Forum South 38 September 19

VOL. 12 • NUMBER 38 • SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

TRAGEDY: GRANDMOTHER KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN

Raj Chohan, of South Ozone Park, died last Friday after police said a drunk driver plowed into the older woman on her way to a religious service in Richmond Hill.

See Story on Page 19 Robert Stridiron/The Forum Newsgroup

Literary Love: Woodhaven Celebrates Library's Reopening Page 5

PS 146 Parents Outraged Over No Moment of Silence for Sept. 11 Page 14

Howard Beach Residents Gather to Raise Money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Page 30

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 1

2 2 | THE THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 25, 2012

Fed Up With Drug Deals And Trash, Neighbors Demand Change

Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup Rowdy individuals will nightly congregate in

Ozone Park residents said individuals dump trash into the yard of an abandoned house on Rockaway Boulevard between 105th and 107th streets.

By Anna Gustafson Residents on 107th Street near Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park have had enough.

For close to two years, neighbors said an abandoned house at 106-10 Rockaway Blvd. has been a sore spot where trash is routinely dumped in the backyard and which has been broken into by squatters who would allegedly deal drugs and intimidate area residents.

Neighbors said after frequent police action, the squatters left, but

this alleyway off of 107th Street near Rockaway Boulevard - and will often engage in such behavior as urinating on walls and allegedly now residents say drug dealers and dealing drugs, according to area residents.

generally rowdy - and often drunk individuals will congregate in an alleyway off of 107th Street that goes past the problem home’s backyard.

“It’s disgusting,” said Joann Miller, who has lived on 107th Street for 29 years. “There’s so much trash all the time, and now there are rats. At night they’ll come out with their cars and do drug deals. When there was a bar across the street - which closed about eight months ago they used to come from there, but there are still a lot of people coming

every night.

“They go into the alleyway for two minutes and then come out you don’t have to be a scientist to know what they’re doing,” Miller continued.

The building once housed the Better Homes Depot - a real estate company that has been sued by the city for allegedly misleading many first-time home buyers and engaging in deceptive trade practices. In 2003, Better Homes Depot had to

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According to court documents, Fessler served nine months in prison for paying kickbacks to attorneys in an effort to illegally grow his mortgage banking business.

Fessler could not be reached for comment.

There have been four complaints filed with the city Department of Buildings about the house in over the past two years, and the structure has one open violation from the Environmental Control Board for what the city documented as a failure to maintain building walls. Additionally, city officials wrote that windows at the site had been broken.

Residents are afraid that another bar could pop up in the Miller, who has been area, which they said has for far too long been plagued by in contact with various drunken individuals who frighten neighbors. city agencies about the pay a $600,000 settlement with the problems, said she would ideally like city, which included funds for con- to see the alleyway en tirely closed off in order to deter illegal activity. sumer restitution.

“It’s scary,” Miller said. “And I According to city Department of Buildings documents, the home have a 4-year-old granddaughter and is owned by Eric Fessler - the presi- a seven-year-old teacup Yorkie that’s dent of Better Homes Depot who probably smaller than the rats. This has a long history of legal troubles. is our community - we want it back.”

Cop of the Month

Saturday's Super Tuner Car Show at Resorts World Casino New York City included a crowd-pleasing performance by the female motorcyclist known as "Combat Barbie." The motorcyclist wowed onlookers with a set of tricks that could make anyone's jaw drop.

Photo Courtesy of Lindenwood Alliance

Officer Frank Calafiore surrounded by his proud wife and daughter and commanding officer Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale.

Photos Courtesy Vinny O'Hare/Camerawe.com

More than 400 cars were shown as part of the Super Tuner Car Show, which drew people of all ages from throughout the five boroughs - and beyond. The event was sponsored by 92.3 NOW.

He grabbed her, tore her clothes away and Police Officer Frank Calafiore was presented with a plaque naming him as Cop of the tried to sexually assault her. She managed to Month at the 106th Precinct for July/August get away but instead of calling 911, she went directly to the 106th Precinct. While explaining last Wednesday evening.

Calafiore was cited for his actions in the her story at the desk, PO Calafiore overheard apprehension of an attempted rape suspect in her and quickly asked when the incident had taken place. Learning it had just occurred, he Richmond Hill in July.

Police say a woman who was standing on a and Special Operations Lt. Frank Dipreta put corner of the Van Wyck Expressway and Lin- the victim in an unmarked car and drove back den Boulevard around 11:30 at night was ac- to the scene. As they were approaching, PO costed by a male suspect who made comments Calafiore saw a man matching the description to her, suggesting that any woman out alone given by the victim and when she confirmed it at"that time of night" was “looking for some- was him, PO Calafiore sprung into action and thing”. arrested the suspect for attempted rape.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 3

After Tragic Accident, Calls for Change in Maspeth

Three middle school students were sent to the hospital with serious injuries after an SUV driver plowed into them as they walked to school in Maspeth last week.

By Anna Gustafson After a driver slammed into five students on their way to school in Maspeth last week, parents are demanding the city Department of Transportation immediately make the area from around 69th to 80th streets along Grand Avenue safer - particularly for the approximate 4,000 children who attend class in the neighborhood.

“We’re afraid for our children’s lives,” said Maryann Johnson, the Parent Teacher Association president at PS 58 in Maspeth and the mother of students who attend both PS 58 ad IS 73.

According to police, driver Francis-Aung Lu, 40, of Elmhurst, said he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes, causing him to plow his Honda Pilot into a group of IS 73 pupils a little before 8 a.m. last Thursday at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 71st Street. Three of the students were sent to the hospital with serious injuries, and the other two also went to the hospital but were released soon after, according to the NYPD. Angie Pena, 13, was transferred from Elmhurst Hospital to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan last Friday for treatment. Her friends, Marina Abadir, 14, who suffered multiple spine fractures, and Ashley Kahn, 14, who underwent surgery to repair two fractured legs and two fractured hips, remain in Elmhurst Hospital.

The horrific accident was caught on camera, and the video shows the vehicle barreling into the students. The three became trapped underneath the Honda Pilot and about 10 to 12 people ran to lift the SUV off of the teenagers.

“Everybody has been crying a lot,” said an IS 73 student who wished to remain nameless. “Nobody can really believe this is happening, and we all just want them to get better.”

On Monday, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) met with parents and city Department of Transportation Queens Borough

Commissioner Dalila Hall to address longstanding safety concerns.

“Parents want a slow zone in the blocks where a lot of the kids are,” Crowley said.

The legislator, parents and civic leaders said they would like to see speed limits reduced from about 69th to 80th streets along Grand Avenue where a city study found about 98 percent of vehicles speed - to accommodate students at IS 73, PS 58 and Maspeth High School.

“Between these three buildings, there’s close to 4,000 students here,” said Joann Berger, the PTA president for IS 73 and president of the Presidents’ Council for District 24. “There are a lot - a lot - of kids walking around here in the morning and afternoon.”

Kerri Vasquez, the recording secretary for the PS 58 PTA, too emphasized how many students flood the streets and the need for increased pedestrian safety measures.

“I was thinking about walking my daughter to school that morning, and I would’ve been at that corner at that time,” she said. “There’s so many parents who walk their students there - and who walk with baby carriages there. There’s a sea of kids.”

Additionally, Eric Yun, a spokesman for Crowley, said70th Street needs to be made a one-way street to help calm traffic. The street was approved to be one-way but the city DOT has yet to implement it, and Hall said they are looking to change that during the next school break.

Berger also said parents would like to see a truck restriction between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on school days - as well as crossing guards in the area.

Hall said DOT officials could immediately look into increasing signage warning drivers that there are schools nearby, and she said her department could look into implementing what is known as a “school speed zone” in the area, which would include speed limits of 20 miles-per-hour when school is in session.

Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, left, parent and civic leaders, and Queens Department of Transportation Commissioner Dalila Hall, second from right, met to discuss concerns about pedestrian safety at the Maspeth intersection where five students were hit by a car last week.

4 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

From Bibliophiles to the Unemployed, Woodhaven Library’s New Space has Something for Everyone

Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup

Woodhaven students sing at the library's reopening celebration.

Photo Courtesy of Queens Library

Legislators, library officials, civic leaders and area students celebrate the re-opening of the Queens Library at Woodhaven on Tuesday.

By Anna Gustafson Perched across the street from the Victorian home where Betty Smith penned “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” in the early 1940s, the Queens Library at Woodhaven has long played a starring role in the borough’s literary landscape and has been a haven for everyone from bibliophiles to immigrants hoping to learn English and the unemployed seeking work.

That past - as well as its future - was feted Tuesday afternoon, when library officials, legislators, civic leaders and area students, including a number from PS 97, gathered to celebrate the reopening of the newly refurbished Woodhaven Library following months of renovation work.

The last library in New York City to be built with money donated by the

philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Woodhaven site had been under renovation work as of last March and, among a list of improvements, now has new decor, lighting, furniture and finishes, as well as a self check-out facility, a new circulation desk, a handicap accessible restroom, and a self check-in service available around the clock every day of the week. The entire renovation project for the library located at 85-41 Forest Parkway cost $675,000.

“Our local libraries are the cornerstones of our communities,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who allocated much of the funding for the library. “In nearly 40 years, the Woodhaven library has not seen any significant upgrades, and this massive renovation… provides residents with a first-class library that will fit their needs.”

Calling libraries “the great equalizer,” Crowley stressed the Woodhaven site’s role in helping those out of work find jobs - by, for example, allowing them to access computers to look for work and to create resumes. Additionally, she noted that the library provides English as a Second Language classes for the many immigrants from around the world who now call Queens home.

Queens Library President and CEO Thomas Galante touched upon the library’s long and storied history in the neighborhood. Built for $95,000 in 1924 - before, Galant noted, “The Great Gatsby” and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” were published, as well as before the Great Depression wreaked financial havoc upon the nation - the library has “deep roots in the community,” the library system’s president said.

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“The upgrades make a huge improvement in the library,” Galante said at the ceremony that was also attended by state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), Assemblyman Mike Miller (DWoodhaven), Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. Civic leaders also attended the festivities.

While renovation work began in March, residents were still able to access its books and other services in the facility’s basement. The entire library was closed on Aug. 9 and officially reopened earlier this month. During the renovation work, Woodhaven’s bibliophiles were able to use nearby libraries in Glendale and Richmond Hill.

“While the doors were closed temporarily, it was definitely worth the wait,” Addabbo said.

Calling the Queens Library system a nonprofit corporation that serves a population of 2.3 million people and has one of the highest circulations of any public library system in the world “second to none,” Ulrich also praised the extensive work done.

