VOL. 12 • NUMBER 42 • October 17, 2013
The Angels of St. Mary's
St. Mary's Hospital for Children was presented with a check for a half million dollars at the 19th annual Angel's on the Bay Charity Gala held on Tuesday evening at Russo's on the Bay. The money was raised to complete the construction of a physical fitness/rehab facility for special needs children at the hospital. See Story on Page 34 Photo Courtesy City Planning Dept.
Still Missing:
The Search for Avonte Oquendo Page 5
Honoring the City's Finest Page 9
Celebrating Community at St. Helen's Page 16
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 1
2 2 | THE THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 25, 2012
New 106th CO Urges Residents to Report Car Break-Ins Noise complaints and parking issues also top council meeting
By Hannah Sheehan Car break-ins, noise complaints, parking issues, and a community-centered, “no excuses” approach to police work from the 106th precinct’s new commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff, were among the top issues discussed during a community council meeting at police headquarters in Ozone Park last Wednesday. “I don’t play any games,” Schiff told community members in a frank declaration that became a running theme of the night. The statement was quickly echoed in the deputy inspector’s response to grievances regarding repeat noise violators. Schiff assured frustrated residents that the department will take aggressive action to address chronic complaints. The first step, Schiff said, will involve sending letters informing repeat violators of necessary permits for parties and events and outlining the process for obtaining them. “I’ll give one warning; I’ll have a sit-down with... the violator and after that the gloves are off,” he said, adding that the department will pursue nuisance abatement, or civil enforcement, measures against those who continue to rack up complaints, including perennial hosts of raucous backyard parties. “I’ll be looking to close down bars…[and] go after homeowners too, who disobey the law as well,” Schiff continued. An officer reported back to the council about a meeting between the community affairs unit and Rabbi Berkowitz of the Rockaway Park Jewish Center to resolve complaints about noisy, late-night parties at the space. Berkowitz told police that the center is currently in the process of removing the offending catering company, the officer said.
Hannah Sheehan/The Forum Newsgroup
(Left to Right) Executive Officer John Ganley, "Cop of the Month" Officer Victor Sadarangani, Community Council President Frank Dardani, and Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff at the 106th Precinct Community Council last week.
The department also discussed recent actions taken to address numerous parking violations, including summonses issued to trucks parked overnight on 116th Ave. between 134th and 135th streets. Schiff expressed reluctance to rely on frequently ignored summonses as a means of discouraging repeat parking offenders. “I’ll be looking, probably, to have those trucks towed, obviously at the owner’s expense, to teach them a lesson once and for all,” he said. The deputy inspector also stressed the community's role in police work while fielding complaints about a spate of recent car break-ins in Howard Beach, which residents had been reluctant to report due to the petty nature of the crimes. “This is the problem that we’ve had historically
in the NYPD...If you have a crime occur and you don’t report it, we don’t know where to go,” Schiff said. He added that he uses the data in deciding where to deploy his resources. Council President Frank Dardani chimed in, affirming the importance of such information. “One Police Plaza won’t send additional officers if they don’t know they’re needed,” he said. Schiff announced plans to further involve residents in efforts to keep their communities safe. “I want to send out email blasts regarding the recidivists," he said. "...I’m going to let you know when they’ve been released from jail, I’m going to tell you who’s on parole, who’s on probation. I’m going to tell you who’s been seen in the neighborhood."
DOT Installs Speed Board At P.S. 232
Richmond Hill Radio Shack Robbed At Gunpoint
Goldfeder finally gets response
Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder is all smiles as he greets parents and students whom he hopes will now be safer when they cross the street after the installation of a mobile speed board by the DOT. Goldfeder is now pushing for more permanent traffic control at the school such as speed bumps and additional signage.
