCota 13. Bill Driscoll

Post: Partner/Lobbyist, Parkside Group Duties: Political consultant for both candidates and non-profit organizations looking to bend a politico’s ear. Accomplishments: Over the past three decades, Driscoll has managed to become a vital part of Queens, New York City, and New York State politics. He also has amassed one of the best modern-day collections of vintage political memorabilia anywhere. Influence: Driscoll has probably been the mastermind behind the political campaign of nearly every person you voted for in the past 30 years without you even knowing it. Chances are he’ll have a hand in getting you to vote for his candidate in 2009 and years beyond.

Post: Director of Aviation, Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Duties: Running both John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. Accomplishments: Making sure that arguably the busiest skies in the free world run on a daily basis without a hitch or tragic accident. What did you do today? Influence: DeCota is an admitted workaholic, he has to be with the job he has. But as busy as he is at work, DeCota keeps just as active in Queens social circles, especially with the Queens Council of the Boy Scouts. You’re sure to spot him at the next event featuring Queens’ power elite offering his advice.

10. Helen Marshall

11. Alan and Stuart Suna

Post: Owners, Silvercup Studios Duties: Nothing short of running the largest production house on the East Coast, where more than a few movies and television shows have been filmed. Ever heard of “Sex and the City”? What about “The Sopranos”? Accomplishments: Turned an old bakery building into a state-of-the-art facility for filming everything from big-screen blockbusters to beloved small-screen favorites. Influence: With the film and television industry taking off in New York City, and Silvercup Studios in the middle of a $1 billion residential/commercial expansion on the Queens waterfront, these two brothers are the moguls at the head of Hollywood East.

Post: Queens Borough President Duties: Running committee meetings, testifying before government bodies, doling out cash, and being the face of Queens. Accomplishments: Marshall is the first African-American and only the second woman ever to hold the post of President of Queens, which tops out at about 2.2 million constituents with a set of agendas even more diverse than its ethnic makeup. Influence: Let’s see, you need to get something accomplished in the borough of Queens and you don’t know where to begin. Hint: She has an office on Queens Boulevard.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

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TOP 20 MOVERS & SHAKERS Our Top 20 Movers & Shakers aren’t just shaping the borough, their changing the way the world sees Queens.

8. Claire Schulman 9. Diana Pizzuti

Post: Commander, Queens Patrol Borough North Duties: Keeping the streets in the top half of the borough free of crime and general lawlessness. Accomplishments: Pizzuti has a degree in Journalism from Northwestern, a master’s from Seton Hall, where she works as an adjunct professor, and yet despite all that she found time to fill the role of undercover narcotics officer and mother before becoming one of Queens’ top cops. Influence: You think the person who heads your local precinct is a powerful person, well there is a 50-50 chance that they answer to Pizzuti.

7. Peter Vallone, Sr.

Post: Attorney, Lobbyist Duties: As a consultant for the Willets Point Industry & Realty Association, Vallone is leading the fight to stop the city from using eminent domain to kick out businesses from the Iron Triangle. Accomplishments: The former councilman from Astoria emerged as the second most powerful figure in city government when he became the first Speaker of the City Council in 1986. Influence: To say that Vallone knows where the bathrooms are at City Hall would be an understatement, and his pull extends much further than the intersection of Broadway and Chambers, especially in his home borough of Queens.

Post: Spearhead, Willets Point Redevelopment Task Force Duties: Making the rounds at various community meetings, business gettogethers, and government hearings touting the city’s plans for the redevelopment of Willets Point. Accomplishments: Became the first woman president of the borough of Queens, and her tenure is credited for the dramatic turnaround of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Influence: Just because she left office doesn’t mean she left the public sphere, and she can often be seen at official events sitting right there in the front row with her successor. Plus, since she’s for the redevelopment of Willets Point, she has some powerful backers, like the entire Bloomberg Administration.

6. 50 Cent

Post: Rap Artist Duties: Creating platinumselling albums for his record label, feuding with fellow rap artists, acting. Accomplishments: Debut “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” and followup “The Massacre” debuted at number one on Billboard 200 list. He also started his own successful label G-Unit Records, and sells sneakers through the G-Unit Clothing Line in partnership with Reebok. He starred in the 2005 film “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” Influence: Considered a hero by some, criticized by others for glorifying violence, there’s still no denying that the Queens-born 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has more influence on some streets of this borough than anybody else on this list.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

TOP 20 MOVERS & SHAKERS

4. Anthony Weiner

5. Richard Brown

Post: Queens District Attorney Duties: Making sure that no evil deed goes unpunished. Accomplishments: Brown, or Judge as he is affectionately called, was first elected to the post of district attorney in 1991. Since then, he has put numerous bad guys and girls alike behind bars, as well as liberally applied recently established hate crime laws to bring racists to justice in the ethnically diverse borough. Influence: With a staff of 300 and a caseload of 74,000 this year alone, Brown touches a heck of a lot of lives, and being at the forefront of several high-profile cases over the years has made him a recognizable figure citywide.

3. Floyd Flake

Post: Senior Pastor of Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral Duties: Leading others not only in matters of the Spirit, but in matters of Community. Accomplishments: Took a respectable 1,400-member church in Jamaica, Queens, and turned it into a 23,000-strong, $34 million enterprise that not only deals in the realm of the religious, but commercial and residential development, education, and various social service enterprises as well. And while he is known as the Reverend Dr. Floyd Flake, senior pastor of Greater Allen AME Cathedral, here in New York City, for 11 years folks in Washington, D.C. were fond of referring to him as Congressman Floyd Flake. Influence: Other than acting as mediator between tens of thousands of people and a higher power and running the second-largest employer of AfricanAmericans in New York City, ask any candidate trying to get elected to public office in this city how important it is to have the Reverend Doctor Floyd Flake on your side.

winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

Post: Congressman Duties: Being a voice for Queens in Congress and painstakingly planning his next run for mayor. Accomplishments: At one time, Weiner was the youngest person ever elected to the City Council. Once in Washington, he earned the respect of his colleagues and was appointed to the powerful Judiciary Committee. Most importantly, he never let his easily mocked last name keep him down. Influence: Probably not many people knew the name Anthony Weiner before he ran for the Democratic nomination for mayor in the last election - that is before he came from out of nowhere to nearly defeat Fernando Ferrer. He may be relatively new to Queens, calling Forest Hills home, but given that he has aspirations for citywide office, expect him to wheel and deal before 2009 to shore up his base in the borough, and if that means he has to had out a few political favors, well so be it.

2. Joseph Crowley

Post: Congressman, Head of the Queens County Democratic Party Duties: Keeping Queens Democrats unified. Accomplishments: Nothing short of a meteoric rise to the top circles of local and national political influence. He was first elected to the State Assembly at the age of 24, and by 1998 found himself with an office in Washington, D.C. On yeah, he’s a pretty gifted guitarist/singer, too. (Check out the YouTube clip of him belting out the Boss’ “Pink Cadillac.”) Admirably filling the shoes of the Tom Manton. Influence: Notwithstanding his pull in the nation’s capital, as head of the county party Crowley regularly navigates the oft-disparate wishes of politicos, labor, and big industry in his home borough.

Coming in our spring issue:

The Top 20 Stealth Operators - people who are changing Queens in big ways but keep it under the radar.

1 David Wright:

Mover, Shaker & Fan Base Maker A True Franchise Player

“I hope to stay a Met for my entire career and bring a couple World Series rings back to Queens.” David Wright

When a professional athlete actually feels the passion for the name on the front of the shirt before the name on the back, you have the ingredients of a true fan favorite. We have that guy in New York – and he plays for the team from Queens. If a textbook were written on the essence of a franchise player in the truest sense of the term, New York Mets third baseman David Wright would have to be Chapter 1. New York fans can tell when a star player has the guts to take it on the chin for the team, for the town, and for his teammates. Although fans didn’t particularly blame him for the Mets collapse in the last two weeks of the season, Wright made no excuses for his part in the Mets not making the playoffs in the 2007 season. “I personally want to become more consistent,” he told It’s Queens during an exclusive interview. “There were far too many ups and downs for me last year and I think I need to correct that. I need to make adjustments quicker because I feel there is a lot of room for me to improve in all areas of the game.” New Yorkers know he’s the real deal, and he’s a big reason that fans are coming to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the heart of Queens to see the Mets again. That makes David Wright the number one in our list of Top 20 Movers & Shakers. The meaning of a “franchise player” has truly become muddled in the past few years. In the NFL, a team stamps the “franchise” tag on a player not because of his team loyalty, but so their butt is covered should he decide to leave. Ask any oldtimer who followed the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he’ll tell you the true meaning of a franchise player is that guy the fans knew bled Dodger blue through and through, and wouldn’t have thought of leaving Brooklyn because he loved the town, its fans, and, perhaps even more importantly, hated the team’s cross-town rivals even more than they did. David Wright is a throwback to a time when players loved their community and their community loved them back. He loves to play the game every kid wants to play as an adult, but as baseball turns into a job for many professional players, David keeps a passion for the game and a respect for the chance he has been given. “The Mets were my favorite team growing up,” he said, “and I understand how much of an honor it is to put that uniform on everyday and how fortunate I am to be in this position. So, I learned at a young age that I can use this to give back to the community that has welcomed me with open arms.”

David Wright is the only It’s Queens Mover & Shaker permanently immortalized in wax…so far. (Photo courtesy of MLB)

Anyone who meets David is quick to feel that respect and passion - for baseball, for Queens, for New York, and for people in general. He says he is inspired by kids he has met who have had unlucky situations. “I’ve made a few children’s hospital visits and just to see how excited they are to say hello and talk baseball has been inspiring,” said Wright. Late in November, David took some time to speak with It’s Queens to answer some softballs and a few hardballs about the Mets and about his role on the team. Although the hard answers that most of Queens single women are looking for David was quick to dismiss as “too personal right now,” #5 did let our readers in on some of the trials and tribulations in the clubhouse and on the field. It’s Queens: David, as tough as it was for the fans, it must have been harder on you guys. How did you and some of your teammates handle the blow? David Wright: Well, as much as it hurt to collapse, I hope that being in that position and being right in the middle of a playoff race that late into the season will benefit us in the future. I still have a bitter taste in my mouth from the last few weeks of the season, but hopefully we put that in the back of our minds so it pushes us and motivates us to not let it happen again. I try to stay focused on the ‘08 season, because as far as I’m concerned that’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

It’s Queens: Everyone molds their game after some big leaguer they watched when they were a kid. Tell us what it was like for you to be in an AllStar game with one of your idols, Scott Rolen? DW: Since I was in the minor leagues I’ve tried to mold my game after some of the elite third basemen and Scott is definitely in that category. My first All-Star game was surreal. To be voted in by the fans and playing with and against some of my favorite players was a dream.

“My first All-Star game was surreal. To be voted in by the fans and playing with and against some of my favorite players was a dream.”