Marshall echoed Ulrich’s sentiment, saying, “our system is one of the best in maybe the whole country.

“Children, you are very, very lucky to have this wonderful library,” Marshall told the students from PS 97 gathered in the library during the ceremony.

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Police are continuing to search for a stun-gun wielding man who they said raped a 69-year-old jogger in Forest Park at the end of August and who the NYPD recently linked to at least five other sexual assaults in the area in the last couple of years.

According to police, the assailant used a black stun gun to attack the woman who was running inside the park near 72nd Street and Union Turnpike around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26. The perpetrator is described as a white man who is between the ages of 30and 40-years-old, stands at about 5-foot-10 with a thin build, and has short hair, police said.

There is a $22,000 reward for the arrest, indictment and conviction of the person responsible, the NYPD said.

Anyone with information about the suspect should contact the NYPD at (800) 577-TIPS.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 5

There’s Nothing Like Community Dear Editor: Last week I attended the Stars of HOPE star paint event at the Howard Beach Assembly of God Church. On my way there, I just thought it would be something cute my daughter could participate in with a few of her friends. However, I found myself with tears in my eyes after taking it all in.

It was almost a year ago that these stars first came to Howard Beach, adding a little encouragement to what seemed to be our darkest days – literally and figuratively. And now it was our chance to pass that hope along. In all it’s simplicity – the word “Faith” painted on a little wooden star – so much emotion can be conjured up. Neighbors that I had never even spoken to were offering a plate of food or a spare blanket.

It was during Sandy that I realized what community was all about and oddly enough, I was never more thankful to live in Howard Beach (even though living here just caused most of my belongings to float away).

Everyone lives in a neighborhood… but I don’t believe that everyone belongs to a community, a place you can really call home.

All in all, the event was extremely heartwarming. I am hopeful that the star my daughter painted, with “Stay Strong” written across in bright pink, will lift just a little weight off someone’s shoulders upon viewing it.

During all the trials and tribulations of Sandy, The Forum has consistently kept the community abreast of all things relative and I am so thankful.

I look forward to the Sandy issue in October.

Regina Simonetti Howard Beach

Pick Up A Paper Dear Editor: How fortunate that we live in one of the few remaining free societies, with a wealth of informational sources available. Most American cities and suburbs are down to one local daily or weekly newspaper. Newspapers and magazines have to deal with increasing costs for newsprint, delivery and distribution along with reduced advertising revenues and declining readership

due to competition from the Internet and other new informational sources.

In Queens, there continues to be ongoing circulation battles between a number of daily newspapers. Readers can select from Newsday, the New York Times, the Post and the Daily News. There are also national editions of USA Today and the Wall Street Journal along with freebies such as AM New York and Metro New York. More people turn to all news radio, national network news such as ABC, CBS, NBC along with their local affiliates, New York 1 (New York City), FOX-5, WOR-9, WPIX-11, and/or PBS along with cable new stations such as CNBC, CNN, FOX, BBC and the Internet for late braking news that can sometimes become stale by the time it reaches print the next day. A growing population of new immigrants support their own newspaper, radio and television stations.

In the marketplace of ideas, let us hope there continues to be room for everyone, including Newsday and our own Forum.

They all fill a valuable niche in the information highway.

Larry Penner Great Neck

Attn: Walmart Shoppers Dear Editor: A recent letter writer to the Forum sang the praises of Walmart. Here are some facts that anyone who thinks Walmart is a wonderful company should know. According to the Economic Policy Institute, trade between Walmart and China resulted in the loss of 133,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States just between 2001 and 2006. The CEO of Walmart makes more in a single hour than a fulltime Walmart associate makes in an entire year. You should read that again. Tens of thousands of Walmart employees and their children are enrolled in Medicaid and are dependent on the government for healthcare. So, while Walmart reaps obscene profits, the American taxpayer picks up the bill.

The combined net worth of six members of the Walton family is roughly equal to the combined net worth of the poorest 30 percent of all Americans.

Yet their employees can't earn a living wage. When we buy Walmart products (made by

6 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

people working for slave labor wages in China), we destroy well-paying American jobs and we make America poorer.

Here is a quote from Sara Gilbert, a striking Walmart manager, in a 2012 Bloomberg Businessweek article: “I work full-time for one of the richest companies in the world, and my kids get state health insurance and are on food stamps."

Walmart takes over a town, puts all its competition out of business (even if it costs them money), employs the townsfolk and pays them low wages with no healthcare. And where do these employees have to shop? Walmart, because every other shop has its doors and windows boarded up. They pay horrible wages and get the money back anyway. Walmart is NOT the answer. Well-paying jobs are. Union jobs.

Robert La Rosa Whitestone

Who Do You Think You Are? Dear Editor: I am a long-time resident of the Howard Beach/Ozone Park area. I have a question for some, actually most, of the other residents or maybe just consumers in the area: Who do you think you are? If you are going into a store, find a parking spot! I am so sick of the double- and triple-parkers around here. Are you of royal decent that parking laws do not apply to you? If I want to go to Gino’s I have to park 3 blocks away because that is by far the worst block on Cross Bay Boulevard. I guess I get a chance to walk off the carbs I just inhaled but honestly, I’d rather not.

And then, of course, there is the block of CVS. It’s like everyone in the right lane suddenly forgets how to drive.

People pulling out of CVS parking lot are merging across all 4 lanes to get themselves into the turning lane. God forbid you turn at the next corner, your majesty. And then, by the time I get to the light, I have to deal with the “Dollar Woman on Cross Bay” (dubbed by the Forum), basically yelling at me to give her money. Hey lady, try a please or thank you. Or you give a job a whirl – just a thought.

There is no common courtesy on the road anymore. Not only are drivers making up all their own rules, but they are also

just plain rude. If I let someone in, I expect the courtesy wave or nod. Is that too much to ask?

Jake Caruso Ozone Park

What Is He Thinking?

Dear Editor: There is no doubt, that the hackneyed supporters of the president, who continue to extol his administrative genius, are a bit worried about their warrior president.

As of late, Obama's second term isn't going too well, and the faithful (or faithless) want desperately to deflect away from his inept decision-making.

The one thing Assad, Putin, and Obama have in common is that, in their own way, each is

a bad leader: Two are tyrants and one is incompetent.

Obama was willing to take a country to war only to save his image for his stupidity, and the thing that stopped him was the British public's dissent on attacking Syria, the majority of the country, and Congress with a potential “no” vote. Because of his indecisiveness, he didn't act two years ago when there were no terrorists in Syria.

Putin craftily moved in at a propitious moment, upstaged a deflated Obama and diffused what would have become another blunder by Barry, plunging us into another war.

Tea Party targeting by the Internal Revenue Service, spun

by Democratic operatives as isolated to the Ohio office, was in fact orchestrated in Washington as a recent email from Lois Lerner revealed. This isn't finished.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

PUBLISHER Patricia L. Adams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Anna Gustafson PRODUCTION EDITOR Marisa Pilato REPORTERS Alan Krawitz, Samantha Geary CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS Hannah Sheehan, Kerry Goleski Kate Bubacz, Michael Florio SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tom Lombardino PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Stridiron, Richard York

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Of No Appeal When a jury of nine women and three men returned a verdict in the murder trial of Barbara Sheehan nearly two years ago, they said a lot more than the two words “not guilty.”

So many things were implied and understood – we know you shot your husband because for nearly 20 years he brutalized you physically, verbally and emotionally.

We know you shot him because he threatened your children, your parents, your family, your friends and of course you.

We know he was a documented sexual deviant who patronized transsexual hookers and was himself, a cross-dresser who fancied adult diapers.

We know he made neighborhood children afraid to play on his basketball team because as a coach, he was “intimidating, frightening and mean”.

We know you shot him because he smashed your head against a cinder block wall, poured scalding spaghetti sauce all over you and texted you threatening messages, while you sat in an emergency room at the hospital he drove you to, after shattering your eye socket and jaw.

We know you shot him while he was in the bathroom shaving because he picked up a gun and pointed it at you and told you he was going to kill you.

We know you shot your husband because if

EDITORIAL

you didn’t shoot and kill him he was going to shoot and kill you.

Above all, we know you shot your husband in self-defense. You’re not guilty.

After the trial, the jury forewoman spoke about the jury’s decision. “We believed she was justified with all the things she went through over the years,” she said. “We didn’t believe that Raymond Sheehan was the per-

fect family man or the photographs that were supposed to make him look like a pillar of the community.”

But despite their decision to acquit on the murder charge and one count of possession of a gun, she was found guilty of a second gun possession charge because the jury determined that she fired the second gun after Raymond Sheehan no longer posed a threat.

Ulrich and DEP Save Water in Richmond Hill

Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) in conjunction with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) distributed 60-gallon rain barrels on Saturday to nearly 100 homeowners in Richmond Hill. The distribution site was Holy Child of Jesus Church.

The rain barrels were free to the homeowners and connect directly to Photo Courtesy Office of Eric Ulrich a home’s downspout in Councilman Ulrich joined with the DEP and Holy Child Jesus Parish to distribute free order to collect and store rainwater barrels to residents in Richmond Hill. the storm water that falls on the rooftop. This waof New York City’s Green Infrastructure Plan. ter can then be used over time to water lawns The Plan aims to capture storm water before it and gardens. The real value of the barrels is ever enters the sewer system and thereby sigthe preventative measure they offer by collect- nificantly reduce combined sewer overflows ing water that would otherwise run off into the into local waterways. Over the next three years, street. The barrels help to mitigate roads flood- DEP will invest $187 million in public and ing and takes some pressure off the city sewer private funds on green infrastructure projects system. as well as other source controls such as rain Water stored in rain barrels can be used to barrels, and, by 2030, DEP plans to spend an water lawns and gardens, which can account estimated $2.4 billion to significantly reduce for up to 40% of water consumption during the combined sewer overflows. summer months, thereby enabling a savings on The rain barrel program also builds upon water bills.

DEP’s efforts to conserve water as part of New “DEP is helping Richmond Hill homeown- York City’s Water for the Future Program, a ers conserve water, save money, and ease street $1.7 billion initiative to ensure clean, reliable, flooding by distributing these rain barrels,” said and safe drinking water for more than nine milCity Council Member Eric Ulrich. “I would lion New Yorkers for decades to come. like to thank Commissioner Strickland and DEP is also installing new, high efficiency fixHoly Child Jesus Church for partnering with tures in the bathrooms of 500 City schools to me to host this event.” reduce water consumption by nearly 4 million DEP’s Rain Barrel Giveaway Program is part gallons each school day.