By Samantha Geary Parents and students arriving at P.S. 232 in Lindenwood last Friday morning were surprised to find a mobile speed board posted across the street from the school. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) installed the traffic device in response to consistent efforts by Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Lindenwood) to try and ease the dangerous driving conditions at the school. “The Department of Transportation has finally responded to our concerns,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “Installing a speed board will deter drivers from using this stretch of road as a personal speedway. This temporary device will better protect our
children and keep our streets safe and I will continue to work with the DOT, Principal Josephson, and the parents of P.S. 232 until a permanent solution is made.” PTA member Lisa Neumann, whose 9-year-old son Jonathan attends the school, commended the assemblyman for his efforts. “We are grateful to the assemblyman for his efforts on this project,” Neumann said. “We feel that this is a step in the right direction and a definite improvement and we know that we can count on him [Assemblyman Goldfeder] to keep on the DOT for more permanent safety measures moving forward.” “Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has worked tirelessly with me and our school community for the past four years to im-
prove the high traffic area in and around our school,” said P.S. 232 Principal Lisa Josephson. “We are thrilled… Hopefully, we will soon see a change. Our children, their parents, and our teachers have the right to be protected when crossing the street.” Goldfeder sent several requests to DOT requesting an investigation of all roads near the school, but specifically asked that it explore the possibility of installing speed bumps to curb speeding vehicles. The speed sign was installed as a temporary measure while the DOT completes their investigation for speed bumps. Hopes are that the speed board will deter drivers from speeding by setting the speed limit to 25 MPH. Additionally, DOT’s School Safety Unit has committed to coordinate with parents and students at the school to identify other potential solutions. “This is the first step in the right direction, but we must remain vigilant to protect our children and community," said Goldfeder.
It’s a variation on a tactic that previously landed Schiff in hot water with top brass at the NYPD. While serving as the commanding officer for the 76th Precinct in Brooklyn, Schiff used the precinct's now disabled Twitter account to name two career criminals known for striking within the area and to report that they had just been released from prison. The men had not been accused of any new crimes and Schiff’s actions raised the eyebrows of civil rights groups including the Legal Aid Society, which threatened the department with legal action. “If I’m known for anything, I’m known for getting a lot of information out to the public,” Schiff said. Executive Officer John Ganley, also new to the precinct, introduced himself at the meeting. The 21-year NYPD veteran was promoted to captain in April and most recently served as the commanding officer for Orchard Beach in the Bronx although, as he told community members, “The bulk of my career has been spent in Brooklyn.” Ganley described himself as having “a background in a little bit of everything” and said he hopes to have a long run at his new assignment. “Even though I don’t know much about Queens, coming from Brooklyn, all the information I’ve gotten from friends and talking to people, they said the 106th precinct is a great place to work, and from the two week I’ve been here, I can see they’re right on point,” Ganley said. The 106th Precinct also honored Officer Victor Sadarangani as October’s “Cop of the Month” for his work wrestling two perpetrators to the ground and waiting for backup during a robbery-in-progress. The community council meets at 106th Precinct headquarters at 103-53 101 St., Ozone Park on the second Wednesday of each month.
Robert Stridiron/The Forum Newsgroup
Police stand guard outside the Radio Shack location on Atlantic Avenue at 107th Street while investigators combed the store for possible evidence to identify the gunmen.
The Radio Shack store on Atlantic Ave and 107th Street in Richmond Hill was robbed at gunpoint in the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday. Police say two armed black men entered the store and stole a large amount of cash and cell phone. No further information on the suspects is available and the investigation is ongoing.