It’s Queens: What are the Mets organization’s priorities in the off-season? DW: I think we have a great young nucleus. With that being said, I don’t think you can ever have too much pitching, so I look for our front office to go get some starting pitching and sure up our bullpen. It’s Queens: With your new contract, can you expect to be a member of the Mets for a long while, and does the team consider you a franchise player? Is there added pressure on you in the clubhouse given your notoriety and fan appeal? DW: (…after a hearty laugh…) Well, my teammates give me a hard time, but at the same time keep me grounded. We have a great mix of guys in the clubhouse, so it’s like I have 24 brothers looking out for me. I hope to stay a Met for my entire career and bring a couple of World Series rings back to Queens. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and to win, so I don’t feel too much outside pressure. I’m very hard on myself and want to get the best out of my ability. It’s Queens: With the Mets current roster, if you had to name one player who in your mind is irreplaceable for the 2008 season, who would it be and why? DW: I obviously have a ton of respect for every guy on our team, so I would hate to see anybody go. I enjoy watching Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran play in particular. They are exciting players who do everything in the game extremely well. I like to mold my game after well-rounded players, and I think they are two of the best. winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

CITI VS SHEA For the first time since the Mets left the Polo Grounds and moved into Shea Stadium in 1964, the home team from Queens will be playing in a new stadium come Opening Day 2009. You can say goodbye to the building that Walter O’Malley turned down for a sunnier site in L.A. for the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, and say hello to Citi Field. As the new stadium steadily rises right next door to the one it will replace, It’s Queens takes a look at how the two stack up side-by-side:

OPENING DAY 2009

1964

CAPACITY

45,000 (Includes Standing Room)

57,333

Concourse Level – 18,000 Club Level – 7,800 Promenade Level – 15,500

Field Level – 11,149 Loge Level – 8,852 Mezzanine Level – 14,156 Upper Deck – 20,420

SEATING CATAGORIES

LUXURY SUITES 54

FIELD DIMENSIONS

Field Dimensions Left Field – 335 Left Center – 379 Center – 408 Right Center – 383 16

Left Field – 338 Left Center – 371 Center – 410 Right Center - 371

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

Featuring Delicious Necessities & Indulgences The Iavarone Family has been serving the Queens Community for 30 years. We started out over 80 years ago with our first store in Brooklyn. We pride ourselves on the quality of all our products and on the level of service each customer recieves when they visit our stores. For over four generations, we have carried the finest selection of imported and domestic cheeses, prime meats, pastas, breads, imported delicacies, and of course our famous Italian sausage. With the changing times we have diversified the number of products that we carry, all of which are well liked by our customers. But most importantly, we have never lost sight of the value of our patrons. It is with you in mind that we are constantly creating new ways to serve you better. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people of Queens for their loyal patronage and continued support throughout the years. We look forward to serving you for another 80 years. All the best from our family to yours. Iavarone Bros. & Staff.

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LIVING IN...

P E S T A H M

Inside

• Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Maspeth • Party Like a Local • Peer Into the Neighborhood’s Distant Past ...and Much More www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

LIVING IN•MASPETH

To Grand Avenue & Beyond A Walking Tour Of Maspeth By Phil Guie

Maspeth is full of fun shopping, great food, and terrific things to do! Although lots of people who live here own cars, the best way to see this neighborhood is on foot. Wear comfortable shoes! We kick off our tour at the easternmost border of town: The intersection of Calamus and Grand avenues. We’re going to stick closely to Grand Avenue, which represents the commercial heart of Maspeth. Actually we’ll start our tour in Elmhurst, and the first place we want to stop is the Hill Tap Tavern (83-03 Grand Avenue). True, this street has a lot of bars, but the Hill Tap Tavern is a true Irish-American experience. Check out the optics behind the bar, which were specially ordered from Ireland. One of the friendliest spots in the neighborhood, an employee named Ashley said all are invited to, “Come in for a drink and the crack,” which is like cracking a joke, she said. Stopping briefly at 83rd Street, you can see St. Adalbert’s Elementary School (52-29 83rd Street). Around noontime, when school is in session, you can both see and hear scores of children playing, a testament to Maspeth’s family oriented nature. Make sure to check out the Matthew Homes, boxshaped townhouses constructed shortly after World War II. According to Joan Sammon, an associate broker at O’Kane Realty, which is also located on Grand Avenue, their orange-and-beige color was due to paint rationing. “I used to ride by them and say, ‘Gee, they’re the strangest-looking buildings from the outside,’” said Sammon. Eventually, however, she moved into one. “They’re the nicest apartments inside.” No one can say we don’t have unique architecture, nor can anyone claim the neighborhood doesn’t have a strong sense of patriotism. Earlier this year, a kick-off ceremony was held for the future Queens Vietnam War Memorial, which will be built on 6.5 acres of parkland planned for Grand Avenue. You can see the site on the tour. Once upon a time, this is where the Keyspan Gas Tank stood. Picking up the pace a little, we reach the intersection

A Hill Tap Tavern regular named Jimmy hanging out with employee Ashley. “This is the number one bar in Queens,” he said of the Hill Tap. “There’s no other bar like it.”

of 74th Street and Grand Avenue, where if you own a pet, you probably stop often. Not only is the Maspeth Animal Hospital (74-10 Grand Avenue) located here, but so is Petland Discounts (74-17 Grand Avenue), which sells a wide variety of rawhides, squeaky toys, and flavored biscuits. There’s also a Blockbuster Video (73-49 Grand Avenue) handy for renting your terrier or goldfish the latest in the “Air Bud” movie series. And of course, the mall is anchored by Stop & Shop (74-17 Grand Avenue), Maspeth’s biggest and best supermarket. Buy pet and human goodies here any time of day. After all, they’re open 24 hours!

Lots of great stores at the local shopping center. But how’s the parking? www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

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LIVING IN•MASPETH

Next we pass by P.S. 58, The School of Heroes (7250 Grand Avenue), which serves children between prekindergarten and sixth grade. Located across the street is Celtic Tiger Importers (72-17 Grand Avenue), a gift store where you’ll find authentic Irish glass, orange marmalade, and more. Just a short distance further, you’ll also find an intriguing plaza with a sunken floor, which is where Moose Lodge members flock (72-15 Grand Avenue). To reach either one, however, we’ll first need to cross 72nd Place, also known as Jennifer Mazzotta Way, named for a 23-year-old Maspeth resident who died in the World Trade Center attack.

Ribs, pizza, and much, much more The tour is fast approaching the part of town where you’ll find some of best eateries anywhere. We start off at Connolly’s Corner (71-17 Grand Avenue), owned by brothers Matt and Pat Connolly, the latter of whom described it as a combination sports bar, party room, and catering hall. “Our door is open to everybody,” he said. “But we are a nice place to watch sports.” Maspeth Pizzeria and Restaurant (71-09 Grand Avenue), nearby Joey’s Pizza (69-07 Grand Avenue) and Rosa’s Pizza (55-26 69th Street) form a veritable Bermuda Triangle of mozzarella and marinara sauce, and who wouldn’t mind getting lost in that? Still, each has its specialty. Andrew Canale, who works at Maspeth Pizzeria and Restaurant, said few have a “margarita pizza” like theirs, featuring fresh cheese, sauce, and basil. Meanwhile, we never know what to order when we visit Rosa’s Pizza, since all their sandwiches, pizzas, and pasta dishes look and sound mouthwateringly good. Yes, it’s true Rosa’s is a slight detour from Grand Avenue, but believe us, it’s worth it. We also heartily recommend enjoying a burger at either Cornerstone Restaurant (70-19 Grand Avenue), Fame Diner (69-67 Grand Avenue), or

New Port Restaurant (69-32 Grand Avenue). There’s also Maspeth’s very own McDonald’s (69-35 Grand Avenue), which may not have served billions, but every time we walk by we see no shortage of folks on-line for Big Macs, Happy Meals, and other goodies. Lest we forget, Maspeth also has lots of international eateries. Go to Talk of the Town (71-03 Grand Avenue) for Indian or Wakamatsu (70-18 Grand Avenue) for sushi and Japanese cuisine. Finally, have you got a sweet tooth to indulge? If so, you can visit Palermo Italian Bakery (71-10 Grand Avenue) for an excellent cheese pocket. If donuts sound more tantalizing, try the Glendale Bake Shop (69-25 Grand Avenue). Personally, we have no shortage of wonderful things to say about Scala Pastry Shop (69-51 Grand Avenue), which serves up an incredible pumpkin cheesecake. As co-owner and baker Janel Poula told us, “We only do the sweet stuff.” Oh, how well they do it, too. If you order a cake, they don’t start making it until two hours before the pick-up time. If you somehow managed to arrive at the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue - one of Maspeth’s busiest - with an empty stomach, you may not make it past Iavarone Bros. (69-00 Grand Avenue), a gourmet

Even a cold wintry day can’t dampen our enthusiasm at the thought of a sandwich from Iavarone Bros.

market and local favorite. Their roast beef sandwiches are legendary. Why not take your new, impeccably stacked friend to Maspeth Memorial Square, located catty-corner from Iavarone Bros.? There, you can sit on a bench in the shadow of Maspeth Federal Savings (69th Street and Grand Avenue), which promotes a number of charitable activities. Enjoy your sandwich, and pay your respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11. www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

Head to Reiff for some relief. Now that we’ve eaten, let’s walk up Grand Avenue some more. Eventually, we’ll sidestep away from the hustle and bustle of this main thoroughfare, which can be a little too bustling sometimes. Heading west again, we pass Polish restaurants like Bona Restaurant (66-35 Grand Avenue), which serves dishes like pierogis and stuffed cabbages. Interspersed with eateries are stores offering other products and services, including great dry-cleaning at Maspeth Dry Cleaners (69-27 Grand Avenue) and haircuts, too. Indeed, Paul’s Hairstylists (66-23 Grand Avenue) is on the cutting edge of cool and trendy. What’s popular right now, said employee Billy Papadopoulos, is the full Mohawk, which he described as being like a Mohawk, only with the sides shaved off. At 66-20 Grand Avenue, we find Maspeth Press, which specializes in business printing. Few stores in town have been around longer. “We’re probably the oldest family-owned business on Grand,” said owner Fred Strobel, who added that next February marks Maspeth Press’ 80th anniversary. We could probably host an entire walking tour of Mount Olivet Cemetery, a 71-acre garden cemetery that has served Maspeth for over 150 years. But sticking to the main thoroughfare, we’d like to point out a number of florist shops nearby, including Grand Florist (65-37 Grand Avenue) and Z & R Florist &

LIVING IN

MASPETH•

Gardens (64-25 Grand Avenue). There’s also several funeral parlors such as Megiel Funeral Home (64-18 Grand Avenue), and a fantastic hair-styling center called Niro’s (64-24 Grand Avenue). Earlier, we mentioned Grand Avenue has its share of bars. Technically, one has to veer slightly left onto Flushing Avenue to reach R-Bar & Restaurant (6414 Flushing Avenue), but it’s a fun place to drop into. A little bit further, we hang a left onto 63rd Street, leaving the din of traffic far behind, exchanging it for the comparatively sedate sounds of dogs barking. Let’s walk past all the lovely one- and two-family

Mount Olivet, one of the loveliest cemeteries in all of New York City, is located right here in Maspeth.

homes until we reach Reiff Playground, which has a baseball field, handball courts, even a jungle gym for young ones. The park was named after Andrew J. Reiff, a community activist who fought against having an intermediate school in the area. Instead, the land ended up being this park. What a tribute! Turning right at 51st Drive, or alternately, walking through the playground, we get to Fresh Pond Road. A left turn leads to Middle Village and eventually Ridgewood. But we’re going to hang a right, walk past various stores, and head towards the Polish part of town.

It’s a spiritual end to a long journey.

Grand Avenue’s oldest family-owned business turns 80 next year. winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

Tired yet? Would you prefer to buy a car for the rest of this walking tour? If you do, might we recommend F & D Garet Motors, Inc (61-20 Flushing Avenue)? But you’re still with us, aren’t you? That’s good. Now

LIVING IN•MASPETH

hang a left on Flushing Avenue, then a right on 61st Street. On your right-hand side, you’ll find W-Nassau Meat Market, which sells an all-pork sausage called krajana. Our first time at W-Nassau Meat Market, we sang the praises of the krajana, which was meaty without being dry, moist without being oily. We compared it favorably to those Polish sausages found in the Polish enclave of Greenpoint in Brooklyn. To our surprise, we were informed W-Nassau has a sibling store in Greenpoint, which shouldn’t have shocked us at all, since W-Nassau stands for “West of Nassau.” If you’ve managed to work up an appetite again, why not stop into Russo’s Bakery (61-04 Grand Avenue),

known for their New York-style cheesecake, or Three Sons Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant (57-29 61st Street). For feeding the mind and soul, however, follow the route we previously traveled: Down 61st Street to 56th Road. Now hang a right. This path will take you past several magnificent structures, including St. Stanislaus Rectory (57-15 61st Street), St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church (57-15 61st Street), Holy Cross Church with its cool white exterior (61-21 56th Road), and within eyeshot of Transfiguration R.C. Church Parish Hall (64-14 Clinton Avenue). At this point, you can turn right at 64th Street, and walk up two blocks to where it converges with Grand Avenue and Flushing Avenue. Grab a bus to Brooklyn, ride it the other way to the subway, which takes you to other parts of Queens and Manhattan, or walk back the way you came and revisit your favorite shops and sights. In Maspeth, everything is within your reach!