Imagine a father who promises his little girl that he is going to purchase a new dress for her the following Saturday. She can hardly wait for Saturday to arrive, until she stumbles and sprains her ankle. The severe pain makes her doubt her father’s promise.

Obviously, she has no reason to doubt, but God’s children make the same mistake when they base their faith upon their changing feelings instead of upon His unchanging Word.

Early in the summer the Lord reminded me of this by allowing me to experience a health problem.

By the time June arrived, I had felt weak and fatigued for days and unable to take the five-mile walks that are so beneficial to my health. On the second Sunday of the month, as the youth of the Restoration Ministries Church in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, were conducting our morning worship service, I stepped forward and asked them to pray for me. As these zealous young believers gently laid their hands upon me, I silently quoted the many Bible promises of healing that I had committed to memory. Although I felt no immediate

No longer posed a threat? Picture this: a woman viciously battered for nearly all of her adult life, now threatened to the point of pulling a trigger, cornered in a bathroom with a man, who despite having been shot numerous times is still threatening her verbally, still trying to reach for her, telling her he was going to kill her. We find it increasingly difficult to imagine that at a point like that anyone could reasonably assume that this monster, even though bleeding and mortally wounded, was no longer a threat.

Now there remained one final hope in bringing this nightmare to an end. A decision by the state’s highest court of appeal to overturn the gun possession charge and send Sheehan home, where we believe she should be.

But on Tuesday afternoon a call came to let this newspaper know that Barbara Sheehan’s appeal was denied.

All hopes were dashed; any shred of faith or confidence in our justice system now rests with the needle in the proverbial haystack.

Victims of domestic violence have suffered yet another unnecessary blow.

And now it seems the law of the land has decided to let Sheehan’s maniacal husband deliver one more strike, posthumously—she will lose at least three and a half more years of her life behind bars because of him. She is a victim once again. This time, her abuser came disguised as justice.

difference physically, I left the service uplifted spiritually because I knew that my heavenly Father is true to His Word.

That same week I resumed the five-mile walks, while prayerfully repeating a relevant verse from the prophet Isaiah, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (40:31). I still felt weak but continued to walk and added one more verse, Hebrews 10:36, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

After two more weeks, my strength returned to the point that I felt I could double the length of my walks. At this writing, I have taken three ten-mile walks and have returned from each with a level of energy that I can only explain as an answer to prayer and a proof that our Lord comes through for those who persist in believing His Word.

STEPHEN ROSER is pastor of Howard Beach Assembly of God 158-31 99th Street, Howard Beach

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 7

Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps Holds 9/11 Memorial for Fallen Member

Michael Florio/The Forum Newsgroup

Residents from throughout Queens gathered at the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps last week to remember Richard Allen Pearlman, who died trying to save others in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

By Michael Florio The Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps held a memorial for Richard Allen Pearlman 12 years after he gave his life to help the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The memorial is held every year on Sept. 11 to remember the ultimate sacrifice that Pearlman made to help those in need. Those that gathered shared their memories of Pearlman with one word being used most of all, hero.

“He was a big overgrown teddy bear with a heart of gold,” said Dorie Pearlman, Richard

A plaque honoring Richard Allen Pearlman hangs in the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters.

Pearlman's mother. “He was a very soft, caring person, who was always willing to help.”

Pearlman was a member of the youth corps and was about to become a member of the senior corps said former president, lieutenant and captain of the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps Daniel Exler.

“Richard always had to help, that was who he was,” he said.

Exler was there on Sept. 11 alongside Pearlman and hundreds of EMTs. “I remember being nervous,” he said. “I remember carnage. There was no building, debris

was everywhere, it was just a mess.”

The corps plans on building a memorial garden in Pearlman’s honor. Dorie Pearlman was pleased with the memorial.

“I’m very happy that they will have a permanent memorial for my son,” she said. “Many of the members are new and they don’t know my son. This will be a reminder of my son and the things that he did.”

The corps members are also happy to see the memorial be built.

“It will make me happy to see that in his honor,” said Exler.

The memorial will be built right in front of the ambulance corps base.

“Our plans are to construct a memorial that will be permanent, that the Pearlman family can come to and reflect upon,” said President of the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Ron Cohen.

Cohen went on to explain the design plans of the memorial. “The center piece of the garden will be an eye beam, a piece of steal from the world trade center, which will be lit up along with the flag pole.”

“It’s a long time coming,” said Exler on the memorial. “It’s something important that we need. In my opinion there are people that have forgotten, but the ambulance corps here, we will never forget one of our own. We will never forget Richie and what he sacrificed.”

Similar to Pearlman’s mother, Cohen wants the memorial to emphasize to new members who Pearlman was and the sacrifices he made, while also making his parents feel welcomed.

“The Pearlman family have been quite active with the corps over the last 12 years,” said Cohen. “But little by little the faces are changing and it may be uncomfortable if the members don’t know who their son was.”

The memorial will make sure not only that no one ever forgets Pearlman, but also that his family always feels welcomed.

“This memorial is a gift for the family to forever have something that they can come to and sit and reflect upon and know this is theirs,” said Cohen.

For 100 Years, Dancing Her Way Through Life Florence Selkin celebrates becoming a centurian

By Anna Gustafson Surrounded by people who had jumped state lines - and even oceans - to celebrate her 100th birthday with her, Florence Selkin was asked the inevitable question: What’s your secret? How have you lived so long - and continue to enjoy life with as much enthusiasm as someone many years younger?

“I dance,” Selkin, a Woodhaven resident, said at her birthday festivities at the Middle Village Adult Center on Tuesday morning. “I dance all the time - line dancing, belly dancing, any kind of dancing. You live and be very, very busy and stay healthy. Then, you live until you’re 100, and I plan on living until I’m 120.”

Selkin - who grew up with her parents, Joseph and Anna Cohen, and three younger siblings in the Bronx - was joined by a sea of family members and friends for a birthday marking a century of being alive - of living through both world wars and the Great Depression, of being married to her late husband, Abe, for 71 years until he died in 2005 at the age of 95, of raising a daughter, Linda, and of delighting in spending time with her four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Of a life lived traveling to each of the 50 states, and around the world - to Spain, for example, where

Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup

Florence Selkin, center, is joined by her family to celebrate her 100th birthday at the Middle Village Adult Center on Tuesday.

Selkin noted she danced “with many Spanish dancers.”

Born in 1913 - when Woodrow Wilson was president and Grand Central reopened its doors as the largest railroad station in the world - Selkin graduated from Roosevelt High School in the Bronx at the age of 15 and got married in 1934 to

a man who had seen her picture in a photography shop and knew immediately he wanted her to be his wife. The couple lived in the Bronx until 1962, when they moved to Woodhaven.

A committed civic activist, Selkin was the chairwoman of the Hostess Committee at the 1939 World Fair. During World War II, she

WHAT: Rally to protest the outrageous flood insurance premium hike increases WHERE: American Legion Hall in Broad Channel 209 Cross Bay Boulevard WHEN: Saturday, September 28 at 12pm 8 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

worked with a group of women to bring care packages to the soldiers before they headed to the front lines - and she organized a seven block party for the community to celebrate D-Day. Selkin also worked with Pioneer Women, a Labor Zionist women’s organization now known as Na’amat, for which she conducted numerous events that attracted such names as Eleanor Roosevelt, actress and politician Helen Douglas, and Gertrude Berg, an actress who was one of the first women to create, write, produce and star in a longrunning radio comedy-drama, “The Goldbergs.”

“She led a protest to help close a strip bar that was on Woodhaven Boulevard next to the Capital One bank,” said her daughter, Whitestone resident Linda Borsykowsky. “She’s always been an activist.

She used to stand on the street corner and collect money for the NAACP.” In addition to her myriad activist work, Selkin worked at Travel Weekly publications for 13 years, during which time she worked her way up from secretary to manager of the editorial department, where she oversaw 37 reporters around the world.

She retired in 1981.

Now, Selkin spends much of her time at the Middle Village Adult Center, where she plays many a game of bingo with friends and, of course, dances.

WHY: Due to recent legislation, all homeowners in the recently mapped flood zones will see dramatic impacts to their home values and the premiums they will have to pay.

GOAL: Demand that our elected officials seek legislative changes to this unfair law that threatens all coastal and river front communities across the country.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 9

FORUM POLITICS

After Thompson Drops Out, de Blasio Leads Lhota In The Polls

By Anna Gustafson Democratic mayoral contender and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is outpacing his Republican challenger, former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota, according to a Marist Poll conducted after former Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson officially dropped out of the race on Monday.

De Blasio had, prior to Thompson’s exit, been facing an Oct. 1 runoff against the Democrat who garnered the second highest number of votes in the Sept. 10 primary if the city Board of Elections paper ballot count discovered he did not land at least 40 percent of the vote in last Tuesday’s election. With each passing day that the city BOE did not have the ballots counted, however, pressure mounted from Democratic party officials and union leaders for Thompson to cede to de Blasio.

Now, de Blasio seems to be on an upswing, landing the endorsement of his former Democratic rival and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (DManhattan), and outperforming Lhota in the Marist Poll that was the first to be conducted after the primary and was done in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal and NBC 4 New York.

Bill de Blasio

“Joe Lhota must attract many Democrats to be competitive against the heavily favored Bill de Blasio, and right now, that’s not happening,” said Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “De Blasio is very well-liked and is cornering the market on most of the issues and qualities that matter to voters.”

Jessica Proud, a campaign spokeswoman for Lhota, said the Republican is not worried about the early poll numbers for the Nov. 5 general election.

“We always knew we’d be the underdog in this race and once New

10 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

Bill Thompson

Yorkers learn more about Bill’s radical policies, they will be looking for a practical alternative,” Proud said in an email. “Joe’s experienced leadership and solutions to expand the middle class will resonate with everyday New Yorkers in all five boroughs.”

Among likely voters, de Blasio leads Lhota 65 percent to 22 percent.

Independence candidate Adolfo Carrion trails in third place with 3 percent. One percent supports another candidate, and 9 percent are undecided, according to the poll. Candidate support definitely divides along party lines, though de Blasio landed the backing of one in four likely Repub-

Joe Lhota

lican voters, while Lhota received 13 percent of likely Democratic voters.

The Democrat, who has focused much of his message on financial inequality, won support in most categories specified by the poll - blacks, Latinos, whites, women and men - as well as in every borough. He has the largest lead in Manhattan, where the poll has him up 70 percent to 19 percent for Lhota.

The Republican candidate did land more support from Catholics, 45 percent to 40 percent.

