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Far Rockaway is Regional Winner of NY Forward
By Forum Staff

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Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that Far Rockaway will receive $4.5 million in funding as one of the New York City region winners of the first round of NY Forward. Building on the momentum of the state's successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the $100 million NY Forward program adopts the same “Plan-then-Act” strategy as the DRI to support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York's communities. As part of NY Forward Round One, two to three awards will be made to communities in each of the state’s ten economic development regions to support development and implementation of a revitalization plan for their downtowns.
NY Forward is a central component of the State’s economic development efforts, working together with DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York's downtowns and commercial corridors. NY Forward communities serve the immediate local residents and are more local in nature, as opposed to communities typically funded through DRI that focus on amenities and attractions that serve the regional community. For the New York City region, NY Forward communities are BID-scale business districts where projects are developed with input from local residents.
Like DRI, each NY Forward community will develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of readily implementable projects. The Department of State will provide enhanced technical assistance to better support those communities with less internal capacity as part of the NY Forward program and fund projects appropriately scaled to the size of each community. Projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that elevate specific cultural, historical qualities that enhance the feeling of smalltown charm.
“Sitting at the southernmost portion of Queens and the easternmost end of the Rockaway Peninsula, Far Rockaway is a diverse, strong community,” the Hochul administration described the South Queens community.
“It serves as a multi-modal transportation hub, with the Mott Avenue A subway station, the Far Rockaway Long Island Rail Road station, the QM17 Express bus to Midtown Manhattan as well as bus services to Queens and Nassau counties, informal car shares, dockless bike shares and a 20-minute drive to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Furthermore, Far Rockaway encompasses cross-peninsular roads with connections to multiple regional expressways to Manhattan. From Trinity Chapel to the post office designed by architect Eric Kebbon to the wedgeshaped bank building, Far Rockaway’s downtown has historic characteristics similarly found in smaller villages and hamlets located throughout Long Island and Upstate New York. It also has a diverse merchant community that is heavily dependent on local shoppers and serves as an entry point for immigrant entrepreneurs.”
According to the State, Far Rockaway aims to revitalize its downtown by enhancing its facades to create a more cohesive and beautified area as well as improving pedestrian and visitor wayfinding, bicycle infrastructure and streetscape amenities to emphasize proximity of Far Rockaway’s beaches to its downtown commercial core. It also seeks to establish itself as a destination for shopping and dining through partnership with the MTA and by creating seasonal, annual and/ or periodic events to attract families to shop and enjoy the area.
Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major American health concern. It is responsible for 1 out of every 3 deaths in this country. There are over 2 million strokes and heart attacks reported every year. Hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) are primary contributing CV health risks. These conditions affect more than 80 million Americans each year. Along with the huge loss of life comes the tremendous financial burden resulting from cardiovascular disease.
Because of the crush imposed by cardiac diseases on the economy, Medicare, Medicaid and private payers, have really applied the push for health-care teams to manage disease collectively and efficiently.
The role of the pharmacist here is very clear: ensuring cardiac patients are compliant with their meds thereby preventing hospital readmissions.
Cardiac medications include many types of drugs including Lipid-Lowering Therapies like statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, Blood Pressure Meds like Beta Blockers, Diuretics and ACE inhibitors and Thyroid meds like Levothyroxine. These are just a few of the myriad of meds that a cardiac patient can face.
With new drugs constantly turning up, physicians are realizing the value of pharmacists'' expertise in medications– it is an essential piece in saving the lives of patients.
At your local pharmacy there exists a real opportunity to learn about your meds. Not only what they do for your conditions, and safeguarding that you always have the ample supply you need, but whether you’re on the right one, at the appropriate dose. Another component monitored by your pharmacist is the possibility of any potential drug interactions between your particular medications.
The role of the pharmacist as a member of your cardiac health-care team is recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) which both recommend a team-based approach, which includes pharmacists, in the treatment of hypertension.
Community pharmacists are making a huge difference by provide services like blood pressure screenings, as well as offering advice to patients on many lifestyle issues, such as diet and exercise. You can turn to us with any difficulty you’re experiencing, even when trying to stop smoking.
The bottom line is that your pharmacist is in an ideal position to help manage blood pressure and cholesterol medication therapy. Talk to us and take the opportunity to get heart healthy!
Until next week…
For your family’s prescription needs, please call CROSS BAY CHEMIST at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644