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

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LIVING IN•map

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LIVING IN

MAP•

winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

LIVING IN•MASPETH CONNECTIONS

Churches: • Battalion Pentecostal United Mission Church of NY 54-36 48th St. 361-8840 • Faith Presbyterian Church 5371 72nd Pl. (718) 565-0268 • First Church of Christ 5506 Arnold Ave. 718-497-2484 • Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church 61-21 56th Road (718) 894-1387 • Iglesia Cristiana Jerusalem 6035 Fresh Pond Rd. 718-418-4657 • Maspeth Bible Church 5371 72nd Place (718) 429-0898 • Maspeth Jewish Center 6664 Grand Ave. (718) 639-7559 • Maspeth United Methodist Church 66-35 58th Ave. (718) 429-7771 • Orthodox Church St. Paraskeve 7305 Grand Ave. (718) 899-0922 • St. Stanislaus Kostka 5715 61st St. (718) 326-2185 • Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church 64-14 Clinton Ave. (718) 326-2236 • Trinity- St. Andrew’s Lutheran 6006 60th Ave. 718-821-6662 Schools: • Holy Cross School 56-01 61st Street (718) 894-2356 Private PK-8 Principal: Margaret M. Dandola • I.S. 73 Frank Sansivieri Intermediate School 70-02 54th Ave. (718) 639-3817 Public 6-8 Principal: Patricia Reynolds • Martin Luther High School 60-02 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, NY 11378 (718) 894-4000 Private 9-12

Exec. Director: Ben Herbrich • P.S. 9 Walter Reed School 58-74 57th St. (718) 456-7105 Public PK-8 & ungraded Principal: Jeanette Fricault • P.S. 58 School of Heroes 72-50 Grand Ave. (718) 533-6712 Public PK-6 Principal: Adelina V. Tripoli • P.S. 153 Maspeth Elementary School 60-02 60th Lane (718) 821-7850 Public PK-6 Principal: Susan Bauer • St. Stanislaus Kostka School 61-17 Grand Ave. (718) 326-1585 Private PK-8 Principal: Rose Torma Civic Community Groups: • Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) President: Roe Daraio • Middle Village Maspeth Civic Association President: Joseph Cimino www.mvmca.org • Queens Community Board 5 61-23 Myrtle Ave. Glendale (718) 366-1834 or (718) 386-3004 Chairman: Mr. Vincent Arcuri District Manager: Mr. Gary Giordano Clubs/Organizations: • 104th Pct. Youth Council Maspeth (718) 386-2446 A. A. R. P. – Chapter 2701 Kowalinsky Post 6157 Maspeth Ave. Maspeth Meetings on 2nd & 4th Mon. @ 12 p.m. • American Legion Post 783 66-28 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 429-4600 • American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 783 66-28 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 429-4600 Frank Kowalinski

• Post No. 4 61-57 Maspeth Ave. Maspeth (718) 326-7365 • Girl Scouts St. Stanislaus Troop Leader: Blanche Kania Maspeth (718) 578-8356 • Haspel Staab 551 84-02 60th Ave. Elmhurst (518) 463-7427 • Kiwanis of Maspeth Maspeth (718) 821-9700, x210 Kiwanis meets 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at O’Neill’s Restaurant 64-24 53rd Drive Maspeth • Knights of Columbus 69-60 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 507-5958 • Maspeth Lions Club 73-03 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 899-5433 President: Robert Vollkommer • Ridgewood Moose Lodge 1642 72-15 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 565-9030 • Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter No. 32 Maspeth (718) 830-0037 • West Maspeth Local Development Corp. 57-20 49th St. Maspeth (718) 821-6762 or (718) 456-4900 Contact: Lee Principe Medical Services: • Elmhurst Hospital Center 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst (718) 334-4000 Free & Low-Cost Clinics 34-73 Junction Blvd. Jackson Heights (718) 476-7815 • Glendale Volunteer Ambulance Corp., Inc. 61-14 Myrtle Ave. Glendale (718) 386-9898 • Medical Center at Sunnyside 43-12 43rd St. Sunnyside (718) 334-6300 • Middle Village Volunteer Ambulance Corp. 79-04 Metropolitan Ave. Middle Village (718) 894-7951 (718) 894-6000

• Ridgewood Communicare Clinic 769 Onderdonk Ave. Ridgewood (718) 334-6190 Animal Services: • Bobbi & the Strays Finds permanent homes for dogs & cats The Shops at Atlas Park 71-03 80th St. Glendale (718) 845-0779 or P.O. Box 170-129 • Queens Community Animal Shelter Animal Behavior Center of N.Y. 89-10 Eliot Ave. Rego Park (718) 205-0500 For Seniors: • Access-a-Ride Contact Pat Dolan (718) 268-5960 • Home Delivered Meals for the Homebound Elderly • N.Y.C. Dept. for the Aging (212) 442-1000 • Maspeth Self Help Community Services 69-61 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 505-4230 • POMOC (Polish Organization to Minister to the Community) Senior Services 60-17 56th Drive Maspeth (718) 326-9098 • Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) Serving the homebound with home health aide. Occupational & physical therapy Flushing office (718) 463-9112 Etc.: • Maspeth Chamber of Commerce 66-20 Grand Avenue Maspeth (718) 899-0796 (718) 326-2400 • Maspeth Town Hall 53-37 72nd Street Maspeth (718) 335-6049 Visit at www. maspethtownhall.org Director: Eileen Reilly • Queens Library 69-70 Grand Ave. Maspeth (718) 639-5228

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

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LIVING IN•MASPETH NIGHTLIFE

Finding Fun After Dusk

ust because the sun sets in Maspeth, doesn’t mean that the action does as well. While Grand Avenue may not be as bustling under the stars as it is under the sun, there is still a flurry of activity as residents head out to enjoy the great nightlife the neighborhood has to offer. Far from a bedroom community where people come back to their homes to catch a few zzz’s, life in Maspeth isn’t put on hold just because the moon is high. There is no shortage of neighborhood pubs in Maspeth. From one end of Grand Avenue to the other, local watering holes provide people with a friendly place to have a drink, meet their friends, or in many cases, make some new friends and engage in some hearty conversation over their favorite brew or distilled concoction. But if you are looking for a little more excitement, arguably the epicenter of Maspeth’s nightlife scene is Connolly’s Corner (formerly Matchmaker’s) at 71-15 Grand Avenue. This newly renovated Irish pub serves up more than just drinks, on any given night you can catch live music, take a dance lesson or watch all sorts of sports on one of their many televisions. The place is also popular with football fans (that’s soccer to those of us who live on this side of the pond). Connolly’s also has a quality restaurant that serves up big, hearty plates of

N 24 OPEOURS H

Irish pub grub. If you like to mix a little friendly competition with your evening, then you will have to check out La Cue just up the block at 73-60 Grand Avenue. In addition to being a full service bar, it undoubtedly boasts the largest amount of green felt of any establishment in Maspeth. If you go on a busy night, you might have a hard time getting to play, as it isn’t uncommon to see La Cue’s twenty-plus tables filled with sharpshooters, sharks, and amateurs alike. If that’s the case, don’t worry because La Cue also has a number of popular video games to occupy your time while you wait. Of course, if like to mix a little money wagering with your night out, or you just live on the Plateau (a portion of Maspeth north of the LIE for you neighborhood novices) and find it a little more convenient, chances are you’re heading over to O’Neill’s at 64-21 53rd Drive. Not only does O’Neill’s provide good music, good drinks, and good times, but you might also make a little money playing the ponies at the OTB located inside. After you pick up your earnings, treat yourself to one of their delicious steaks. Go ahead, you deserve it. Any one of the bars and nightclubs along Grand Avenue can provide you with a full evening of fun, but with so much to do in such a small area, the best thing to do is get out, walk around and mix-and-match the excitement.

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LIVING IN•MASPETH HISTORY Maspeth: a Brief By Timothy Fleming

(Very Brief) History

Maspeth is a golden example of a flourishing community. Today, this section of Queens houses almost 50,000 people and employs some 20,000 more. But it might come as a surprise to most people that Maspeth was once known primarily as a land of stagnant swamps. Maspeth’s name comes from the Native American tribe “Mespeatches,” who once lived near what is now Mt. Zion Cemetery. However, the area was changed forever by the arrival of European settlers in a colonization process that took place between 1621 and 1638. The first formal village was not created until the 1640s, and historical reports tell us there were 28 original settlers. In 1642, the Reverend Francis Doughty was granted 13,000 acres of this land. The transaction is still on record in Albany, and is the oldest deed in Long Island history. In 1643, several settlers were reportedly killed in a battle with Native Americans, during which the settlement and farms were destroyed. Some eventually returned, although it was years before the settlement would become prosperous. Maspeth eventually started to show signs of its future greatness in the 1650’s. It became the center of trade with New Amsterdam, as well as milling center, with several mills established along Newtown Creek. The settlement was far from stable, however, and several settlers fled as the Dutch and English fought battles over the land. Things quieted down once England

established control over what would become New York City. Maspeth would often find itself at the center of history. For instance, a home built in 1725 by Judge Sackett and sold to a man by the name of Walter Franklin was eventually occupied by the local British commander, General Warren. From that house, the invasion and capture of New York was planned. Later, Walter Franklin’s daughter, Mary, would take ownership of the house and live there with her husband, the future governor of New York State, DeWitt Clinton. After the Revolutionary War, Maspeth entered a new period of dynamism. The colonial roads were resurfaced, and growth surged with the coming of the Industrial Revolution. Soon, new businesses were opened, such as Peter Cooper’s glue factory, Lawrence’s Rope Works, Sampson Oil Cloth Factory, and a slew of other stores and factories that were the forerunners of the hundreds of businesses Maspeth now houses. As the years passed, Maspeth became its own selfsustaining community. Its cobblestone streets with trolley tracks and trolley cars of the early 1900’s gave way to asphalt streets and buses. In the late 1950s, the Long Island Expressway would cut the town in half to make a thoroughfare from Manhattan to Long Island. Despite the steady pressure of progress, Maspeth still retains an all-American feel and is reminiscent of small towns across America, a fact its residents are proud of.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

Industry

MALL•

Atlas Park

More than just shops, it’s a whole lifestyle.

As The Shops at Atlas Park delve into their second holiday season, we thought we would see for ourselves how this development has changed Queens. Hailed as New York’s first lifestyle center, The Shops at Atlas Park differs from your typical malltype atmosphere, and Atlas has always intended to become an integral part of the greater Queens community. As every week passes, they take steps towards accomplishing that goal and are on their way to becoming a true focal point for community events and activities. The Shops at Atlas Park has a variety of charming cafes and bistros, as well as casual places for people to meet and socialize in a friendly atmosphere. Atlas now features not only an exciting mix of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, jewelry, shoes, fashion accessories, and housewares, it also has some of the finest restaurants you can find east of Manhattan. A spacious California Pizza, Johnny Rockets, and now Chili’s help make this shopping center a destination location for families looking to eat out. Nearly every night, there is a short wait at each of the restaurants. For fine dining, Shiro’s and Pasticcio fit the demand. Shiro’s was founded on the tradition of “true” Japanese hibachi steakhouse, a concept that introduced America to the cooking art form known as teppanyaki. In Japanese, teppan means an “iron plate” or a “steel sheet,” and yaki, “stir-fried food” or “stir-frying.” The teppanyaki and hibachi styles come together to create a mouth-watering form of cuisine that continues to increase in popularity in the New York region and across the nation. Shiro’s is situated in a beautiful area within the Atlas Lifestyle center - the

ambiance makes for a great dining experience. As the name implies, Pasticcio features a unique blend of authentic specialties from Italy’s various regions, as well as traditional peasant dishes and seasonal specials. Culinary creations and exceptional standards of service place Pasticcio in the vanguard of New York’s Italian Restaurants. Pasticcio also has an outdoor terraced dining option with a beautiful view of the center’s park. Atlas Park also offers a shopping experience tailored to meet the needs of busy customers who value convenience - whether it is getting a last minute gift or running a quick errand. There’s also a movie theater if you are looking to catch the latest from Hollywood. The Shops at Atlas Park, in a short period of time, has redefined the experience of shopping in New York City and created a center of community activity and socialization. Management has also taken a big step in the direction of community leadership by offering meeting space for its residential neighbors, such as after the recent floods that inundated the borough. It might not seem like much, but what other big developers are so accommodating?