Of voters who are not affiliated with any party but are likely to vote in November’s election, 50 percent

said they back de Blasio, 24 percent support Lhota and 9 percent go with Carrion.

Lhota has, however, landed backing from a number of high-profile politicians this week, including former Gov. George Pataki and state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos - both of whom had endorsed Lhota’s primary challenger John Catsimatidis.

“Throughout his career in public service, Joe Lhota has been the kind of leader who not only brings people together, but he keeps them together to get the job done,” Pataki said in a prepared statement. “As mayor, Joe will reach out to all New Yorkers with a shared vision of opportunity and optimism that will unite the city to overcome the challenges we face.”

Critics of the poll - and polls in general - warned that something like this is not necessarily an accurate representation of what will happen come November. Mayor Bloomberg, for example, was trailing far behind his Democratic opponent, former Public Advocate Mark Green and faced a double-digit deficit in the polls.

Bloomberg, as history knows, went on to spend more than $70 million of his own money on the campaign and won the election.

FORUM POLITICS

Post-Primary Progress: Squadron, James Prep for City’s Public Advocate Runoff Stringer readies for Nov. general election showdown for comptroller

By Alan Krawitz The city’s primaries may be over, but for many candidates the heavy lifting has only just begun.

And in no contest is that more true than the race for city Public Advocate, where Council Member Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) faces a runoff election against state Sen. Dan Squadron (DManhattan, Brooklyn) on Oct. 1.

James, known as a progressive voice in the Council who has championed issues from housing and social justice to women’s rights and job development, is hoping her reputation as a fighter is strong enough to knock out Squadron, a solid and well-respected state senator who has the backing of powerful unions and politicians, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and State Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan).

The runoff election is necessary because neither candidate reached the 40 percent threshold required by state law. James finished slightly ahead of Squadron by roughly three percentage points.

“We’re proud to earn first place in the Democratic Primary and a spot in the runoff,” said a spokesman for James’ campaign.

“Councilwoman James will continue to fight for every single vote and discuss her record of standing up to powerful interests on behalf of everyday New Yorkers," the James campaign said.

The spokesman added that James will bring the same “passion and experience she’s demonstrated in the City Council to the Public Advocate’s office and take New York City in a new direction.”

Going forward, a James campaign spokesman said they would be concentrating on building on endorsements, possibly including one from highprofile feminist Gloria Steinem.

“We will be campaigning throughout all five boroughs, picking up supporters from some other [former] candidates, such as ReshmaSaujani,

State Sen. Dan Squadron and Councilwoman Letitia James, both Democratic candidates for public advocate, will face each other in an Oct. 1 runoff.

and we will continue to build on our momentum,” he said. “We plan to really close the deal in the runoff.”

In a statement, Squadron’s campaign said that the senator’s momentum and grassroots energy continues to build ahead of the October 1st runoff.

“He's been the grassroots leader in the race, topping the Public Advocate field and nearly all other city campaigns in matching funds, organizing over 180 house parties and events, and building a diverse coalition of supporters across the city,” said a spokesperson for Squadron’s campaign.

Moreover, powerful political voices have endorsed Squadron, such as state Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx), who called Squadron, a “tireless champion for the New Yorkers who need one most: low-income families, immigrants, seniors, and so many others.”

“This campaign is all about making the Public Advocate’s office essential to our city so that it gets results for kids, families, and seniors who need them,” Squadron said.

But, historically speaking, runoff elections in New York City tend to fall short when it comes to voter turnout.

Gene Russianoff, a senior attorney with New York Public Interest Research Group, recalled that the last runoff campaign for public advocate was in 2009 between current mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio and Mark Green.

He said that voter numbers in the primary that year were about 326,000 and then dropped precipitously in the runoff to about 233,000.

“The numbers were low but generally all these numbers are an embarrassment to democracy," Russianoff said.

While Russianoff couldn’t say one way or the other which candidate might benefit from the runoff election, he did acknowledge that the election is expensive.

“The $20 million price tag for the runoff is a ‘big hit,’ on taxpayers,” he said, adding that NYPIRG has not yet officially taken a position on the runoffs.

But, there are some in Brooklyn who are definitely taking a position on the runoff election system.

James Lane, a Green Party candidate who also lives in Brooklyn, has strong views on the runoff and is calling for James to drop off the

ballot since she will already be on the ticket as a Working Families Party candidate in November.

“It’s unconscionable to me that we are going to have a $20 million runoff election when one of the candidates is already guaranteed a spot on the November ballot under the Working Families Party” said Lane. “This is the exact type of misuse of public funds I want to prevent in the future. If you want to be a candidate of working families, you shouldn’t waste public funding that is needed for healthcare, housing, jobs and schools.”

But, Russianoff said that asking someone to drop off the ballot was “unrealistic.”

“It’s hard to ask someone to concede, especially when they [Squadron and James] were so close to each other by percentages.”

Jame’s campaign discounted Lane’s call to drop out of the race, also calling it an “unrealistic” position. A James spokesman also said that for James to “drop out” would be rejecting her voters’ wishes, who sought to elect her as the Democratic candidate for public advocate.

And, while Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer may have a somewhat easier path to the City Comptroller’s office, his campaign notes that they are not resting on any laurels.

“While we are gratified by the support Scott received in the primary, he will be taking nothing for granted as a candidate in the general election and plans to continue to campaign aggressively into the fall,” said spokeswoman Audrey Gelman.

Stringer, who has repeatedly discussed his vision for how the Comptroller’s office can help boost the fortunes of both middle class and working families, seems to be getting support from even beyond the city.

Last week, the Washington Post named Stringer a “Distinguished Politician of the Week.”

The paper called Stringer a “low key, diligent politician…whose record of sober and honest service and considerable tenacity were sufficient for victory.”

From Poorly Trained Workers to Broken Voting Machines, A Litany of Problems Reported on Primary Day

By Kate Bubacz One of the most fundamental elements of a true democracy is the ease with which citizens can vote. “At the core, people want voting to be as convenient as possible,” said Melinda Katz, who won the Democratic primary for Queens Borough president last week.

The most recent primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 10 was not without issues: Poorly trained poll workers, broken voting machines and a lack of translated materials created confusion for some residents in Queens who showed up to perform their civic duty, said government watchdog groups.

According to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), which sent attorneys to polling sites around the city to spot-check the polling process, one of the biggest barriers to vote was language. One of the sites in

Jamaica was missing a Bengali interpreter despite multiple Bengali voters being present, another site in Elmhurst did not have Korean interpreters, and a site in Bayside was lacking Chinese interpreters. AALDEF said Astoria was no better: One polling station did not have any Bengali, Chinese or Korean interpreters, and at another one poll inspector said that he believed all material should just be in English because, "all the idiots should learn English."

“The law requires translators,” said Neal Rosenstein of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), a research and advocacy organization in New York City, which also was monitoring the polls during the primary.

“I know that in Queens, the Board of Elections was reaching out to civic groups for Korean translators,” Rosenstein said of the efforts made to fix the shortage. “It’s a chronic problem.”

Another common breakdown in the civic

process, according to the AALDEF, was malfunctioning voting machines. At one polling station in Jamaica, workers called the Board of Elections more than 20 times and waited seven hours to get their voting machine fixed.

Another Jamaica site had broken machines that left voters unable to vote, and a Bayside polling center distributed emergency ballots to voters when their machines repeatedly failed, the nonprofit said.

The widespread technical issues were partially attributed to the use of the creaky old lever machines instead of the new optical scan machines that had been used during the 2012 general election. The new machines are due to make a return in the general election in November.

As always, any issues seen during an election, including the most recent primary, were reported to the city BOE. The board’s replies to the reported issues varied, according to Glenn Magpantay

of the AALDEF, from “we will get right on it” to “we don’t have time”. The Board of Elections did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Magpantay stressed that that the upper management of the BOE genuinely wants to be helpful and is trying hard to fix problems but, he added, “there is a breakdown between them and the borough offices and the poll sites.”

Both NYPIRG's Rosenstein and AALDEF's Magpantay agreed that the issues were not atypical of an election in New York City.

"We shouldn’t get complacent,” said Rosenstein. “We shouldn’t be satisfied with 10,000 emergency ballots being used, a shortage of poll workers and a shortage of translators.”

Indeed, problems with poll sites, poll workers and language barriers can discourage people from voting in future elections, causing an undemocratic disconnect between the desires of citizens and their elected officials.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 11

Alleged Fraud Caused Peninsula Hospital to Close, Lawsuit Says

By Anna Gustafson Peninsula Hospital Center, which shuttered in 2012, sank after its former president and a health care company once charged with saving the Far Rockaway facility that had been hemorrhaging money, among others, allegedly plotted to divert revenue from the failing institution to Revival Home Health Care and lied to creditors and the state Department of Health, according to a lawsuit recently filed in federal court by a former trustee appointed by a bankruptcy judge to oversee the hospital’s operations.

Lori Lapin Jones, the former trustee, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 30 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York’s Eastern District alleging that the 173-bed Peninsula Hospital “suffered actual damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but believed to be at least several million dollars, plus punitive damages.”

According to the suit, the Brooklyn-based Revival Home Health Care’s plan to save the 104-year-old Peninsula Hospital - which, after it closed, left just one hospital in the Rockaways - was allegedly nothing more than a ruse. Lapin Jones accuses Steven Zakheim, who recently died and whose wife owned Revival, and Peninsula’s former president - who

about two years ago, it was an “illegal scheme to acquire [Peninsula Hospital and its nursing home] and integrate them into his health care empire,” Lapin Jones said in the suit.

Attorney for those named In Lapin Jones’ lawsuit could not be reached for comment.

The demise of Peninsula was a particularly painful one for Rockaway denizens, who say they are now left with one hospital - St. John’s Episcopal, which is now facing serious financial issues of its own - impossibly tasked with caring for the 130,000 year-round residents on the peninsula - and the thousands more that arrive in the summer months. The hospital closed in 2012 after a rocky seven months, which included the state shuttering its clinical lab after documenting a long list of “serious deficiencies” with it. The hospital had been rocked by financial problems, and Peninsula’s parent company, MediSys, ended its affiliation with the center in August of 2012. At that point, the state had targeted Peninsula for closure, but Revival reached a deal to take over its File Photo operations.

Peninsula Hospital Center, which served the Rockaways for more than a century, was shuttered by the state in 2012.

Despite numerous rallies from people she says was working for Revival - and oth- from the hospital into the Brooklyn health throughout the area - including a bevy of elected ers close to them of allegedly attempting to care group. officials, the state permanently shut down the scam creditors so they could funnel money When Revival took the reigns at Peninsula hospital in April 2012.