City Council Debate Called Off We regret to inform you that the debate between city council candidates scheduled for October 24th between Eric Ulrich and Lew Simon has been cancelled. A statement issued by Simon's campaign spokesperson, Doug Forand, explains the unexpected cancellation, “Lew is spending this
week recovering from an angioplasty to resolve partial blockages around his heart. On the advice of physicians, he is limiting physical campaign activities in the coming days - unfortunately necessitating a lighter campaign schedule and fewer public events, including the previously scheduled Forum debate." THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 3
Are Hospitals Prepared for the Next Hurricane Sandy? Pulitzer Prize winner to talk disaster planning
LIVE PERFORMANCES BY
Sheri Fink
Photo Courtesy Jen Dessinger
By Anna Gustafson
said. “... That really proves that we didn’t learn everything we could’ve from [Hurricane] As millions of gallons of floodwater filled the Katrina.” basement of the 25-story Bellevue Hospital A medical doctor who also holds a Ph.D. in lower Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy in neuroscience, Fink - who has delivered almost exactly one year ago, Dr. Laura Evans, aid in combat zones and reported on how the medical director of critical care at the doctors and nurses can cope in such places nation’s oldest hospital, along with everyone as war-torn Bosnia - will speak at the Central else in the facility, began to brace for a time Queens about her new book, which expands like no other. upon her Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting As described by Pulitzer Prize-winning and which tells the story of New Orleans’ journalist Sheri Fink in the epilogue of her Memorial Medical Center during Hurricane new book, “Five Days at Memorial: Life and Katrina. Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital,” Evans Cut off by the floodwaters that devastated and everyone else at the hospital - held their New Orleans, exhausted Memorial medical breath as the facility’s lights flickered while staff were faced with no power and rapidly Manhattan plunged into darkness. rising temperatures inside their facility. After “It took about seven terrifying seconds for the hospital was evacuated, 45 corpses were power from the backup generators to kick discovered and, following an investigation in and get things functioning again,” Fink by the state of Louisiana, 23 of the bodies writes. had elevated levels of morphines and other Almost immediately after, Evans received drugs. According to that investigation, 20 a phone call: In 60 to 90 minutes, she would were determined to be homicide victims. have access to only six power outlets. All the Staff were accused of hastening the victims’ other outlets would be dead. deaths. So, Evans was thrust into a world where, out “As I wrote each person’s perspective, I of 56 patients, only six could be hooked up to felt like I could empathize with them,” Fink power. Nearly all of those patients relied on said. “I certainly had sympathy for, and liked, equipment that ran on electricity, and many, everyone I interviewed - that’s why it took so Fink explained, were on life support or had many years to write this book. It would be drips of intravenous drugs that regulated all too simple to say, ‘This person is a hero, heartbeats and blood pressure. or this person is a villian.’ Life is never about Which six people would they choose? How that.” would they do it? At Bellevue, Evans had the story of How does anyone - at any hospital - make Memorial in the back of her mind, and, Fink such decisions? said, she, of course, did not want a repeat of According to Fink, who will speak at the those events. With that in mind, the medical Central Queens YM & YWHA in Forest director worked with other staff to craft a Hills on Monday, Oct. 21 at 1:30 p.m., plan on what to do with the patients - all of hospitals across the nation have been whom were, in a story of amazing human woefully unprepared to answer these feat, safely evacuated from Bellevue questions - and the doctor-turned-journalist “We want citizens involved in these argues it’s crucial to involve not only medical conversations,” Fink said in reference to professionals but the public at large in such patients and staff facing disasters. “Whose a discussion. life do we save and how do we do that? We’ll “There was news that nobody died in the never come to an agreement about how to immediate aftermath of being evacuated do that, but that process needs to be made from hospitals in Hurricane Sandy, but we more open to the public. When people come don’t know how many died of the stress of out to the event like the one in Queens, we that move or the fact that they didn’t arrive at can have a really good discussion about this. the next hospital with medical records,” Fink People can have their voices be heard.” 4 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
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Still Missing: Search Intensifies for Avonte Oquendo Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and numerous volunteers will distribute information about the missing teen at train stations in Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, and Woodside between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Friends of the Oquendo family said volunteers are asked to come to 1-50 51st Ave., from where search efforts have been launched around the clock. More information can be found at www.findAvonte.com. Family members of Avonte, as well as parents and special education advocates across the city, have questioned how Avonte was able to leave his school unsupervised, and attorney David Perecman has filed a claim against the city on behalf of the teen’s family. Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott has said city officials are reviewing their procedures for such incidents and that the city Department of Education is working closely with police. Police said Avonte is about 5-foot-3 and weighs approximately 125 pounds. He was wearing a grey striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers the day he disappeared.