ROLL ON

Women’s roller derby is sweeping the city and the hometown team from Queens features some of the sport’s stars. By Sherry Mazzocchi

Their names are Suzy Hotrod, Hyper Lynx, Ana Bollocks, and Uzi Sioux. They dress in short shorts, fishnets, and skates. They talk trash and can knock you on your ass, but make no mistake - this is not your mother’s roller derby. These women lead double lives. By day, they are lawyers, nurses, teachers, musicians, and astronomers. Shedding their daytime psyches, they head out to an Astoria warehouse that is part storage/part practice space where they regroup as the Queens of Pain – the borough’s official female roller derby squad. T h e

team used to practice in a Costco parking lot or fended off neighborhood kids for a flat piece of turf. “I spend all my ‘other time’ financing Suzy Hotrod’s lifestyle,” said, Hotrod. “It’s a Fantasy World” In front of a sold-out crowd at City College’s Nat Holman Auditorium on a brisk November night, the Queens of Pain were ready to defend their two-time Gotham Girls Roller Derby title against the Bronx Gridlock. Considered the toughest team in the league, Queens beat the Gridlock for the trophy last year by a single point. This year, however, the Bronx was hungry. They beat Queens in the season opener and remained undefeated all year. It was going to be a close

Donna Matrix Gives Suzy Hotrod a Whiplash

game and, at the end of the season, it gets rougher than usual. “You don’t have to worry about healing for the next game,” explained Suzy Hotrod. It would also be the final game for some. Pain skaters Rolletta Lynn, Jocelyn D’Jewels, and Tera Dyketal - as well as Pop Rox from the Bronx were all retiring. Not only was Claire D. Way, captain of the Boston Massacre, seated in the VIP seats, but so were members of teams as far away as Chicago and Tucson. Local fans Jennifer and Susanne had divided loyalties. Jennifer, a Pain fan, was raised in Queens and her daughter, Kaitlin, was born there. Susanne wanted Gridlock to win. Bobby Narco had been to all but three Gridlock games this

season, even flying to away games in Philadelphia and Columbus. Like many of the players, he wouldn’t reveal his real name. “It’s a fantasy world you live in.”

League heads worry corporate influence could put the kibosh on the racy names and sexy uniforms and ultimately compromise the freewheeling aspect of women’s roller derby. Derby – Not as Simple as It Looks Contrary to popular belief, derby is an intricate game. There are pages of complex rules, but simply put there are two teams on the floor with five skaters, and each team has a jammer, a pivot, and two blockers. The jammers can skate up to 20 feet ahead of the pack and score points for each opposing team member they pass.

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The pivot sets the pace for the pack, and the blockers try to keep the opposing team’s jammer in check while simultaneously clearing space for their own jammer. The lead jammer has the strategic advantage of calling off the jam before the other team can score extra points, and five minor infractions can land a player in the penalty box. The night of the championship the box was often full. Women’s roller derby has undergone a renaissance in the last six years. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) has 49 leagues, with plenty more in the pipeline, the group is just beginning to link up with the growing international leagues. Games are aired on MAV TV on the Internet and in 12 million homes worldwide. Gotham Girls started in 2004 with just ten skaters. Today, they have 60 players and have expanded to four teams the Brooklyn Bombshells and Manhattan Mayhem round out the league. A travel team plays other leagues, and the Gotham Girls are the east coast regional champs and have skated their way into fifth place nationally, up from 10th place last year. Leagues are skaterowned and operated, with little corporate sponsorship. However, the WFTDA would like to line up travel sponsorship so teams can be assured

of playing the regulation number of games each year, whereas now teams travel only as much as they can afford. But they are selective about

from maintaining the league website to lining up venues to handling legal and insurance issues. When women join derby, all of their talents

helped them with drills. “We don’t have paid coaches,” said Kandy Kakes, Gridlock pivot. “We coach each other.” Rivalry is fierce during bouts, but there is an overwhelming sense of camaraderie between teams and even leagues. “I don’t have siblings. But now I’ve got 59 girls who’ve got my back,” said Ginger Snap of the Gridlock. The Agony, or Rather Pains, of Defeat

sponsorship. League heads worry corporate influence could put the kibosh on the racy names and sexy uniforms and ultimately compromise the freewheeling aspect of women’s roller derby. Currently, team members do everything

winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

get used. Gotham Girls are known for sharing their expertise with fledgling leagues and nascent rivals. Two Garden State Roller Girls at the game, Cassie and Tiffany, said Suzy Hotrod came to their early practices and

As they roll out of the locker room, the Pain are black-clad gladiators while the Gridlock are dressed in taxi yellowand-black checkerboard. Joan Jett is blaring from the speakers but you can’t hear her because fans are enthusiastically cheering at the appearance of a fallen Pain player, Greta Turbo, who broke her leg during an October practice. The team mascot - a masked, fully leather-clad Persuader, which looks strikingly similar to The Gimp from Pulp Fiction – pulls her in a wheelchair using chains. “I had a Wylie Coyote moment,” Turbo recalled. “I looked down, saw my leg was broken, and then fell.” She plans to be back on her feet by January. The Gridlock rack up points early in the first half, and their tight defense keeps the Pain in check. Queens’ pivot Donna Matrix sends Ginger Snap into the stands.

Suzy Hotrod Celebrates

Kandy Kakes holds down the front line as their blocker, Beyoncesláy, sends Suzy Hotrod flying. The Gridlock are gunning for Hotrod, who as team MVP, league MVP, and recipient of the 2006 Best Jammer award, is a bona fide roller derby superstar, or as one Bronx fan put it, “the Wayne Gretzky of the sport.”

Bonnie Thunder, the Bronx jammer, skates low to the ground and rounds the corners tight as Kandy Kakes takes Suzy Hotrod down again. At the end of the first half, the score is Bronx 57, Queens 30. “This is very rare, a lowscoring game with a lot of defense,” commented the announcer, Fuzz Tone, at the half. “Normally, we’d

see 10 point jams from Queens.” In the second half, Bronx tries to preserve their lead by playing for time and not points. Bridgette Barhot (the ‘t’ is silent), Pop Rox, and Beatrix Slaughter block hard for the Bronx. Players end up as roadkill and smash into the stands. Then Pain players surround B e y o n c e s l á y, trying to neutralize her. Rolletta Lynn takes a blow to the face and rolls in to visit the medics, Ace Bondage and Andy Biotic. During a timeout, she holds an ice pack to her jaw. Near the end of the second half, Queens’ Scarlett Rage jams up the score. It is now Bronx 93, Queens 76. As the clock is running out, Queens is coming back fast and fans are on their feet cheering them on. Reminiscent of last year’s match, it is Suzy Hotrod who races around the track scoring an incredible 14 points in a single jam while Cheap Skate blocks Bridgette Barhot. Queens scores 31 points in the final

minutes. With 35 seconds left in the game, the score is Bronx 93, Queens 90. During the last jam of the season, Bridgette Barhot is takes the lead and Bronx stalls Hotrod. While Barhot could call off the jam –and prevent Queens from scoring winning points - she lives dangerously and keeps skating. As she scores two more points, fans are in a frenzy, jumping up and down and screaming. In the end, the Bronx defense was too much for Queens. The final score is Bronx 95, Queens 90. “I don’t feel like we lost,” said Buster Cheatin, the Pain’s manager, after the team’s season came to a close. “Bronx earned it and deserved it. I’m proud of how we adjusted and came back in the second half. We beat them last season and it was very similar. We outtechniqued them.” “Every time we play Queens, it comes down to the last play,” said Kandy Kakes. “Queens plays brute force; we control the top of the pack. Queens is really good at being disruptive; we are all about teamwork and communications.” Fans Susanne and Jennifer are both exuberant. “It was great,” says Susanne, “and it was really, really exciting towards the end.” “If they ever have a Junior League,” adds Jennifer, “I think I’ll let Kaitlin join.”

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PA R K E R CA R E

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V I S I T U S AT W W W. PA R K E R I N S T I T U T E . O R G

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TASTING QUEENS•ASTORIA

Where the Trains End The Italian, Greek, and a few other Cultures Blend

Story and Photgraphs by Orianne Cosentino

Before the invention of the W train, the N and R were a tight couple, rumbling noisily above 31st street, slicing a yellow line straight through Astoria’s lively heart. Coined the “Never” and the “Rarely”, the subway faithfully transported the diverse crowds Astoria is famous for. These days the R has gone its own way and it is the N and W that service the elevated route, with the same tapestry of people as well as the recent wave of Manhattan transplants who fill the seats and also call Astoria home.

t Ditmars Boulevard, the N and W line abruptly ends. It looks as if someone ran out of steel as the tressel comes to a dangling halt in mid-air, giving way to an ordinary street, no clanging train, no dramatic shadows... Just some valuable billboard space occupied by a cell phone or beverage advertisement. In this section of Astoria you’ll find the typically dense Greek population, as well as Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Eastern European cultures represented. At Ditmars, the last stop at the end of a very long line, there is also a deeply rooted enclave of Italians, enough to compete with the Greeks, though it is a harmonious relationship and complementary for sure. It is hard to decide which country’s signature coffee to drink while walking the streets: a short and bitter perfect espresso or a sweet and chalky Greek coffee. At Lefkos Pirgos old men play board games all day (was that backgammon?) and the pastries are flaky and honey-soaked. Here, you can

take a table and the coffee will be righteously served with a glass of water. It is key to know “when to say when” and stop drinking Greek coffee or else end up with a mouth full of fine grounds. This is because it is brewed and poured from the same small pot without filterization. Rosario’s Market, on the other hand, is a serious Italian deli equipped with the Cadillac of espresso machines skillfully operated by the man himself. There is no place to sit, but you may drink every last drop from your cup. In this establishment they do not want to dip you in honey and roll you in nuts, they are looking to seduce your savory side with cases full of marinated vegetables, pasta dishes, antipasto salads, stuffed peppers, and sausages. The wall in front of you is lined with imported cheeses and cured meats, the wall behind is floor-to-ceiling pasta in every shape and size. This is the ultimate place to find goodies to stuff your bread...see recipe which follows. www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

La Guli’s Ossa de Morto

At Rosa and Joe’s, an dessert that is almost a cross Astorian institution for freshly between ice cream and an baked breads and pastries, Italian ice (not to be confused with a threeflavored ice cream bombe with dried fruits and nuts inside, sometimes called by the same name). The spumoni at La Guli, freshly made and packed with toasted almonds, is exceptional yet a pizza counter hides in the only dished out from Easter Halloween, boohoo. back vending exemplary to slices of sicilian. The front However, Ossa de Morto, window is piled high with or Bones of the Dead (for sesame-crusted semolina Chewing) become available loaves screaming to be half- for November 2, or All Souls eaten before you make it up Day. The recipe varies from the steps to the train platform. region to region, but it usually One can also find sinful resembles a thin, crisp cookie. melomakarounia, which is a At La Guli a cross-section spongy Greek cookie topped of white merengue is baked on, keeping this dessert with walnuts (someone is playing both sides visually connected to here). Talk its macabre name. t h e m You can also load i n t o up on torrone, selling cookies, cakes you a pizza and pies, gelato, dough and and marzipan, feel like an almost too pretty old school to eat. Almost. baker yourself. While checking On Ditmars out Ditmars, visit the Boulevard proper, Ditmars Thrift Shop, the Italian bakery, La Guli is a haven of true bargains, a cavity in yet another tooth. surprising finds and an array Well-known for its spumoni, a of ethnic second-hands. The rich almond-flavored frozen front window, full of trinkets,