Mass Layoffs Expected at Maspeth’s Duane Reade Distribution Center

By Anna Gustafson More than 200 people are expected to lose their jobs at a Duane Reade distribution center in Maspeth in less than a year - with 175 of those positions being axed by December, according to a notice recently submitted to the state Department of Labor.

Walgreen Co., which owns Duane Reade, said in the notice that it plans to lay off 175 of the approximate 400 people who work at the Maspeth plant in December - and another 45 individuals will be forced out as of June.

Workers at the site, located at 55-05 50th St., are expected to be given severance packages.

“The layoffs at the Duane Reade distribution center are very concerning, and in the coming weeks, my office will work with the city to provide the displaced workers with career re-entry options,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) said. “I fully intend to work with Walgreens and George

Miranda, who represents the workers at this center, to prevent any future layoffs and keep this site in Maspeth to provide good jobs for our community.”

Craig Caruana, a Republican running against Crowley for her seat representing Council District 30, too lamented the loss of jobs.

“It has become too difficult for both large and small businesses to thrive here in New York,” Caruana said. “If we don’t turn it around, more and more New Yorkers will lose their jobs. We need to be attracting businesses and jobs to Queens, not driving them away. I will work to bring good jobs and keep them here by making our city a place where businesses of all sizes can flourish, without being stifled by over-regulation and harsh fines and fees.”

Walgreens could not be reached for a comment for this article, but a spokeswoman did tell Crain’s New York Business that the layoffs are occurring “because the physical design of the distribution center is not up to the standards necessary for a state-of-the-art distribution system that is efficient, effective and customer responsive.”

The spokeswoman also said that the Maspeth center, which is about 470,000 square feet, does not have the kind of storage space the company wants to expand production there.

While Walgreens is laying off Queens workers, it appears the company as a whole is performing well financially. It reported about $6.2 billion in sales this August, which represents a 5.6 percent jump from last year.

12 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 13

Goldfeder Hosts Community Health Fair Says it will be an annual event

Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder hosted a Community Health Fair in the schoolyard at P.S. 232 last Sunday afternoon between 1 and 5 p.m. A group ofsponsors staffed tables to speak with residents on a number of health and safetytopics, as well as to provide free services including blood pressure screening, blood glucose testing and nutritional counseling.

Among the event sponsors were the Lindenwood Alliance, NYFAC, Rite Aid, Resorts World, S.T.A.R.S., Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, American Red Cross, Nutrish Mish, Empressive Herbs, NY Blood Center and Starbucks. Also on hand were members of the NYPD, FDNY, West Hamilton Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Corps, Law Firm of Brady and Marshak and Rite Aid Drugs.

There were family-oriented giveaways as well as face painting for the kids who also had the chance to climb aboard and check-out the inside of the West Hamilton ambulance.

While residents enjoyed the great weather and good music in the schoolyard, still others found themselves in the gym, waiting patiently to donate blood. Flu shots were also administered inside the school.

Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder and family get a lesson in the art of face painting from STARS founder Frances Scarantino.L to R: Esther, 2-year-old Ascher, Phillip, and 4-yearoldElianaGoldfeder.

Just to prove parenthood agrees with politics, Councilman Eric Ulrich brought daughter Lily along to have a free blood pressure screening, provided by Medysis. His fans will be happy to know the councilman has textbook blood pressure—110/70.

As the father of two young children, Assemblyman Goldfedersays he knows how important it is to be responsible for your children’s health. “We have an obligation to keep them healthy,” Goldfeder said, “and we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves so we can care for them.”

And Goldfeder says keeping the community aware of all of their options and bringing a group of resources to the same place is something he intends to make this an annual event.

Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup

The blood drive was set up in the gym of the school and saw a constant stream of donors throughout the event.

Ulrich Seeks Relief for Tudor Village Voters Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park) is asking the city Board of Elections to change a poll site for Tudor Village residents, who now have to cross a major highway in order to cast their ballots.

Last year, the BOE designated PS 232 in Lindenwood as the new poll

site for a large section of Tudor Village. Previously, Tudor Village residents had been able to vote at PS 63 in Ozone Park - a much easier site for residents, particularly those who are older and non-drivers because they do not have to maneuver across the busy and dangerous Belt Parkway.

“For the second year in a row, my constituents residing in the Tudor Village section of Ozone Park have experienced great difficulty in voting due to a decision by the Board of Elections, which relocated their poll site to PS 232 in Lindenwood,” Ulrich wrote in

a Sept. 13 letter to BOE Executive Director Michael Ryan. “This school is across the Belt Parkway... and nearly impossible to travel to without a car.”

The legislator said that redesignating PS 63 as the poll site would help to increase voter turnout -

‘It’s About Respect’

which Ulrich said has decreased since the location change.

Ulrich asked the BOE to redesignate PS 63 as the polling site “as soon as possible so that they may exercise their right to vote without impediment in the upcoming general election.”

OUR NEIGHBOR'S CIVIC

PS 146 Parents, students upset over lack of moment of silence for Sept. 11 MEETING

By Anna Gustafson Some parents at PS 146 in Howard Beach said they and their children were saddened by a lack of a moment of silence at the school in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, though school officials stressed that the tragedy was addressed with the older students but not with the younger ones out of concern for their emotional wellbeing.

“Today there was not a moment of silence in observance of Sept. 11 at our girls’ school,” Mary Rinaldo-Hansen, whose three daughters attend PS 146, wrote on the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people. “It upset them. It upsets us too. I could rant about it, but not today. Instead, I’ll tell you that we took the girls down by the bridge to see the memorial lights, and,

even though it was hard to see them with the fog, you could make out their silhouette. A history lesson was had, stories were told and tears were shed - and they learned, again, what Sept. 11 is all about.”

Rinaldo-Hansen addressed her concerns about a lack of silence at the school with the new principal, Mary Keegan, who told Rinaldo-Hansen in an email that the events of Sept. 11 were discussed with students in grades four through eight in the auditorium at the start of the school day. She said school officials did not address it with those in kindergarten through third grade because “it is difficult for our younger students to comprehend.”

“I understand the enormity of Sept.

11 and its impact on all of us as Americans, but especially as New Yorkers who lived through tragic events that happened that day and in the months to fol-

14 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

low.” Keegan wrote to Rinaldo-Hansen.

“Many of us were directly impacted by these events, including myself.”

The school’s new leader stressed to Rinaldo-Hansen that she is “responsive to parental concerns and will take what you have stated when we plan for Sept.

11 in the 2014-15 school year.

“Be assured that I believe that no matter what day it is, or what time it is, I will never forget the tragedy of Sept.

11 and all of the heroes and innocent people who were lost that day,” the principal wrote.

Still, parents said their younger students already know about Sept. 11 and said it was important to continue to remember the day in school - where students could speak to teachers about the tragedy.

“When we fail to teach or acknowledge the past, we are in fact creating a

generation of kids who will eventually become our leaders and will have Sept.

11 in their memories simply from whatever convoluted text book jibberish that will wrap it up all nice, neat and simple for them,” Rinaldo-Hansen said. “It will eventually become like any other day; the annual memories will start to become every five or 10 years and, eventually, not at all.

“Maybe this isn’t about our kids’ school forgetting or intentionally not holding a moment of silence, maybe instead this is about respect,” she continued. “Respect for those who just went to work that day and didn’t come home, respect for those on that plan who sacrificed their own lives to save who knows how many others, respect for all those who tried to save others and lost their own lives. Respect for all those left behind with a void that will never be filled.”

NOTICE First Tuesday of Each Month

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 15

In Ridgewood, Celebrating Fall With Music, Morsels and Merriment

Thousands of people attended the annual Myrtle Avenue Fall Street Festival on Sunday, spending much of their day listening to everything from traditional Native American songs to rock and roll hits, munching on cake pops and empanadas, and learning more about a variety of neighborhood organizations.

The Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District sponsored the festival, which ran from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and featured more than 200 merchants, children's rides and game booths. The festival, which was held from Fresh Pond Road to Wyckoff Avenue, also included music from Joe Fuoco's Music Center, exhibited vintage buses in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and included antique cars from the East Kenny Vasti, of Patchogue, L.I., shows off his 1965 Buick Riviera at the festival, where numerous classic car owners exhibited models from decades ago. "I used to Coast Car and Riviera Owners Association.

Photos by Anna Gustafson

work for Buick in '65, and I loved this car then, but I couldn't afford it. I waited 45 years to get this," smiled Vasti, who bought the car four years ago.

A double decker Fifth Avenue Coach Company bus, one of a number of vintage vehicles displayed at the festival, was parked outside the Ridgewood Theater. The bus operated from 1931 to 1953 and ran along the Fifth Avenue routes in Manhattan.

Isaiah Diaz, 3, of Ridgewood, peeks over the edge of one of a number of inflatable slides at the festivities.

Joe Fuoco's Music Center got the crowd dancing with hours of classic rock hits.

Glenda, left, 2-year-old London, and Anthony Shaw, of Ridgewood, enjoy the afternoon at the festival.

The band Davison Y Su Orquesta had festival goers on their feet and dancing.

Glendale residents DorinDjura and his daughter, Lucciana, Djura, 7 months, were thrilled by the sea of classic cars that were brought to the event through the East Coast Car and Riviera Owners Association.

Artist ArchanaSantra displayed some of her artwork at the festival. Santra, who has shown her work around the globe from India to Queens - is a member of the Art Club in Glendale. The club, which is free and open to anyone interested, is held each Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gear, located at 61-08 Myrtle Avenue in Glendale.

16 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

One of the members of the Raices Group plays a quena - a traditional flute from the Andes that is often made of bamboo or wood. Members of the Raices Group entertained the crowd on Sunday with Native American music and said they dedicated the songs to the former Mespeatches and Jameco Native American tribes, which used to live in the Maspeth and Jamaica areas.

Countless residents lined up to sample treats served by Cristina Nastasi, the pastry chef at Rudy's Bakery and Cafe - a mainstay in Ridgewood since 1934. Among the goods she sold were cake pops, rainbow cookies, cupcakes, oatmeal marshmallow sandwiches, and gluten free flourless chocolate cakes.

E E R F ry e v i Del

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18 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

FORUM CRIME

Grandmother Killed by Drunk Driver in Hit-and-Run Accident in Richmond Hill, Queens DA Says

By Anna Gustafson A 59-year-old grandmother on her way to a religious service in Richmond Hill last Friday was hit and killed by an allegedly drunk driver who fled the scene of the accident that left her family and friends devastated, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Raj Chohan, who lived in South Ozone Park, was walking towards a Sikh temple for a Friday evening service when Vishwanand Subryan, 23, of Schenectady, N.Y., allegedly mowed into the older woman with his gray 2013 Toyota Camry around 7 p.m., police said.