By Anna Gustafson Despite the efforts of hundreds of police officers, MTA track workers, family members and friends; helicopter lookouts; and even shutting down all subway work in the city, a 14-year-old Rego Park boy with autism has not been found after he managed to leave his Long Island City School unsupervised Oct. 4. City officials and relatives said they are determined to find Avonte Oquendo, whose disappearance has left many questioning public schools’ ability to keep track of students - particularly such vulnerable pupils as Avonte, who cannot speak. The 14-year-old was last seen on surveillance video running out of the Center Boulevard School, located on 51st Avenue in Long Island City, according to police. Once it was realized that Avonte was missing, all 468 of the city’s subway stations were searched for the boy who is particularly fascinated by trains. Following the massive sweep of every subway station, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced this week he was enlisting the help of officials outside of the city, including in New Jersey and Long Island, to find the student whose disappearance has devastated his family. Police divers also searched Newtown Creek and the East River this week as part of the search effort. Additionally, the commissioner said Monday that the reward for the safe return of the teen with autism has grown to $77,500.
The fiercely-competitive Joseph Kennedy, Sr. continually told his children that coming in second was not good enough. When one of them failed to come in first, he or she was sent to the kitchen to eat alone. Such unreasonable demands helped to drive the Kennedy children to the reckless behavior that was really a desperate quest for affirmation. By contrast, Jesus Christ, in his ministry of representing his people to God the Father, “deals gently with those who are ignorant and going astray” (Hebrews 5:2). He no sooner would cast away one of his children for their failures than a nursing mother would cast away her child because of its crying. Because of the nature of his earthly journey, one human experience that our Savior well understands is the pressure of having to live patiently through terrible, unavoidable experiences. Today, he is a permanent fountain of compassion for those whose faith is
JFK’s Shake Shack Wins Foodie Award
NYPD
Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old with autism, went missing after he left his Long Island City school Oct. 4.
Anyone with information about the missing child should call the NYPD at “We have redoubled our efforts,” Kelly (800) 577-TIPS.
said in a televised newscast. “We have hundreds of police officers and detectives engaged The public can also submit their tips in this search. We’ve enlisted the help of the by logging onto www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting tips to 274637 guardian angels society, many volunteers.” and then entering TIP577. On Thursday, Councilman Jimmy Van
tested. Even though he never actually sinned, he was tempted in every way that we are. He understands that sometimes our issue is not that we do not know God’s law or what is required of us, but that our mind is so engaged by a sin that we are not thinking of the long-range consequences of yielding to it. Often, this occurs in circumstances that are highly conducive to committing it. We all know what it is to fall into greed, anger, or some form of lust, only later to despise ourselves for our lack of self-control.
The Shake Shack that recently opened in John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 4 just landed major accolades from The Moodie Report, which named the spot the “Best Fast Food/Quick Service Restaurant” at the annual Airport Food and Beverage Awards ceremony. Shake Shack, part of the celebrated restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, was selected by a panel of industry experts who assessed a record number of entries from airports and railway stations around the globe. Shake Shack’s location in the newly expanded Terminal 4 on Delta’s B Concourse is operated in partnership with SSP America and is the restaurant’s first location in a U.S. airport. Terminal 4 is home to 30 international and domestic airlines and boasts an annual passenger volume approaching 15 million people. “We’re thrilled to bring the experience of Shake Shack to JFK,” Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti said in a prepared statement about the award, which was presented at a ceremony held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. “Together with SSP America, we’re working to change the paradigm on what travelers should expect from airport dining.” Shake Shack describes itself as a modern day “roadside” burger stand that sells burgers, flat-top dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine, and more. “We are extremely proud of our partnerships with Shake Shack and JFKIAT and are honored to share this truly prestigious award with them,” SSP America’s President and CEO Les Cappetta said in a prepared statement. JFKIAT LLC leases and operates Terminal 4 at JFK in a public-private partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. JFKIAT is the only private, non-airline company to operate a terminal at JFK. “SSP America’s food and beverage program at JFK Terminal 4 in Delta’s all new concourse is one of the best at JFK, and Shake Shack is the star of the lineup,” said JFKIAT President Alain Maca.