“You can also load up on torrone, cookies, cakes and pies, gelato, and marzipan, almost too pretty to eat. Almost.”

winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

will not make you as hungry as the other shops, but maybe you can find those Siamese cat-shaped salt and pepper shakers you have been looking for, or another African mask for your growing collection. Ditmars Gyro Place positively owns the enormous cone shaped meat-on-astick, turning, waiting to be sliced off and lovingly dropped into a warm pita. Gyro Place also makes a fantastic frappe, an iced - coffee drink made from Nescafe, milk and sugar and whipped into foamy deliciousness. On the higher end of Greek cuisine, just a few doors down, is the Taverna Kyclades, specializing in seafood. Each table receives a plate piled high with lemon wedges as soon as it is seated, as they love it squeezed over everything. The waiter also brings beautifully charred pitas to accompany the appetizers, a combo of which includes taramasalata (a fish roe spread), tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber dip spiked with fresh garlic), and skordalia (a potato puree with roasted g a r l i c ) . The menu boasts grilled calamari, octopus, and a variety of fish of the day served

fresh and slick with that good Greek olive oil. There is also plenty of selection for those who wish to remain on land. In the summer the large outdoor patio is lively! Clearly there are good times to be had in this part of town. In case you want to take some good times home with you, stop into Jolson Liquors. It is a great shop with popular wine/liquor

selections, but they also carry a stash of fantastic Greek wine. The mention of “Greek wine” often brings to mind Retsina, white wine infused with pine resin that imparts a slightly medicinal quality - an acquired taste. In a land and culture so ancient, the practice of grape growing is thousands of years old. Among the many varieties grown in Greek soil, two popular grapes very much worth trying are “xinomavro” Jolson Liquors

TASTING QUEENS•ASTORIA and “agiorgitiko”. Cultivated in the northern region of Naoussa xinomavro, or “acidic black”, grapes make for a dry, well-balanced red wine with hints of dried red fruits and blueberries. The other, from the Peloponnisos, agiorgitiko or “St. George”, grapes are a bit earthier than xinomavro in their spice and oak tones. Both of these regions are considered “appellations superieures”, or wines of a higher quality. Vintners like Boutari and Achaia Clauss produce consistently good and well-priced bottles, both of which are available at Jolson. Mediterranean Grocery specializes in all things Greek and many things European. You can pick up olives, a huge array of Greek cheeses, superior imported olive oils, levani (Greek incense), and paximathia, a toasted bread rusk sold in rough, brittle chunks. It is traditionally baked over night in a woodburning oven, allowing it time to dry out slowly. Paximathia are delicious when dipped in water and olive oil and crumbled into salads or eaten topped with jam or cheese or tomatoes. They are also good served in soup, as in the recipe that follows.

End of the Line Eats

Lefkos Pirgos: 22-85 31st Street

Rosario’s Market: 22-55 31st Street Rosa and Joe’s: 22-40 31 Street La Guli: 29-15 Ditmars

Ditmars Thrift Shop: 31-20 Ditmars Ditmars Gyro Place: 33-01 Ditmars Taverna Kyclades: 33-07 Ditmars

Jolson Liquors: 22-24 31st Street

Mediterranean Grocery: 23-18 31st Street

Mediterranean Grocery’s Greek Selection

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

GREATER RIDGEWOOD YOUTH COUNCIL Creating Smiles, One Child At A Time

The Greater Ridgewood Youth Council (GRYC) is the largest independent youth serving agency within Community Board 5, presently serving 6,000 children and families annually. The GRYC is a not-for-profit agency that provides comprehensive services in education, recreation, counseling, truancy prevention, job readiness and employment opportunities, as well as a host of other services.

Major programs include: Little Stars Pre-K attended by 162 children; IS 93 Beacon Program serving 3,000 youth & families; Year-round Youth Educational & Employment Program for 100 teens; Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) for 400 teens; After-School and Summer Day Camp programs at: IS 93, IS 77, PS 239, PS 91, PS 88, PS 81, PS 153 and PS 71 . The GRYC is a safe haven for neighborhood youth and their families. With a wide range of comprehensive and multifaceted programs, the GRYC helps children and adults find new avenues of learning and positive life experiences.

TASTING QUEENS•RECIPES Fish Soup in the Greek Spirit (serves 4) 1.5 pounds firm-fleshed white fish (such as bass, cod, trout, halibut) 1/4 cup olive oil 1 leek, cleaned and finely chopped 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup fennel, finely chopped 1 celery rib, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 potato, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1/4 cup ouzo, pastis or dry white wine 4 cups stock (fish, chicken, or vegetable) 1 bay leaf 3 sprigs of thyme 1 squeeze of lemon (plus extra lemon wedges for serving) 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped salt and pepper 4 pieces of paximathia* (or well toasted bread)

Stuffed Bread Eye-talian Style (makes two 10 inch “loaves”) 1 pizza dough (about 1.5 pounds) 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/4 pound sliced black forest ham 1/4 pound sliced genoa salami 1/4 pound sliced provolone 1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced 1 egg 1 tablespoon sesame seeds Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease with olive oil. Divide ball of pizza dough in half. Place dough half on a work surface, stretch and flatten it with the heel of your hand until it is a rectangle of about 12 inches by 6 inches, with the long side in front of you. Lay half of the ham down the center of the rectangle long

Cut fish into one inch pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a soup pot, heat the olive oil. Add leek, onion, fennel, celery and carrot with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute until softened about 10 minutes. Add garlic and potato and saute 3 minutes more. Pour in ouzo or wine and stock, stir well. Add bay leaf and thyme, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add fish pieces and simmer an additional 10 minutes of until fish is cooked through and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf and thyme stems. Add the squeeze of lemon, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Place a chunk of paximathia in the bottom of each bowl. Ladle soup on top and serve with extra lemon wedges. Enjoy!

ways. Top with half of the salami slices, half of the provolone and half of the mozzarella. Fold the upper half of the dough over the cold cuts. Then fold the sides in about an inch. Fold the bottom part of the dough to overlap the top fold, almost like folding a letter in thirds. Press seams together lightly to make a neat package. Flip “loaf” over and lay it on the baking sheet so that the seam side is down. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make the second loaf. Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk it with a fork. Brush egg over the top of the dough and sprinkle each loaf with half of the sesame seeds. Place baking sheet with both loaves in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until golden. Allow to cool 5 minutes (or longer) before slicing. Enjoy!

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Fresh Pond Crematory & U.S. Columbarium 61-40 Mount Olivet Crescent Middle Village, NY 11379

One of New York City’s Hidden Land Marks Established in 1884

Come for a Free Tour of Our Historic Buildings Featuring Stained Glass Tiffany Windows Neo Classical Architecture Learn About Well known Baseball Hall of Famers Famous Musicians & Conductors Famous Writers & Many others who have used Fresh Pond Take the Tour to Receive

A Souvenir Letter Opener Replica of our stained glass tiffany windows Yours to keep as a remembrance of your visit to this beautiful and historic building (While supplies last, we reserve the right to offer a replacement gift) Call To Schedule the Tour 718-821-9700

Present Day Chapel

Tiffany Glass At Fresh Pond

Fresh Pond Crematory, Chapel & Columbarium Circa 1800’s

Since 1884 we have earned your trust by providing

Digniﬁed Cremations Chapel Services Memorial Urns and Columbarium Niches for cremated remains Call 718-821-9700 CREMATION: A means to a beginning Not a Means to an end Healing through Memorial Niches

SHOPPING•BOROUGH BESTS

Shopping Spree: The Best Gifts the Borough Has to Offer, Tailored to Meet Every Bankbook By Jeffrey Harmatz

Whether you’re looking for that perfect gift for that special someone in your life (Valentine’s Day anyone?) or an item to reward yourself for enduring the hardships of the holiday season in New York City, It’s Queens has uncovered some unique, off-the-radar shops that might satisfy your jones for odd, one-of-a-kind, and extraordinary items that can only be found in Queens. With the borough’s cultural diversity comes diversity in both selection and cost, and great gifts can be found to fit any budget.

Low Price Slovak-Czech Varieties

10-59 Jackson Avenue Long Island City This is definitely the first stop for your Czech and Slovakian gift needs, and it might be your last. The owner of this eastern European emporium knew there was already a large number of Polish markets in New York City, but couldn’t find a single store that sold Czech and Slovakian goods. Setting up in Hunter’s Point, just above the 7 train, Milan Uherik created an all-encompassing Czech and Slavic shop. Selling food, candy, cheese, and other edibles in the front, the back

of the store sells a huge selection of gifts that were directly imported from Eastern Europe. While a good portion of the goods look like they came from Prague’s version of Times Square, SlovakCzech Varieties has a wonderful selection of smaller, handcrafted gifts. Milan happily demonstrated what he called “wooden bouncing mobiles,” which are actually more like little floppy dolls. The mobiles, which are handcrafted in the Czech Republic, come in a variety of clothing styles, sizes, and most importantly hats. The mobiles cost between $10 and $20 dollars. Slovak-Czech Varieties also has a huge selection of vases, dishes, and cups that have been hand-painted and very carefully shipped over to the states. The pottery ranges in price from $15 to $40 Perfect For: Young kids and anyone who misses the “old country.”

Toy Qube

133-31 39th Avenue (Flushing Mall) Flushing Tucked away in the back corner of the second floor of the Flushing Mall, Toy Qube is an urban hipster needle in a Chinese haystack. A kissing cousin of Manhattan shops like Toy Tokyo and Giant Robot, Toy Qube specializes in designer vinyl toys, the likes of which are quite popular in many Asian cultures, but are a newer phenomenon on the shores of the Western world. And if you’re trying to find this sort of thing in America, it’s best that you stay close to the coasts, because these small, colorful, anti-dolls have been designed by the trendiest designers and are extremely collectable among

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

SHOPPING•BOROUGH BESTS the urban city-dwelling set. Because of collectibility, astounding details, and low number, many of these designer-driven toys can be very expensive, but Toy Qube has one of the best selections of smaller toys that fill the floor space of the shop. Many are part of a small line of toys, and the customer doesn’t know which specific toy they are buying until they open the box, but that’s part of the fun. For buyers who would rather know what they’re paying for up front, there are plenty of clear-packaged and unboxed toys to choose from. Prices range from $3 of $15 for the smaller toys. Perfect For: Hipsters, shoe nuts, art students, taggers.

Moderate Price Royal Collectibles

96-01 Metropolitan Avenue Forest Hills Royal Collectibles in Forest Hills fulfills the needs of two completely different types of collector: the fanboy and the sports nuts. While these two subsets rarely cross paths, because of the similar, smaller distribution and price point of many of the items - not to mention the shared “gonzo-fan” mentality - the two will be forever linked by retailers across America. Fortunately for the collectors of Queens, Royal Collectibles has a kingly selection of both sports collectibles and comic books. A variety of signed balls, pennants, jerseys, bats, plaques, and much more everything else fills the back room of the segmented shop. The front room provides an excellent selection of discounted comic books, both new and old, as well as several bargain bins through which a sequential arts devotee could spend several hours rifling. This writer is an admitted comic book aficionado, and has found some choice rarities among the boxes and boxes of old comics. Prices for the higher-end collectibles can be anywhere from $50 to several hundreds of dollars, but because the thrill of the find is so much fun, you might consider just giving a gift certificate. Perfect For: Comic book fans, sports fans, collectors.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

SHOPPING

BOROUGH BESTS•

Naseem Meat Market

25-65 Steinway Street Astoria Hidden behind a sign that reads “Naseem Meat Market” is what may be the finest of Astoria’s hookah sellers. The store on Steinway Street near Astoria Boulevard is actually a meat market, but while the cuts, spices, and produce take up the lion’s share of the back of the store, a small, separate shop in the front sells typical convenience store items like phone cards, cigarettes, and a wide range of hookahs and flavored tobaccos. For those not in the know, a hookah is a large water pipe that is used for smoking fragrant tobacco, which travels from the glassware to the mouth by way of funky hoses. They are extremely popular in Middle Eastern countries and are a growing trend in the Western world. Though the gentleman behind the counter is a bit surly, his hookah selection may be the best on Steinway Street, and he has some stiff competition. Sitting in the middle of a neighborhood that could easily be considered Queens’ hookah district, the goods at Naseem are exquisitely crafted and reasonably priced. There are some standout hookahs at Naseem Meat Market, so even if you want to check out a few more of Steinway Street’s many other hookah shops, you might want to start here. Hookahs range in price from $25 to $60. Perfect For: Smokers, non-smokers, loungers.