Emergency workers rushed to her side and brought her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where Chohan - an immigrant from India who leaves behind a husband, son and two grandchildren - died later that night, police said.

Subryan has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, the DA said.

“Drinking and driving is a deadly combination - one that has the potential of turning a vehicle into a lethal weapon,” Brown said in a prepared statement. “In this case, the defendant is accused of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, being unable to maintain proper control of his vehicle, and striking a pedestrian before speeding away without checking to see if she needed medical

Robert Stridiron/The Forum Newsgroup

Emergency responders rushed to help Raj Chohan after she was hit by an allegedly drunk driver who fled from the scene of the accident in Richmond Hill, but she succumbed to her injuries not long after at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, the Queens DA and police said.

assistance.”

Arraigned on Sept. 15, Subryan was ordered held on $200,000 bail and is expected to return to Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens on Oct. 2.

According to the criminal charges, two police officers from the 102nd Precinct were stationed on 117th Street at approximately 7 p.m.

Burglars Strike Howard Beach

on Friday night, when they heard a loud bang behind them and one of the officers saw fluorescent garments fly in the air. When the officers turned around, they allegedly saw Subryan speed past them. He then allegedly ran a stop sign and red light when police began to pursue him, the DA said.

When cops stopped the car, police allegedly

observed Subryan to have bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech and smelled of alcohol, according to Brown. Additionally, he was allegedly swaying and unsteady on his feet when he got out of his car - which police wrote had a dented hood, a cracked bumper and front headlight, and scuff marks on the hood, the NYPD said.

The driver was taken to the 112th Precinct, where police documented that he allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .09 percent - above New York’s legal limit of .08 percent.

A civilian witness at the scene also told police that they saw a car speed by and then saw Chohan, who was wearing bright yellow clothing and went into cardiac arrest, laying in the street, the DA said.

Video surveillance from the area showed the vehicle striking Chohan, causing her to become airborne, according to Brown.

The tragic event was one of three accidents involving pedestrians in the city last weekend.

A female pedestrian was struck and killed by a motorist when she was crossing Queens Plaza North near 27th Street a little before 10 p.m. on Friday, according to police. The unidentified woman was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Maria Dulce-Valencia, 27, was also killed in a hit-and-run accident, police said. She was hit around 5 a.m. Sunday morning at Bruckner Boulevard and Evergreen Avenue in the Bronx’s Soundview neighborhood.

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Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup

Police said they have arrested two men who allegedly attempted to burglarize this house on Tuesday afternoon.

By Anna Gustafson Howard Beach residents have been plagued by a series of break-ins this week, with police sources saying there were three incidents within three days.

The first house was hit around 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. last Friday evening, when police said the perpetrator entered the yard of a home on 101st Street between 157th and 158th avenues and used a ladder that he found at the site to gain entrance to the house through an open upstairs window.

Assorted jewelry was reported missing.

The second incident occurred on Monday evening, between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., at a house on 100th Street between 159th and 160th avenues. The residents were at home when the criminal snuck in - which police said is a rare occurrence - and a female victim woke to see a man wielding a flashlight and looking around the house. Sources said the would-be burglar ran off

after the woman startled him. Nothing was reported missing in that incident.

Police have arrested two males in a third crime, which occurred a little after 5 p.m. at a house near 81st Street and 161st Avenue. Area residents said the burglars were also scared off in that occurrence as well and did not end up swiping anything.

A neighbor of the house that was targeted said he saw three individuals near the victims’ home including one that was knocking on the door and two others standing on the street.

“A little bit after that, I heard glass break and I saw one guy hope over the fence, and then the other guy jumped over the fence, and I heard a woman scream, ‘What are you doing?’” the resident said.

According to neighbors, after the criminals ran from the house and jumped the fence into a nearby yard, a husband-and-wife team chased them down and and held them until the cops arrested them.

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20 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 21

THE HAPPENINGS Friday, Sept. 20

Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association Annual Fundraiser

piece and the first film version of a Raymond Chandler novel. Landing, where participants will join National Park Ranger The film stars Humphrey Bogart as a private detective hired John Daskalakis for a paddle along Jamaica Bay. to investigate a series of troubles plaguing an affluent family. Those interested may register for free at www.rwalliance.org.

For more information, visit www.movingimage.us.

Saturday, Sept. 21

Richmond Hill Park Fair

Joe Abbracciamento Restaurant 62-96 Woodhaven Blvd.,Rego Park Park Lane South and Myrtle Avenue - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The WRBA’s annual fundraiser will honor the American Le- The Richmond Hill Block Association is hosting its 40th angion Post 118 as Organization of the Year, Paul Rudolph of nual Park Fair at the Buddy Monument in Forest Park. The Walker Funeral Home as Man of the Year, St. Thomas the fair features local vendors, carnival rides, games, live music, Apostle teacher Patti Eggers as Woman of the Year, and the a flea market, raffles, and all sorts of family-friendly fun.

Woodhaven firm Ohlert-Ruggiere as the Hall of Fame inductee. The annual event celebrates the civic group’s work and history, and this year participants have a chance to also purchase a ticket for a neighborhood veteran.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit woodhaven-nyc.org.

Long Island Rail Road North Parking Lot 82-60 Austin St., Kew Gardens - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This fall flea market will feature vendors selling jewelry, clothing, household items, books, and more. The Heavenly Angels Polish-German Clubhouse Animal Rescue will be on site with dogs, puppies and cats 576 Fairview Ave., Ridgewood for adoption from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All of the vendor fees will Free jazz is played every Friday evening at the Polish-Ger- benefit the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Deman Clubhouse. partment.

For more information, call (347) 363-9101.

For additional information, contact Christine Barros at cbarros588@aol.com or call (917) 359-0541.

Kew Gardens Fall Flea Market

Trio Sonus

Viva la Comida! Food and Music Festival

Celebration Hall at The Center at Maple Grove 127-15 Kew Gardens Rd. - 8 p.m.

The Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery announces the return of the Lhevinne Classical Concert series. The hour-long program, with a 10-minute intermission, also includes a preconcert wine and cheese reception scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

This year’s concert features the sought-after piano recitalist and chamber musician Steven Graff, who made his concerto debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards and glowing critical praise.

There is limited seating and tickets are $25 for the general public, $20 for seniors and $15 for members. Checks are payable to Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery; please include name and number of tickets. Online payment can be made via www.friendsofmaplegrove.org.

For more information, or to reserve seats, call the Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery at 347-878-6641.

A Time to Dance

Sunnyside Reformed Church 48-03 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside - 7 p.m.

Elizabeth Polk escaped the Nazis and settled in Sunnyside, where she was a founding member of the American Dance Therapy Association. Polk’s grand-niece, Libby Skala, will New York Hall of Science perform an award-winning, one-woman play that interweaves 47-01 111th St., Corona - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This family festival will feature hundreds of makers present- storytelling, music and dance to portray the 100 years of her ing their fun and unusual creations, including rockets, robots, great aunt who transcended poverty, artistic repression and electronics, artisanal foods, woodworking, and live music. the rise of Hitler through the power of dance. A Q&A and reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets run from $14 to $55.

For more information, call (718) 426-5997.

For more information, visit www.nysci.org.

World Maker Faire

Annual Queens County Fair

Mysteries of History Walking Tour of Maple Grove 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Maple Grove Cemetery 83-11 Kew Gardens Rd., Kew Gardens The Briarwood Action Network will sponsor a “Mysteries of History” walking tour of the cemetery, beginning at the old administration building. A wine and cheese buffet will follow the tour at 7:30 p.m., and a music concert will be held at 8 p.m.

The cost is $8 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

For more information, contact briarwoodactionnetwork@gmail.com or visit briarwoodactionnetwork.com.

The Viva la Comida Food and Music Festival in Jackson Heights on Sept. 20 will include a variety of food trucks, interactive art, dancing and more.

82nd Street between Roosevelt Avenue and Baxter Avenue, Jackson Heights - 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Viva la Comida! is a festival highlighting the best food in the city, combined with great music, interactive art, dancing and more on a street known for its authentic food and culture.

Some of the best food trucks in the city, selected by Queens culinary tour guide Jeff Orlick, will assemble for this food and music festival. There will be interactive art by Hibridos Collective, a pop-up market, live music and a dance competition.

For more information, visit vivalacomida.com, call (718) 335-9421, or tweet @82ndstreetQueens.

Lhevinne Classical Concert Series

The annual Queens County Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Queens County Farm Museum.

Sunday, Sept. 22

Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 The traditional county fair will include blue-ribbon competitions in livestock produce and home crafts, as well as pie11 a.m. to 5 p.m. eating and corn-husking contests. There will be lumberjack Come celebrate Queens artists at the Kew Gardens Comshows, pig-racing, hayrides, and carnival rides as well. Tickmunity Arts Day, when the neighborhood will be transformed ets are $8 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. into an art experience.

For more information, visit www.queensfarm.org.

An outdoor art show, “Art in the Kew Gardens Cinemas Park,” will be held on Austin Street off of Lefferts Boulevard.

Museum of the Moving Image The event’s organizers, a small group of local artists, had a vi36-01 35th Ave., Astoria - 7 p.m. sion for Kew Gardens: Bring together talented Queens paintThe Museum of the Moving Image is hosting a 39-feature 9:45 a.m. departure - Meet at Firehouse 59 ers, photographers, glassmakers, potters, jewelry artists, ilretrospective on quintessential Hollywood director Howard Beach 59th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard lustrators and fiber artists for a professional art show with a Hawks, one of which will be “The Big Sleep,” a noir master- The fun begins with a bike ride from Firehouse 59 to Riis small town feel.

‘The Big Sleep’

22 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

Kew Gardens Community Arts Day

Rockspot Bike/Paddle Tour

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Those who come will be able to watch sidewalk chalk artists transform city concrete into wild works of art and can learn how culture influences art from demonstrations by multicultural artists.

There will also be crafts for children, and a recently published comic book writer and illustrator will be on hand to speak to the public at The Comic Den. Live music will feature Broadway tunes, musical standards and beautiful Spanish melodies.

The day’s finale will be a poetry and prose readings by the REZ Reading Group at the Odradeks Coffee House at 82-60 Austin St. beginning at 5 p.m.

For more information, email kewgardensarts@gmail.com or call (917) 881-3358.

Celebrated author Colum McCann will read and be interviewed by WNYC's Leonard Lopate at Queens College on Sept. 24.