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Our Savior is constantly ready to aid us. He will not only forgive us of sin, but he will break its grip upon us and strengthen us against temptation. It is his duty to care. It is our duty to go to him for help.
STEPHEN ROSER is pastor of Howard Beach Assembly of God 158-31 99th Street, Howard Beach
$1.00 Dogs! Short time only… Don’t miss out!
You can find us by the center triangle at the intersection of Cross Bay Blvd. and Pitkin Avenue in Ozone Park THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 5
One Party Has All The Fun Dear Editor: While everyone is focused on current Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who will most likely succeed NYC Mayor Bloomberg, little attention has been paid to the race to replace city Comptroller John Liu. Republican city comptroller candidate John Burnett has raised less than $10,000 to date is unable to communicate his message and offer voters an alternative in November to the Democratic party candidate for city Comptroller Scott Stringer. Fioravante Perrotta ran on the Republican and Liberal party lines in 1969 for city comptroller. He lost a close race to Democrat Abe Beame. The last effective GOP challenger for city comptroller was businessperson Richard Bernstein. He ran with former mayor Ed Koch, who was cross endorsed by the GOP in 1981. This also applies to former Brooklyn Democratic Assemblymember Jules Polenetsky, who ran for public advocate with former mayor, Rudy Giuliani, in 1997. The last Republican, City Council President Sanford Garelick, won in 1969. The last Republican city comptroller was Joseph D. McGoldrick who served from 1938 to 1945. Money is the mother’s milk of politics. The only way underdog GOP candidate Burnett could have had a chance at overcoming history and the 6 to 1 enrollment advantage of Democrats to Republicans was to have quickly raised several million dollars months ago. This is necessary to finance weekly television and radio media buys, newspaper ads, phone banks, direct mail and get out the vote operations. Without money to compete, Burnett will become just another asterisk in municipal electoral history. Democrats have rallied around Manhattan borough president and former 2013 mayoral candidate Scott Stringer for city comptroller. All Democrats are going to support one of their own to end the GOP’s 20-year control of City Hall. In 2013, the GOP failed to field a candidate for the office of public advocate. It is a forgone conclusion that Democrats will win the municipal tri-fecta. The Forum headline on November 7th will read, "Bill de Blasio elected Mayor, Scott Stringer Comptroller and Letitia James Public Advo-
cate." There will be an intermural contest between the five Democratic county leaders and their loyal council members to select the next city council speaker to succeed lame duck City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Democrats will end up controlling 48 of the 51 city council seats. The GOP will be lucky to hold on to the seat being vacated by city council minority leader James Oddo. Oddo is running for Staten Island borough president. Steven Matteo is running to fill Oddo's council seat along with council members Vincent Ignizio from Staten Island and Eric Ulrich from Queens. New Yorkers will have to deal with one party control of all three citywide offices along with the City Council. History has shown that this a recipe for disaster and municipal corruption. It leaves the door to City Hall wide open for waste, fraud and abuse. This will result in a spiraling economic decline as the business community and job creators continue to flee for more favorable climates elsewhere. With continued unemployment and less tax revenue coming in, this will trigger a decline of basic municipal services. Chaos and finger pointing will eventually be the order of the day. Stringer was running around town campaigning since November 2009 for mayor. His dreams of becoming mayor never got off the ground. Stringer had been consistently polling at no greater than 5% among potential Democratic party primary voters over the past three years coming in last among the four leading candidates. He decided in December 2012 to run for city comptroller instead. This hardly makes him a credible candidate. Stringer is just another career politician looking for his next meal ticket. Watch for Stringer to come out and run for mayor in 2017 or 2021. Larry Penner Great Neck
A Dangerous Precedent Dear Editor: Let us analyze this situation using only the most basic terms. We have a continuing resolution to fund the government for a mere six weeks. Both parties agree on the amount of spending contained in that resolution. The Senate has passed the CR with those
6 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