Jake LaSala

Attorney at Law

125 –10 Queens Blvd. Suite 320 Kew Gardens, NY 11415 718-261-7695 fax: 718-261-3482 winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

SHOPPING•BOROUGH BESTS High Price Austin Book Shop

104-29 Jamaica Avenue Richmond Hill One of the many historic looking facades that line Jamaica Avenue, Austin Book Shop has been selling used and rare books for over a halfcentury. This gem of a secondhand book dealer might be the most exclusive store in the entire borough, as it is only open on Saturdays. But if you can get there on it’s lone business day, you might not make it out until closing. Austin Book Shop has huge, floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with used, antique, and rare books. The space is small but it is densely packed, and though you may not find exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll definitely spot something that will pique your interest. The owner has a special affinity for books about history, Judaica, and sports, but the selection is hardly limited to those few subjects. The small staff is very friendly and eager to help you find what you’re after, as well as make recommendations. As is the nature of a used bookstore, the prices aren’t cheap, but many of the items are hard to find and extremely collectible. Prices range from $15 and up (sometimes way up). Perfect For: Bookworms, teachers, students, secondhand snobs.

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73-11 37th Road Jackson Hieghts The jewelry at Althmas Jewelers and Diamond Inc. is, much like the Jackson Heights neighborhood where it is located, influenced by Indian culture. In fact, many of the pieces were not merely influenced by India, but actually made there and shipped over to the states. Selling a variety of gold and silver jewelry sparkling with all manner of precious gems, Althmas has more types of jewelry than this writer knew what to do with. Starting with a fine selection of traditional wedding jewelry to the less traditional necklaces, rings, and bracelets, it’s all pretty darn pretty. If you’re looking for something unexpectedly traditional for your sweetheart or even for yourself, there’s no better place to buy. And if you’re feeling down, jut seeing all of their sparkling gems might be just the thing to bump you out of your funk. Prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Perfect For: Your significant other, yourself, somebody you wouldn’t mind dropping a few large bills for.

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PROPERTY

DEVELOPMENT•

REAL ESTATE IS TRENDY it my seem like chaotic mess, but there are a few patterns when it comes to development in Queens.

a new trend - more than 30 years ago a bubble was put on top of the Maspeth Bowl for a new tennis facility. Also, during that same time, bubbles were used on rooftops for tennis on University Place in Manhattan, 8th Avenue near 28th Street, and for the famed Crosstown Tennis club on top of a parking garage. Recreational-use air structures are obviously back.

Hotel space in Manhattan has been shrinking for years, as developers turn every available inch of space into condominiums. Consequently, tourists have been left with little affordable options for lodging, and we all know what a top priority it is for the Bloomberg administration to attract those free-spending German tourists and Houston oil tycoons. Enter Long Island City to the rescue. Situated minutes from Manhattan, Long Island City makes sense for the hospitality industry, and 1,000,000 square feet of new hotel space is planned for the neighborhood by 2010. The result will be a boom for Queens. Already, even the low-end hotels in Western Queens are fetching $250 a night, and with the city’s commitment to makeover gritty Queens Plaza, expect those rates to rise.

New recreation space in Queens is popping up all over. The Parks Department is completing not only a new pool/skating rink in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, but just across the Van Wyck Expressway the finishing touches are being put on a massive recreation facility. In the planning stages for five years now, the pool/rink will be open in spring of 2008. Meanwhile,Two new tennis bubbles were recently erected by a private developer and can be seen on Queens Boulevard at Van Dam Street. A source also let us in on a new ice skating bubble in the same area of Long Island City. Recreation bubbles on rooftops are not

be hard-pressed to find affordable space in the near future.

The Jamaica Junction is where the LIRR, AirTrain, and the subway meet. A recent rezoning by City Planning has created a demand for developers to snatch up properties to build higher density commercial and residential buildings. For the next two years, look for prices of real estate to rise in

It’s not just luxury condos springing up all over LIC, but numerous hotels as well.

3. The manufacturing squeeze

is an “under the radar” phenomenon that the real estate industry has been keen to for a few years now. According to John Maltz, Queens real estate guru, “since much of the manufacturing and industrial space in mixed-zoned areas of Queens has been developed into residential lofts in the past three years, clients looking for warehouse and manufacturing space have seen a sharp rise in rental costs. It’s a simple lack of supply problem. While demand has not decreased,” he told It’s Queens, “we have not seen price increases like this in Queens since 1984.” Although manufacturing in New York City has dwindled, there are still service companies, which tend to be smaller in size but are vital to New York City. Plumbers, parts manufacturers, machine shops, and small contractors will

winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

the ten-block area surrounding the Junction, which will also be a major transportation hub for people taking public transportation to and from the burgeoning Downtown Brooklyn. “Median prices for walk-up buildings in Queens was up 2.2 times from $97 per square foot just four years ago,” said Massey Knakal, of Realty Services Company. “When you look at the long-term [housing]

A dip in the pool, anyone?

PROPERTY•DEVELOPMENT picture, Queens investment properties remain solid in their growth over time.” Also, look for Hillside Avenue, which was upzoned as part of the same project – the largest rezoning in city history – to get a little bigger over the next few years as well.

5. Queens Boulevard between Roosevelt

Avenue and Grand Avenue was rezoned 12 months ago, and a projected two to three million square feet of residential condominiums will be built in the next three years. Although there are vacant lots and some older, smaller buildings on the Boulevard, building owners are holding tight on prices until they reach what will no doubt be astronomical heights. Some of the properties have been considered dead for decades, but are now hot and will be developed within the next two years. Can the infrastructure of Woodside and Elmhurst handle the added traffic? The answer city planners think - but will not tell you - is “we’ll cross that

The Swingline Building on Queens Boulevard at Van Dam Street has a recreation bubble on top.

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Developing Queens - The Top 5

Queens is, without question, a borough on the up and up. If we were to define these two “ups,” the first up would be the booming property and rent prices, and the second would be the skyline, which is being transformed by major developments, including office buildings, condo towers, and industrial complexes. The development craze is a blessing or a curse, depending on who you ask, and some people would say it’s both. Either way, this construction boom has thrust several Queens developers into the spotlight. It’s Queens has compiled a list of the most successful developers that have broken ground in the borough. Pistilli Real Estate Group President of Pistilli Real Estate Group, Joseph Pistilli, has put an awful lot of money into several Queens neighborhoods, but it seems his attention is clearly focused on Astoria. Perhaps the neighborhood’s most prominent developer, Pistilli has spent millions of dollars transforming Astoria’s industrial factories into condos and constructing office buildings from the ground up. Based in his own Pistilli Corporate Plaza near the Whitestone Bridge, the developer maintains an active community presence as he seeks to develop one of New York City’s premiere neighborhoods. Muss Development Company Though Joshua Muss and the Muss Development Company may have made a name for themselves in Brooklyn with projects like the Oceana Condominium and Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza, his heart clearly remains in Queens. The century-old Muss Development Company was started a century ago by Joshua’s grandfather, and the company has been passed from father to son for three generations. The company is currently based in Forest Hills, not far from its next large project, the recently named SkyView Parc in Flushing. SkyView Parc will be a six-tower luxury condo development near Flushing Meadow. Empire State Development Corporation While some people would argue that this organization doesn’t have the borough’s best interests at heart, the staterun development group is directly responsible for one of the most significant undertakings in Queens, specifically the Queens West Project. The project will completely transform and recreate Long Island City’s coastal area from an industrial graveyard into one of New York City’s most desirable residential neighborhoods. And while the results of the Queens West project have left some long-term residents turned off, the ESDC has heard the communities complaints and has tired to correct many of the project’s failings in its second phase, even shedding the Queens West moniker to avoid any connection. Work should begin soon on the longawaited Hunters Point South Development, the planning of which the agency says will rely heavily on community involvement. Damon Hemmerdinger The Shops at Atlas Park has radically changed life in Central Queens, and the man responsible for that change is Damon Hemmerdinger. The land that Atlas Park was built on was winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

PROPERTY

DEVELOPERS•

held by the Hermmerdinger family for three generations, and Damon and his father, H. Dale Hemmerdinger, worked hard to transform the former industrial lot adjacent to a cemetery into one of the most popular shopping destinations in the borough. The mall itself has also reached out to the community by providing family programming and events as it grows into one of Glendale’s neighborhood institutions. Cord Meyer Development Company Before the turn of the 20th century, a man by the name of Cord Meyer, Jr. didn’t see in Queens a series of rural farms, but rather a series of communities. Call The Queens the man a visionary. He bought up land Windsor all over the borough, subdivided the tracts, installed sewers, and planned streets. He named one of his towns “Forest Hills.” Today, the Cord Meyer Development Company continues to be a major player in the borough’s development. Some of their larger projects include The Bay Terrace, a shopping center in Bayside, and the Queens Windsor on Queens Boulevard. With no signs of slowing down, Cord Meyer is sure to lead the pack in Queens development for another century.

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TECHNOLOGY•INTERNET

The Internet:

Good vs. Evil

The Internet for many is still an enigma. For the young, it is an essential part of daily life; for the elderly it a new challenge to overcome; for the middle-aged it a combination of both. But is the Internet the Superhighway to Knowledge and Education or the Road to Sodom and Gomorra.

THE GOOD

There is no doubt that the Internet is having a dramatic impact in the field of education and in the classroom. In an instant a student can travel the world to discover distant lands, conduct virtual experiments, or speak to fellow students across the globe. The Internet has became an ubiquitous tool and indispensable educational aid. It has become a perfect place for educators and students to conduct “real world” projects that were nearly impossible a decade ago. There is unlimited access to interactive and dynamic material to assist students with their learning. According to published reports, 1,000,000 new web pages offering information on a wide array of subjects and topics are created daily. In addition, there are approximately 200 million people with e-mail addresses that, as well as creating an infinite amount of informational resources, provide access to individuals all over the world. Additionally, new software has made web page publishing so easy that even computer novices can enjoy the pleasures of creating their own domain. The Internet also offers a new liberation from the classroom that is fostering independent learning by students of all ages. Consequently, when the Internet is used responsibly there can be no match for its wealth of information and educational benefits.

THE EVIL

On the flip side, the Internet has been used to greatly expand the pornography industry. Most people are shocked to learn the foothold the porn biz has in cyberspace, including these startling statistics: • 89 % of all porn is created in the U.S. • $2.84 billion in revenue was generated from U.S. porn sites in 2006 alone • $89 per second is spent on porn online • 260 new porn sites go online daily • Every second 28,258 porn pages are being viewed • 35 % of all material downloaded is pornographic Even more frightening is that legitimate web sites are used for pornography or other sexual activities. A perfect example is the chat rooms that have video capability. There are no safeguards preventing a child from wandering into an adult webcam site and viewing explicit live encounters. And web sites like Myspace and YouTube, while legitimate, can be used in a manner wholly inconsistent with its intent. Over time, some safeguards must be implemented to insure the safety of our most precious resource: our children. Until then, the debate will continue on the Internet: Good vs. Evil! www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

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522... That’s the number of letters to the editor we published last year. We got letters alright. Letters signify that readers are involved with our newspapers. Some agree with us, some disagree, but they care, and they care enough to write. 4,434... That’s how many pictures we published in our 8 newspapers between June 2005 and July 2006. Pictures of local people, places and events are what our local papers are all about. 1,942... That’s how many arrest reports we published in our newspapers last year. Our "Crime News" and "Police Blotters" are important parts of community weekly news. 3,183... That’s how many news stories we published in our newspapers in the last 12 months. Stories on issues from local news, investigative stories, sports coverage, profiles, reviews and local events are what makes our papers a reader friendly source of news.