National Book Awardwinning author Colum McCann will read his work and be interviewed by WNYC’s Leonard Lopate at Queens College’s LeFrak Concert Hall.

McCann is the author of such novels as “This Side of Brightness,” “Dancer,” “Zoli,” “Let the Great World Spin,” and, most recently, “TransAtlantic.” McCann’s work has been celebrated across the globe and described by critics as masterful and profoundly moving.

5:30 p.m. - Resorts World Casino New York City Tickets to individual readings can be purchased for $20 at the 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone Park door at 6:45 p.m. on the evening of the event.

This music festival will highlight the talents of such performers Visit www.qcreadings.org for more information. as Maria Nazionale, Robertino and many more. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rwnewyork.com.

Festival Della Canzone Italiana

Thursday, Sept. 26

The cruise is a cooperative program with the American Littoral Society, Gateway National Park Service, NYC Audubon, and NYC Sierra Club.

For more information, visitwww.littoralsociety.org, call (718) 474-0896, or email donriepe@gmail.com

The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association and community members are holding the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale at various locations throughout the neighborhood on Sept. 28.

A large number of residents are expected to participate in the event, and a wide variety of merchandise will be available during the community event.

The WRBA will distribute a map showing the location of the participating households.

Households who want to sell merchandise can be a part of the event by registering with the WRBA by Sept. 13. Register by visiting woodhaven-nyc.org or calling (718) 296-3735.

Make It In America Expo

Shops at Atlas Park 80-00 Cooper Ave., Glendale - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The “Make It In America” expo, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, will showcase a variety of local, American-made products. The exhibit aims to provide local entrepreneurs with a platform to display their talents and wares.

Church-in-the-Gardens Staff will be on hand to provide resources to help individuKnights of Columbus Hall 50 AscanAve., Forest Hills - 4:30 p.m. als deal with the Small Business Administration and navigate 135-45 LeffertsBlvd., South Ozone Park - 7:30 p.m.

A Lehman College musical standard since 1993, the Con Brio through federal programs that offer services to businesses All members of the community are welcome to attend the civic Ensemble, a chamber trio featuring Lehman College music and entrepreneurs. professors, will perform timeless classical music selections. meeting. September’s event will feature Assemblyman Phil If you own a business within Congressional District 6, or Goldfeder as the guest speaker.

For more information, call (718) 268-6704. the greater Queens or New York City area, and wish to participate in the event or get more information about it, call Meng’s office at (718) 445-7860 or (718) 445-7861.

Con Brio Ensemble in Forest Hills

Richmond Hill South Civic Association Meeting

Tuesday, Sept. 24

Saturday, Sept. 28

Woodhaven Development Jamaica Bay Sunset Tour Corporation Meeting

St. Thomas the Apostle School 87-40 88th St., Woodhaven - 7:30 p.m.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the Woodhaven Development Corporation’s monthly meeting, during which there will be the 12th annual evening of remembrance for Sept. 11, 2001. The meeting will include a candidates’ night. Refreshments will be served.

104th Precinct Community Council St. Margaret School 66-10 80th St., Middle Village - 7:30 p.m.

The 104th Precinct Community Council meeting is open to all members of the public. At the council, police and community leaders will be on hand to discuss concerns about safety and crime with residents.

To find out more about the council, visit www.104pcc. org, call the community affairs officer at (718) 386-2431 or email the council at council@104pcc.org.

Colum McCann with Leonard Lopate at Queens College LeFrak Concert Hall, Queens College 65-30 KissenaBlvd., Flushing - 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29

Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Flushing Meadows Corona Park 111th Street and 55th Avenue - 9 a.m.

The third annual Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s will raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Last year, the walk raised $93,000 and residents are hoping to do even better this year.

For more information, and to sign up for the walk, Individuals will get a chance to glimpse great egrets, and many other forms of visit http://www.alz.org/nyc, wildlife, during a three-hour narrated sunset tour of Jamaica Bay on Sept. 28. or reach Alzheimer’s Association representative 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Candace Douglas at (800) 272-3900 Everyone is invited to a special three-hour narrated sunset or via email at walk@alznyc.org. tour of Jamaica Bay aboard the Golden Sunshine ship. As part of the event, you will learn about the history and ecology of the bay and see nesting and migrating hawks, peregrine falcons, oystercatchers, ospreys, herons, egrets, Ibis, shoreyou would li birds and waterfowl. ke to includ The tour will be led by Don Riepe, Guardian of Jamaica Bay e in The Foru m's Happen an0d noted local naturalist. ings please ema The tour is $55 per person and includes wine, cheese, fruit il informati , and snacks. on and photos It will depart from Sheepshead Bay’s Pier 4 at Emmons Avto forumsouth enue and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. @gmail.co To purchase tickets by credit card, go tohttp://cruiseseptemm or call ber28th.eventbrite.com/ Individuals may also send a check for $55 per person to the American Littoral Society, c/o Don Riepe, 28 West 9th Road, Broad Channel, NY 11693.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 23

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TO ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICE OR BUSINESS, CALL THE FORUM TO RESERVE SPACE TODAY! 718-845-3221 Legal Notices SUMMONS, NOTICE AND BRIEF STATEMENT OF NATURE OF ACTION CONSUMER CREDIT TRANSACTION SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS Index No. 3803/2013 M&T BANK, Plaintiff, -against- DANIEL CHONG a/k/a DANIEL D. CHONG a/k/a DANNY CHONG; JORGE CHONG a/k/a JORGE W. CHONG; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; RAB PERFORMANCE RECOVERIES; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE #1- #50” and “MARY ROE #1- #50”, the last two names being fictitious, said parties intended being tenants or occupants, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint, Defendants.

DANIEL CHONG A/K/A DANIEL D. CHONG A/K/A DANNY CHONG and JORGE CHONG A/K/A JORGE W. CHONG: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to serve upon plaintiff’s attorneys an answer to the complaint in this action within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if the Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to answer, judgment will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

Trial is desired in the County of Queens.

The basis of venue designated above is that the real property, which is the sub-

ject matter of this action, is located in the County of Queens, New York.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE New York State Law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully.

Summon and Complaint You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the summons and complaint in this foreclosure action, you may lose your home. Please read the summons and complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney or local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself.

Source of Information and Assistance The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there

24 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process.

To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at to 1-800-269-0990 visit the Department`s website at www. dfs.ny.gov.

Foreclosure rescue scams Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services.

The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of Honorable Augustus C. Agate, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed on the 31st day of July, 2013, in Queens, New York and to be duly entered in the Queens County Clerk’s Office, in Queens, New York.

The Nature of this action pertains to a note and mortgage held by Plaintiff on real property owned by the defendants, Daniel Chong a/k/a Daniel D. Chong a/k/a Danny Chong and Jorge Chong a/k/a Jorge W. Chong. The said defendants have defaulted on the note and mortgage and the plaintiff commenced a foreclosure action. Plaintiff is seeking a judgment foreclosing its mortgage against the

real property and premises which situates in the Neighborhood of Woodhaven, County of Queens and State of New York and is commonly known as 97-28 95th Street, Ozone Park, New York 11416 and all other relief as to the Court may seem just and equitable.

DATED: August 28, 2013 SCHILLER & KNAPP, LLP BY: WILLIAM B. SCHILLER, ESQ. Attorneys for Plaintiff 950 New Loudon Road Latham, New York 12110 Telephone: (518) 786-9069

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Legal Notices Notice of Formation of WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PHYSICIAN, PLLC. Art. of Org. filed NY Sec’y of State (SSNY) 07/22/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. as process agt. Process service address: 7211 Austin St, #372, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any lawful purpose or activity.

133 47 LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/24/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC, 136-31 41st Avenue, Suite 5A, Flushing, NY 11355.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that license #1273054 has been applied by the undersigned to sell alcoholic beverages at retail in a bar under the alcoholic beverage control law at 80-14 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 for on-premises consumption.

Pritpal Kaur LLC Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/14/13.

Office: Queens. SSNY is design. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and shall mail process to 162-03 84th Dr. Flr 1 Jamaica, NY 11432. Purpose: any lawful activity.

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Legal Notices NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: 3168 35th STREET LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/04/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, P.O. Box 575042, Whitestone, New York 11357. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

GRAND APTS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/19/2013. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: the LLC, 6548 174th Street, Flushing, NY 11365. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of 579 92nd Street LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 8/2/13. Office location: Queens County. Princ. bus. addr.: 616 Lowell Rd., Concord, MA 01742. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Mark B. Elefante, Hemenway & Barnes LLP, 60 State St., Boston, MA 02109. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

ESMEE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/29/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Revonia King-Asonye, 123-42 Irwin, Saint Albans, NY 11434. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

JFK SOLAR ENTERPRISES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/16/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 32 Cherry Wood Lane, Port Washington, NY 11050. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of SCOTT AVE PARTNERS LLC Arts. of Org. filedwith Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on08/19/13. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 63-23Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: FLUSHING ASPHALT RECYCLING, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/12/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 120-01 31st Avenue, Flushing, New York 11354.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

STANDING WITH GOD L.L.C Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/22/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 11175 158th St Jamaica, NY 11433. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Registered Agent Winter Jade Flowers-Olowofela 11175 158th St Jamaica, NY 11433.

PYJ REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 7/5/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Yuval Jacob, 7554 190th St., Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of JEFF BERZON BOOKKEEPING LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/22/2013. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC 80-22 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY 11004. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

EASTGENE REALTY LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 6/20/12. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O Libo Qiu & Ruliang Xu 43-20 214th Pl 1st Fl Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

ENNOID LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/17/13.

Office in Queens Co. SSNY design.

Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC, 2800 Coyle Street, Apt. 121, Brooklyn, NY 11235.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

48-03 30th Avenue LLC Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/1/13. Office:Queens Co. SSNY is design. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and shall mail process to 48-21 30th Ave. Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GOMMA, Notice of Formation of MAY LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy.

SQUARED REAL ESTATE LLC. Arts of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/11/2013. of Org. filed with NY Secy of State Office loc: Queens County. SSNY (SSNY) on 4/24/13. Office: Queens. has been designated as agent upon SSNY is designated as agent of LLC whom process against the LLC may upon whom process against it may be be served. SSNY shall mail process served and shall mail process to The to: Carlos M Roman II at 41-34 CresLLC, 255-07 61st Avenue, 1st Floor, cent Street, Long Island City, NY Little Neck, NY 11362. Purpose: any 11101. Purpose: Any lawful activity. lawful activity.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 25

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26 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

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Letters Cont'd Hoping for the Benghazi issue to dissipate during the Syria crisis, Obama would like to put his incompetence on that issue to bed, but it isn't happening.