bipartisan numbers and the President agrees. However, a minority of members of half of one branch of government will not fund the government unless a wholly unrelated policy is ended. A policy whose end they could not accomplish through the legitimate political process and the populace rejected in the last election. Now imagine the parties are reversed and the policy is different, a Republican President, a Republican House, and Democratic Senate and that the policy being pressed is gun control. Imagine that Democrats are willing to defund the government unless background check legislation is passed. Background checks are popular in polls. However, despite their efforts, Senate lawmakers have failed to pass such a bill. So they decide that they must go outside of that process and force the majority to heed their demand. This demonstrates how dangerous this precedent is. Never before has a party used the funding of the government as a tool to extort their political will. Once this precedent is allowed, it will be repeated. What will they demand in six weeks when there is need for another CR? Defunding the EPA? Dismantling the IRS? Republicans will not always be the minority party. What hope is there that Democrats will not do the same thing? House Republicans must remember that precedent is everything in American governance and this precedent will not only injure the American people, American political discourse, and the Democratic agenda, but their party’s own future. John Scherer Maspeth
Weapons of Mass Deception Dear Editor: Typical republicans deny facts and close their eyes to the truth that racism is alive and well in the GOP. Was Herman Cain supposed to assuage anyone? Really? The highestranking African American in the California Republican party, secretary Shannon Reeves, condemned the racism he has endured working for the GOP. "Black Republicans are expected to provide window dressing and cover to prove that this is not a racist party, yet our own leadership continues to act oth-
erwise." Has a white president ever been called a liar during the state of the union address? Did militia groups increase by thousands when Bush was elected? There been more death threats against Obama than any other president. Is it because he's a Democrat or because of his race? I am a middle class American, and let me tell you something that should be evident to all. It's not the Democrats that are destroying unions. The GOP is right when they say that Democrats have different views than Republicans. I, as well as millions of Americans, do not believe, as many republicans do, that homosexuality is an abomination from hell; that the earth is only 6,000 years old; that cavemen rode dinosaurs; that corporations are people; that it was a good idea to vote against the Violence Against Women Act, equal pay for women or against background checks for pur-
chasing a weapon or that global warming is a hoax. Republicans can attack the citizens of the United States with whatever weapons of mass deception they have in their arsenal. Hate and ego have no place residing in the "chapel of democracy". But be forewarned, there is no weapon as powerful as that of an idea whose time has come. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, will be remembered for two things. A law enacted by a great man that (1) ended the suffering of millions of Americans and (2) ended the credibility of the Republican party! Some members of the GOP can still survive. How? Stop the hatred and pettiness and end the government shutdown. Heal this nation and let the American people explode into this new millennium with the exhilaration of being true to the glory of this democracy. Robert La Rosa Whitestone
PUBLISHER Patricia L. Adams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Anna Gustafson PRODUCTION Marisa Pilato EDITOR REPORTERS Alan Krawitz Samantha Geary CONTRIBUTING Hannah Sheehan REPORTERS Kerry Goleski Kate Bubacz Michael Florio Zainab Akande DIRECTOR OF Donna DeCarolis MARKETING ACCOUNT Tom Lombardino EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Stridiron Richard York _____________________________________________ THE FORUM NEWSGROUP 155-19 Lahn Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414 phone • 718-845-3221 | fax • 718-738-7645 e-mail • forumsouth@gmail.com site • theforumnewsgroup.com THE FORUM NEWSGROUP publishes every Thursday. Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of publication. Editorial submission must be made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. All letters to THE FORUM NEWSGROUP should be brief and are subject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home / office telephone number. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without permission of THE FORUM NEWSGROUP. The publisher will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE FORUM NEWSGROUP within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Genesis Print Media & Consultation assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE FORUM NEWSGROUP and its employees harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