90... That’s how many eye-sores of the week we published in our newspapers last year. Eye-sores of the week are pictures taken by our staff and our readers. They are pictures of places which have been neglected, contain graffiti or are dirtied. The pictures produce action by the people responsible for their repair. They lead to a cleaner, safer and more aware neighborhood. 17,124... That’s how many advertisements appeared in our newspapers from July 2006 though June 2007. These advertisers put their faith in or paper and received response to their ads. 672,634... That’s how many hits our website received in September 2007. Our website is hot and peoplenow know that we are their local source for news, events, sports and opinions.

We are proud to be the #1 news and advertising source for residents and businesses in Queens & Brooklyn.

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Queens Groups Sound Off on $57.1 Billion City Budget p. 2

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EXAMINER Volume 9 Number 7 (USPS 457-020)

March 1, 2007

Expose Flashers Before They Get a Chance

Your Weekly Community Newspaper Covering Flushing, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Bay Terrace, Fresh Meadows, Briarwood, Springfield Gardens, Hollis, Laurelton, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Little Neck, Whitestone, Jamaica Estates, Floral Park and Jamaica

Two Queens councilmen want serial flashers to have to register with state sex offender list

BY SHANE MILLER Flashers beware: If your goal is to get people to notice you, then two politicians will be more than happy to comply. “The community needs to be aware that these people are

Sketch Released in Lunar New Year Stab Police have released a sketch of one of three men they say stabbed and killed a Lunar New Year reveler on a Flushing street two weekends ago. Hong Qi Zhang, 40, was leaving a party celebrating the Lunar New Year at approximately 4 a.m. on the morning of February 18 near the intersection of Colden Avenue and Elder Street. He was presumably returning to his nearby Holly Avenue residence when he was approached by three black males. According to witnesses, loud shouting could be heard, and the argument turned deadly when one of the three men pulled out a knife and stabbed Zhang in the chest. He died a short time later at New York Continued on page 3

living among them,” said Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr., in front of P.S. 118 in Hollis last Friday morning. On February 16, two young girls and a boy were flashed in the school playground by a man who police believe just two hours later dragged a 13-year-old girl into an alley near the intersection of 110th Avenue and 195th Street and raped her. “If they want attention, then we’ll give it to them.”

Vallone, along with colleague Leroy Comrie, will introduce a resolution calling on Albany to add public lewdness to the list of crimes that require registry on the state sex offender list. As it stands, a serial flasher could repeatedly expose themselves to children and adults alike without being tagged as a sexual predator. “If this pervert had been on the sexual offender registry, this might not have happened,” said

Vallone. “Not only are these perverts disgusting, but they also become emboldened when they escape with minimal punishment for their vile actions.” That said, Vallone understands that there is a difference between a person who exposes themselves for sexual gratification and a prankster, say, streaking a sporting event. The councilman believes that the state can craft legislation that would distinguish between the

two. Vallone admitted that it is difficult to measure the prevalence of flashing, as many cases go unreported. He did note that a 36-hour sting this past summer on the subway system by the NYPD, however, netted 13 arrests for such offenses as sexual abuse, forcible touching or fondling, and public lewdness. If a person is found guilty of the first two, a judge can Continued on page 3

Fire in the Manhole!

The westbound Horace Harding Expressway had to be completely shut down for the evening rush hour commute Monday, after a manhole exploded near the intersection of 150th Street. It took Con Edison crews and firefighters hours to repair the problem. (Photo by Shane Miller)

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Four Dead in Queens Murder-Suicide April 26, 2007

Also Serving Kew Gardens...

BY SHANE MILLER It wasn’t the first time that Cambria Heights resident Sonia Taylor would call the cops for protection from her son, but it would be her last. Taylor, along with a wheelchairbound man and a home health aide, was shot to death inside 116-31 225th Street last Wednesday afternoon. Her suicidal son then turned the weapon on himself, bringing the total death count to four. Taylor called police at 11:38 a.m., stating that her son Jimmie Dawkins was tearing up the house. Less than 15 minutes later, he was firing off rounds. When police arrived, they found Taylor and Syndia Jean-Pierre, a home health care aid and mother of three from Brooklyn, lying next to each other on the ground floor.

Established 1873

Volume 11 Number 12

In a back bedroom, they found the lifeless body of 47-year-old Arnold Lawson, Taylor’s wheelchair-bound boyfriend who had recently suffered a stroke. Upstairs, they found Dawkins, who had shot himself once in the temple with a .40calibar handgun. One man unbelievably survived the carnage. Laurice Johnson, the 21-yearold nephew of Lawson who was in Queens helping care for his uncle, had arrived from Jamaica just weeks earlier. When the shooting started, he hid in a closet. Dawkins fired at the door, and a bullet grazed his leg, according to a nearby restaurant owner that spoke to Johnson minutes after the incident. Johnson told her he remained quiet despite the pain, so that Dawkins wouldn’t

continue to fire. He later jumped out a window and ran barefoot to the eatery, telling people he had been shot and urging someone to call 911. Dawkins had no rap sheet, but police had been to the home eight times since last May. Taylor had told police that he was a drug abuser, and Taylor’s distraught sister, Annetta, showed up at the scene hysterical, shouting that cops were to blame for not protecting her sister from her “mentally ill” son. Police immediately closed off the entire block, as medical examiners in full white suits repeatedly entered and exited the crime scene. The entire stretch remained closed off until the bodies were removed from the home hours later.

Police closed off a stretch of 225th Street in Cambria Heights last week, after a gunman killed three people and then turned the weapon on himself.

Mugged 101 Year-Old Honored At Ridgewood Center- see page 24

Queens eensLedger Maspeth • Middle Village • Woodside • Elmhurst • Ridgewood & Greater Queens www.Queensledger.com

Vol. 134 No. 34

Your Award Winning Weekly Community Newspaper

March 29, 2007

SEE PAGE 3

After neighbors on quiet 58th Avenue, just west of Grand Avenue in tell you, there is MORE than one mattress in there." But according Maspeth, saw dozens of mattresses being loaded into the house at 59- to Councilman Dennis Gallagher, who tells us he has been working on 39, they called the local civic (MVMCA), the Buildings Dept. and Fire the problem since some MVMCA civic members reported suspicious Dept. for some advice on how to handle what seemed like flop house use activity at the house last week - the house is now shut down for use as at the recently sold two-family. Engine Co. 291 responded on Monday a 'transient facility.' Assemblywoman Marge Markey said she has afternoon, and according to Fire Lt. Chris Perry, pictured here - "I can been working on this issue as well. SEE STORY - PAGE 3.

Star

Greenpoint

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State Holds K. Bridge Hearing in Greenpoint Page 3 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 3

BY SHANE MILLER Residents of a quiet residential block in Fresh Meadows held a rally over the weekend, protesting the construction of a six-family home that is rising where a one-family home once stood. The residents were joined by Councilman Tony Avella, who joined in the criticism of how the Department of Buildings (DOB) has handled the project, citing issues of fire safety, yard requirements, parking and sewer issues, and, of course, the size. “If regular citizens can see that something is not right, why can’t DOB see the same things?” he asked Saturday morning before the afternoon rally. Perhaps the most glaring irregularity of the house is in the rear. The large building covers almost the entire lot, and in the back a hole had to be cut in the building to allow utility wires to pass unfettered. “I contacted Verizon, and they said the owner was not authorized to move the wires,” said Avella. However, Jack Friedman, chief of staff for the area’s councilman, David Weprin, said that due to the zoning - the lot sits in an R-4 zone - the building’s owner is unfortunately not breaking any regulations. “We went on site with an inspector from DOB last year, and pointed out our concerns - we put this guy through the ringer,” said Friedman. “They shut down the site for nine to 11 weeks while they looked into it, which is almost unheard of.” Friedman said that he has met personally with owner Rubinova Nekadam and his lawyer several times, and that while he admits the development is out of scale, the building complies with all of the zoning regulations. “DOB has been there several times, and they are certain that everything is being done legally,” said Friedman, who questioned why Avella would hold a Continued on 27

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MASPETH FLOP HOUSE SHUT DOWN APRIL 27, 2007

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Demo Work the Real Thing Judge won’t stop demolitions before hearing; protest argues action remains premature

This Week

Rubber Pellets Deadly? PA Wants New Park Turf Studied p. 21

Borough Border Gets New Train Station

B Y N ORMAN O DER The Atlantic Yards project took another step forward in the past week, but questions remain about its timetable and its future. State Supreme Court Justice Joan Madden last Friday refused to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would have blocked developer Forest City Ratner (FCR) from continuing demolitions of properties it owns within the 22-acre Atlantic Yards site before a preliminary injunction to block further demolitions can be argued in court on May 3. The TRO had been sought by Develop Don’t

Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) and the 25 other neighborhood and civic groups challenging the legitimacy of the state’s environmental review of the project. Success in court would not stop the project but would force the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) to reopen the environmental impact statement-which would lead to delays, at minimum, and possible changes in the project. In response, DDDB and allies organized a protest Monday morning, arguing that the demolitions are premature, given that FCR cannot build the project until the environmental lawsuit,

Park It Right Here

ExxonMobil’s

as well as a pending eminent domain challenge in federal court, are resolved. More than 80 people gathered on Flatbush Avenue near the corner of Fifth Avenue, carrying signs that criticized Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Governor Eliot Spitzer for creating blight, and urged Spitzer to fulfill his reformer’s pledge by turning to Atlantic Yards. While Forest City cannot indeed build the Atlantic Yards arena and the surrounding five towers in the project’s first phase until the lawsuits are resolved, an executive for the developer argued in court papers that an intricate schedule had been established in which certain buildings would

be demolished first, leaving time for demolition of buildings to be acquired later by eminent domain. That would get the arena built by its scheduled 2009 opening date, a crucial deadline, given that the New Jer Continued on page 24

p. 25

Developer Picked to Transform Old Navy Brig Site in Wallabout p. 27

People will often do as the weather dictates, and with temperatures rising recently, why not follow Mother Nature’s marching orders for a bit? This past weekend, flocks of folks were sighted venturing to McCarren Park for some outdoor relaxation, including strolling, sports-playing, sunbathing, and sitting on a blanket with friends and loved ones. And considering that it’s not even May yet, it seems a safe bet that there’ll be plenty more pictures like this in the near-future. (Photo by Phil Guie)

Greenpoint Man in Tagging Threesome Three Brooklyn men, including one from Greenpoint, have been charged with vandalizing an “L” train subway tunnel and two Long Island City buildings, incriminated by their own videotaping of the crime. The three men were identified as Miles Wickham, 22, (a/k/a “RESKEW,” “RSKW,” and “RW”), of 404 5th Street; Michael Baca, 22, (a/k/a “2ESAE” - pronounced Too Easy), of 545 Meeker Avenue; and Raul Mendez, 35 (a/k/a “DRO”), of 1738 East New York Avenue. All three are variously charged in a 43-count indictment, including criminal mischief, making graffiti and criminal trespassing. If convicted, each of the defendants faces up to seven years in prison. According to papers filed by the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the tagging trio entered an L subway tunnel be Continued on page 3

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COMMUNITY•HISTORY

Maple Grove Cemetery By Nancy Cataldi

t’s not just the living that call Queens home. In fact, the borough has more bodies in various states of decomposition than it does actually walking around, and quite a few of them were relatively famous in their own time. One of the borough’s many final resting places is Kew Gardens’ Maple Grove Cemetery, which was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Jimmy Rushing