And how about the labor uprising on the evils of Obamacare?

Richard Trumka, Terry O'Sullivan and Jimmy Hoffa, the same union bigs that made multiple trips to the White House before Obamacare passed to secure “deals” now want provisions affecting their members negatively repealed especially for them. If not, they say repeal the whole law. The arguments they made highlighting the bad points of Obamacare were the same arguments conservatives made before the law was passed.

And yet, despite the wheels coming off the bus, Obama so easily throws others under and the chattering class here will soon rise up.

They will continue to prop up their loser with their mendacity and half truths, and, if that fails, their hatred for any threat to the false legacy of Obama's successful leadership.

The passage of time, history, and the distain of their progeny for allowing a president to destroy their opportunity for success through hard work will be Obama's true legacy.

John T. Urban Howard Beach

The Dark Side Dear Editor: President Clinton said, “Terrorism is the major post-Cold War threat.” There

is a saying that goes: America has all the watches and terrorists have all the time. To illustrate this observation, let’s compare Obama’s style of diplomacy to that of the last three GOP presidents. I will begin with Obama and work back to Reagan.

In 2003, Congress enacted the Syria Accountability Act, which stated that Syria’s military weapons were a national security threat to the United States.

Our Congress also ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty, which provided for international inspection of chemical plants to insure they had not been used to make weapons. Recently, Syria’s president Assad used chemical weapons to gas and kill 1,500 women and children. This prompted Obama to invoke “classic diplomacy.” He backed up his policy with a creditable threat of military action. An array of Obama critics launched a broad side volley against his policy. Karl Rove responded by calling Obama’s Middle East policies inadequate and without strategy, trust or creditability. Bill O’Reilly said Obama’s muddled foreign policy “diminished him in the eyes of the world.” Rush Limbaugh called his policy, “operation shuck and drive.” Only time will tell who wins. And now, let’s look at the dark side of GOP diplomacy.

1) George W. Bush failed to act prior to 9/11 on the threat from Al Qaeda despite repeated warnings. As a member of Bush’s cabinet, Attorney General John Ashcroft, set forth seven strategic goals for his justice department. Fighting terrorism was not one of them. On Sept. 11, 2001, just one day before 9/11, his budget request rejected the FBI’s call

for $58 billion to hire 149 new counterterrorism field agents. He also proposed a $65 million cut (from $109 million to $44 million) in grants to the states to increase their counter-terrorism preparedness.

Folks, remember when Bush-43 told the nation he would bring Osama Bin Laden back “dead or alive?” Well, he gave the job of capturing Bin Laden to three anti-Taliban Afghan warlords.

Haji Mohammed Zamen, one of three, in disbelief, said, “If America wants to capture Osama, why aren’t they trying?”

At a March 13, 2002 press conference, six months after 9/11, a reporter said to Bush, “Mr. President, you rarely mention Osama Bin Laden, why is that?”

Bush replied, “I just don’t spend that much time on him to be honest with you… I truly am not that concerned about him.” Nine years later, Obama’s navy seals took him out.

The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 resulted in the deaths of 3,000 Americans and the destruction of the World Trade Center. Yet, Bush-43 did everything he could to prevent any investigation on how and why this great historic tragedy happened.

2) George H. W. Bush, who did not have an official counter-terrorism policy, did not retaliate for the Libyan murder of 259 passengers on Pan Am 103.

Why no action?

3) Ronald Reagan is best known as the president who ended the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Let’s now take a look at the Reagan doctrine style of diplomacy. He explained that America went into Lebanon in part because of oil.

What oil? Lebanon has no oil. The Ira-

nian supported Hezbollah in Lebanon and responded to the new American military presence by staging devastating car bomb attacks on barracks housing American service men. In their Oct. 23, 1983 attack, 241 Americans were milled. President Reagan withdrew our forces out of Lebanon and decided not to attack Syria or Iran (both of which were implicated) in the murder of our servicemen. He was determined only to keep a diplomatic presence.

When the Iran-Iraq war was intensified in the 1980s, the Reagan administration “covertly” intervened by supporting… both sides. An attempt by white house officials, John Pondexter and Col. Oliver North, worked through CIA and military channels to sell arms to the Iranian government with the profits going to support the contras, based in Honduras, and waging a guerrilla war insurgency in an effort to topple the Sandinista government of Nicaragua (headed by Daniel Ortega). The Boland amendment made it illegal under U.S. law to provide arms to the contra-militants. Nevertheless, the Reagan administration continued to arm and fund the contras through this Iran contra scandal. Reagan called for an independent counsel to investigate.

The tower report found Reagan guilty for his lax control of his staff. Ten officials were convicted. Defense secretary Casper Weinberger was indicted for perjury. Later, President Bush-41 pardoned him just days before the trial. In 2006, historians ranked the Iran-contra affair as the ninth worst mistake by an American president.

Anthony Pilla Forest Hills

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 27

forum Fun & Games ACROSS

1. *What a harvester does 6. On #2 button 9. Lyme disease carrier 13. The N of U.S.N.A. 14. Romanian money 15. Languidly 16. Got up 17. "The Lord of the Rings" character 18. Distinguish oneself 19. *Fall TV time 21. *Colorful autumn attraction 23. Eggs 24. Not mint 25. Rare find 28. Means justifiers 30. Comment 35. Lyric poems 37. Bit 39. Musical show 40. Tangerine grapefruit hybrid 41. *Autumnal feeling in air 43. ___ Verde National Park 44. Capital of Morocco 46. It's capped 47. At a previous time, archaic 48. Motion picture type 50. *Nut droppers 52. Distress signal 53. Chicken ____ 55. *Halloween time 57. *Apple orchard activity 61. Re-use old ideas 64. Bloodless 65. Fed. procurement group 67. External 69. Armrest?

70. Singular of #50 Across 71. "The Barber of Seville," e.g.

72. Religious offshoot 73. Clinton ___ Rodham 74. Tina Fey's Liz

DOWN

1. Nucleic acid 2. Lobe holders 3. Assert 4. Leisurely walk 5. *Fall's usually the time for a long one 6. Hoppy beers 7. "Fresh Prince of ___-Air" 8. Some have links 9. Curbside call 10. Famous Peruvian group 11. Horsefly 12. Actor ____ MacLachlan 15. Metal-worker 20. Bank run, e.g.

22. "___ the land of the free..."

24. Sir Peter _______, English actor 25. *Natural decoration 26. Degas or Poe 27. Peach _____ dessert 29. "____ Diaries" book series 31. Same, in French 32. Certifies 33. Actress Rene 34. *"To Autumn" poet 36. Thailand, formerly 38. Seaward 42. Superior grade of black tea 45. "There for the ______" 49. Wrath, e.g.

51. *It starts all over 54. Incite 56. Greyish brown 57. Forward move in football 58. ____ of Man 59. All the rage 60. Cigarette brand 61. *Used for gathering 62. Flower supporter 63. Deli offering 66. Sigma Alpha Epsilon 68. Campaigned

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS FROM LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE

SUDOKU

TRIVIA

1. What is the first day of fall called?

2. What NY Yankee baseball outfielder who played 12 times in the World Series was born on Oct. 21, 1931?

3. What are the 3 Zodiac signs of fall?

4. When is National Deviled Egg day?

5. Which iconic symbol of the Cold War came down November 10, 1989?

Answers from Last Week: 1: Chevy Chase. 2: Vdoka.

3: Police. 4: Jolt. 5: Richard Nixon.

28 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 29

JDRF Hosts Annual Cocktail Fundraiser

Fund raising success for organization to wipe out Type 1 diabetes

By Patricia Adams Howard Beach residents came out in full force to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) as they hosted an exclusive cocktail party in conjunction with the Gurino family of Howard Beach and Bella Magazine. The event was held at Tiro A. Segno, in Manhattan, on Friday evening.

More than 500 people joined the evening’s hosts, Joe Mure and Linda Buonincontri-Gurino, who shared their personal experiences as parents of children with juvenile diabetes.

“It changes your whole life,” said Buononcountri-Gurino, thinking for another minute, she revises the statement, “it changes the lives of the entire family.” Her son Anthony, was diagnosed several years ago, and has to have his finger pricked through the night to make sure there is no fluctuation in his sugar. The mother of three is up at 2 a.m. and again at 5 to make sure everything is okay. “If it goes too high, he needs an insulin shot; if it drops we have to get sugar into him. Juice, whatever gets him up and out of danger.”

For Joe Mure, the moment of truth came when his son, Michael, got in trouble at school for asking to go to the bathroom too many times in

one day. Both Michael’s parents realized something was very wrong and raced him to the hospital where they received the grim diagnosis.

And for other parents, it’s the memories of the close calls that haunt them always. Doreen DeCandia says she will never forget the day when her son’s classmate came up to her car at dismissal and said “Come quick. Something’s wrong with Jacob.” And DeCandia feared the worst. She found him on the floor near a stairwell. His sugar had dropped dangerously low and he was barely conscious. “A diabetic coma or stroke can come at any time when a sugar change is not ad- Joe Mure dressed. Essentially, children with this disease are time bombs. They need us desperately.”

Guests lined up in an outside tent to get their plates filled with an array of Italian dishes all donated and prepared by Angelo Gurino and Ragtime Gourmet Market in Howard Beach. Gurino and wife Annmarie have gotten extremely involved in JDRF since it struck their family.

“You never really understand the toll this can take on a family until you see it first hand,” explained Annmarie who says she and her family will keep their efforts going strong until a cure is found.

30 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013

Linda Buonincontri-Gurino and son Anthony

Annmarie and Angelo Gurino

Doreen DeCandia, Kristin DiFoglio, Executive Director of NY Chapter of JDRF, Kyler Hale, Associate Executive Director of NY Chapter of JDRF and Joseph DeCandia.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013 | 31

The Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation Proudly Hosts The Annual

Howard Beach Columbus Day Parade

2013 Honorees Joann Ariola – Peter Vallone Jr. – Luigi Moccia – Al Perno

Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 12:00 PM Kick Off Cross Bay Blvd. at 156th Avenue For further information call 718.641.3469

8th Annual Gala Dinner Dance featuring Angelo Venuto • Italian Tenor Christopher Macchio DJs Jack LaSala/Satisfaction Guaranteed & Nicky Guida/2+2 Entertainment

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at Russo’s On The Bay 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, NY 11414 Cocktails and Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $135 per person Please RSVP by October 1st • Call 718.641.3469

32 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • September 19, 2013