It is located on “The Backbone of Long Island,” part of the great terminal moraine where a huge Ice Age glacier came down from the north, covering all of New England, ending in Queens. Many of the boulders in this hilly terrain were moved from as far away as Vermont and Massachusetts. Prior to 1835 there were few, if any, organized cemeteries in this country. Rather, the custom was to inter loved ones in churchyards. Maple Grove Cemetery was organized in 1874. The site was chosen because, at the time, it was still very rural. A trip via the Long Island Railroad from the 34th Street Ferry in Manhattan would take twenty minutes to reach the Maple Grove Station. In 1874 and 1875, six businessmen from Brooklyn acquired the land for Maple Grove

from Mary Webb, who owned an undeveloped 80 acres. An agreement was signed that Mrs. Webb would receive onehalf of the proceeds of the sale of burial plots in the cemetery. The cemetery today consists of 75 acres, divided between Monumental Park, which is the older Victorian section, and Memorial Park, which was the new movement in burials during the early 1940s. In the newer section, bronze markers were installed flush with the ground, creating a wide open space, with only the topography standing out, such as trees and bushes,

which were strategically planted. Maple Grove holds many historical figures from the development of early Queens, such as the forefathers of the area. John Sutphin, for whom Sutphin Boulevard is named, was one of the first trustees of the cemetery. Other old Queens and Brooklyn names such as Lott, Snedeker, Suydam, and Van Sicklen are scattered throughout the grounds. Maple Grove was one of the first cemeteries to bury African Americans, and the south border of the cemetery is the final resting place of several of

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

COMMUNITY

HISTORYâ&#x20AC;˘

early civil rights activists, as well as 111-yearold old Millie Tunnell, a slave who served George Washington. Elisabeth Riis, the wife of urban reformer and first photojournalist, Jacob Riis, has a small reclining lamb on her stone, flanked by two beech trees planted by Jacob in 1905. The trees tower over this small little lamb. Many musicians are interred at the cemetery as well: Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, Russian pianists; Jimmy Rushing, singer for Count Basie; Lavern Baker, the 1950s songstress; and Tony Sbarbaro, drummer for The Original Dixieland Jazz Band from New Orleans. There are also many interesting stories among the dead, such as that of Charles Manly, the aviator who flew a plane before the Wright Brothers, as well as many incredible missionaries, artists, authors, and cartoonists. Three of the most incredible stories are that of Reverend Stephen Merritt, who buried the poor

and has a site dedicated to him; The Bluebird of Mulberry Bend, who was a notorious evil young lady who found God and saved people in the bars and dives she once hung out in; and the story of Julia, the dog who is buried in Maple Grove who saved an entire apartment from death by fire. Maple Grove Cemetery is full of beautiful angels, monuments, historic trees and winding paths and rolling hills, and continues to offer a tranquil sense of place in an otherwise overcrowded city.

winter 2007 / 2008â&#x20AC;&#x192; www.itsqueens.com

Jacob Riis

COMMUNITY•STAGE

Acting Out

for These Queens Students is Encouraged

The Cultural After School Adventures (CASA) program marked a new beginning for Queens Theatre in the Park, providing the opportunity to bring to scale its educational offerings and develop an expanded, high-impact program for Queens public schools. Jeff Rosenstock shared his years of expertise and helped shape an adventure filled with discovery, surprises, and achievements. The generous support of City Council members placed professional actors in 10 elementary and intermediate schools. Twice a week for two hours each day, students learned the essential tools of theatre, including theatre games, improvisation, creating and developing characters and scripts, and the communication of emotion and image. As Theatre in the Park staff developed and implemented the program, they kept saying over and over that the most important thing is the quality of the experience, and these kids got eqaulity. The singular element of this program, and one that Queens Theatre kept close, is that all of the work was created by the students. The emotion, words, concepts, and images were solely conceived and fashioned by these remarkable youth. The program staff and teaching artists really wanted to hear what was on their minds, and they did, as the students prepared a lot of work in tones and styles that ranged from light comedy to biting socio-political commentary.

All of the participating schools had student populations that represented the world’s cultures, including many immigrants, and first-generation Americans. These smart and funny urban kids gave voice to their informed feelings and beliefs on the issues that mattered most to them. One elementary school in Elmhurst created a vaudeville-style review including a section entitled “Listen Up America” that explored the themes of war, immigration, and poverty. Another elementary school in Rego Park created “Welcome to New York,” which provided travelers with an incomparable perspective on the adopted city of these young immigrants from across the globe. All of the students performed their works at their school sites, often in a program with other year-end shows.This gave parents and friends an additional opportunity to see their kids shine. But the centerpiece of the program was at Queens Theatre. All of the kids performed on the professional stage in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and this experience left them, quite simply, star struck. These youth stood on the very same stage that has held living legends in the performing arts, and they fell in love with the theatre through their experience. The program resulted in transformative learning experiences for children, it trained a new generation of theatrical artists, and a big step was taken in developing tomorrow’s audience for our Theatre today. Can you measure success any other way?

Students in the CASA program take a break from rehearsing for the big show

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COMMUNITY•EDUCATION

While schools across the city are closing for failing our children, one Queens school consistently makes the grade.

Nestled away on the corner of 69th Street and Juniper Valley Road lies a school, Public School 128, a small school rich in history whose accomplishments and achievements have been recognized not only in this city and state but on the national level as the school was recently honored as a “National Blue Ribbon School” This outstanding educational institution is the envy of many schools throughout the city and state. PS 128, known informally as the “Juniper Valley School” serves the “small town” of Middle Village, a tight-knit neighborhood where resident are both community and civic conscious. So in an era where schools are failing and children are not meeting requirements what makes 128 so special? Is it that special blend of community, civic and parental involvement? Is it the dedicated group of teachers and professionals? Is it the leadership of

school Principal John LaValle? The answer is clear: All of the above! According to “Great Schools: The Parents Guide to K – 12 Success,” a web site that rates the effectiveness of our public schools, PS 128 scores an extraordinary 9 of 10 and has a 5-Star rating (the highest available) from the parents. A parent of a student submitted this comment: “My son went to PS128 from K-5 and continued onto IS119 in Glendale. Due to his excellent foundation at PS128, he made it to the honors program at IS119 and is now continuing on to an excellent high school. I personally went to Catholic elementary school. At first I was skeptical about sending my son to public school, but after his experience at PS128, I know we made the best choice for his education (and saved a bundle of $ in the interim!) 128 has caring teachers, a warm environment and amazing parental involvement!

CHARTING 128

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION• Kudos to your school Mr. Lavelle!” Comments like the above are the norm not the exception. Principal John LaValle has been the leader of PS 128 for the past 20 years and he prides himself on the community spirit and the strong ties to the neighborhood. He is quick to point out that 5 of the school teachers attended PS128, one of whom was a student of his. “I am honored to serve the children of this school and the community, and I am determined to overcome every challenge that we may face, including the expansion of our school to K – 8. I will continue to ensure our children receive an excellent education,” said LaValle. Long before our federal government came up with the slogan “No Child Left Behind,” PS 128 lived those words each and every year with their strong leadership and their commitment to educational excellence.

Lavelle with PS 128 students and a former student - and now teacher - at the school. winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

COMMUNITY•CONNECTIONS

Civic Corner A quick glance at community organizations working for a cleaner, brighter, better Queens Queens Civic Congress Covers: All Of Queens – Umbrella Civic for local Civics President: Corey Bearak Email: Bearak@aol.com Hot Topics: Rallying around common sense with regards to the cutting down of trees; calling on Mayor Bloomberg to form a task force consisting of City Planning, Environmental Protection, and Parks to oversee reforms to the Zoning Resolution; requesting the city compile an aerial map on the loss of porous ground in Queens over the last five and ten years; urging the Department of City Planning to issue stricter rules on how much of a R1, R2, R3, and R4 property can be paved.

COMET Citizens of Maspeth / Elmhurst Together Civic Association Covers: 11378, 11373 President: Roe Daraio Hot Topics: In the span of just two days, 21 anonymous complaints were filed via the city’s 311 system about homes on a two-block stretch of 70th Street, all on the eastern half of the blocks between 52nd and 53rd Avenues in Maspeth. Three days later, on November 4, two more such complaints came in. Statistically speaking, that’s well over 70 percent of the houses in less than a week, all supposedly and suddenly guilty of allowing illegal renters into their basements. After inspectors came, they gave out summonses on other violations in some of the homes. Another hot topic: The design of a new park planned for the old Keyspan property, which was home to the famous Elmhurst Gas Tanks.

Middle Village / Maspeth Civic Association Covers: 11378, 11379 Email: mvmca@aol.com President: Joseph Cimino Hot Topics: Flooding hot spots on Penelope Avenue and Furmanville Avenue in Middle Village, and Maurice Avenue near 54th Avenue and Grand Avenue, west of 64th Street in Maspeth; rush hour traffic speeding through neighborhood side streets to the LIE eastbound parking lot. The MVMCA is also working on repaving streets in south Middle Village, and renovating ball fields and the artificial turf in Principe Park and the west service road of the L.I.E.

Glendale Civic Association Covers: Glendale – 11385 (established in 2005) Email: glendalecivic@aol.com President: Kathy Masi Meet: Town Hall meetings on specific issues only. Hot Topics: The development of the Atlas Park Mall at Cooper Ave. and 80th St.; a Yeshiva for 650 students on a former manufacturing site. This civic also focuses on building bridges with real estate developers to protect the quality of life in Glendale.

www.itsqueens.com winter 2007 / 2008

Jackson Heights Beautification Group Covers: 11372 Email: info@jhbg.org President: John McCaffrey

COMMUNITY

CONNECTIONS•

Established in 1988, the civic is credited with keeping Jackson Heights on the minds of legislators in Queens. As its name suggests, the group is constantly performing neighborhood beautification projects and makes sure its parade committees, merchants and residents understand that Jackson Heights is both diverse and thriving. They have a ‘Garden Club,’ a ‘Graffiti Busters committee,’ and even a Halloween Parade committee. Hot Topics: Keeping Jackson Heights green; mitigating graffiti; pushing the landmarking and preservation of the Jackson Heights Historic District; motivating the 115th Police Precinct to ticket double-parked cars and watch for poaching cabs, especially along the Roosevelt Avenue and 37th Avenue business stretch. Why that last one: Jackson Heights shopping is hot, but snarling traffic makes driving through the neighborhood a nightmare at times.

Queens Colony Civic Association Covers: Bellerose from 87th Road to Jamaica Avenue, from Little Neck Parkway to the Cross Island Parkway. Address: BOX 20371, Floral Park, NY 11002 Email: info@queenscolony.org President: Angela Augugliaro Meet: Sept. – Dec. and March – June at Holy Trinity Church 246-55 87 Ave, Bellerose Hot Topics: Security, the Cease and Desist Law protecting its members from being contacted by real estate brokers and salespeople.

Kew Gardens Civic Association Covers: Kew Gardens -- founded in 1914 Email: contact@kewgardenscivic.org President: Dominick Pistone Hot Topics: Zoning; landmark preservation status.

Glendale Property Owners Association Covers: Glendale - 11385 Email: gpoa4glendale@aol.com President: Brian Dooley Meet: 1st Thursdays, 7:30 @ Greater Ridgewood Youth Council Office Hot Topics: Changing the zip code for Glendale. which currently shares 11385 with Ridgewood, This has irked many in Glendale for decades. With 36,471 addresses in the 11385 zip code, it is one of the biggest in Queens, and three times the number of neighboring zip codes. The Property Owners Association is also concerned with severe flooding at the Cooper Avenue Underpass, as well as the NYC2030 plan.

Citizens For A Better Ridgewood Ann Maggio, president Covers: Ridgewood (Queens & Brooklyn) Meets the last Monday of the Month at St. Aloysius Parish Hall on 382 Onderdonk Avenue, between Stanhope and Stockholm Streets Hot Topics: The prostitution problem on Starr Street at the Brookyn/Queens border; crime; dumping; noise; inconsiderate neighbors not picking up after their dogs. winter 2007 / 2008 www.itsqueens.com

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