LETTERS CONT'D The Debt Details Dear Editor:
Always Asking How We Can Help When the news first came that a Lindenwood boy - a straight-A student at St. Thomas the Apostle in Woodhaven - had disappeared while taking out the trash outside his apartment just before heading to school last Friday, people, without hesitation, began to ask what they could do to help to find the teen they believed had been kidnapped. It was, so many parents said, one of their worst nightmares: One second your child is there, by your side, and then, all of a sudden, they have vanished. Security footage showed the boy looking startled, police had said, and others described a van peeling out of the apartment complex’s parking lot. The boy’s father screamed when he realized the child was gone - and that anguished sound reverberated in the hearts of people throughout the neighborhood, and beyond. We at the newspaper began getting phone calls as to whether there were search groups they could join. Shops up and down Cross Bay Boulevard were hanging flyers about the boy in their windows. Parent after parent, friend after friend, stranger after stranger posted information about it on Facebook and Twitter. For hours, they urged people to spread the word, to keep an eye out. It did not matter if they knew the boy or not: There are times, this community has shown
over and over, that you do not care if you know someone. You react as though this boy was your own. Because we all know that, someday, when we need help, we want others to jump to lend a hand as we
once did. It turned out, as most of you know, that the boy was, thankfully, not abducted. Police found him at the Jamaica LIRR station apparently trying to get to Montauk. Who knows why he was doing that and that is for him and his family to work
through. But, for us, as a community, it is important to remember that original worry - that fear and concern and anger - over the possibility that a boy who just turned 13 could have been taken from his parents drove us to be a community we can be proud of. And, when something like this happens again - and, in today’s world, that seems horrifyingly likely - let us, again, jump without questions. It is exhausting and it is painful - to believe the worst, but in a time like that, when a child has all of a sudden seemingly vanished into thin air - there is no place to go but the worst. Because it is there, in the worst, that we recognize we can do our best. There, we can do our all to help family and friends and strangers. And if it turns out that all our worry was for naught - let us remember that is the best outcome for which we could hope. No child was taken from our community Friday; no parents had to go to bed not knowing where their son was. And we - we can go to bed knowing we all reached out our hands and said: How can we help? Let us be thankful we live in a place where we do not avert our eyes from the bad. We do not shy away from what could be our most painful. So, to those of you who reached out who called, who posted, who tweeted, who thought, immediately upon hearing the news, what can I do? - thank you. You are what it means to be a community.
In Larry Penner’s “How to Balance our Budget” letter, he identified a variety of ways to reduce our debt that hit the bull’s-eye! I especially like four of them. 1) End pork barrel corporate welfare subsidies. 2) Close military bases around the globe. Larry, I would even cut our bloated defense department by 15%. 3) Require the IRS to become more aggressive to go after those tax deadbeats. 4) End the “war on drugs” enforcement of minor violations. I would also release the many thousands serving long-term sentences. This will save taxpayers big bucks. I do take issue with Mr. Penner comparing the number of year it took Bush vs. Obama to raise their debt. Remember, Bush-43 enjoyed a Clinton $300+ billion surplus in 2001. George W. left a $1 trillion budget debt plus a massive lay off called the Bush-43 recession. This is what he dumped on Obama plus extension of the two (2001 and 2003) Bush tax cuts. Let me not forget his massive credit card spending spree on his “doughnut hole” and two long wars. They all added to Obama’s $6 trillion in 5 years! Most economists would agree that to end an economic crisis, the federal government must spend recovery funds. Forum readers please note: while the federal debt has accelerated in recent years, our nation was always in debt. Under our first president, George Washington, our nation’s debt was $75,463,472.52 in 1791. Other milestones include the first time the debt passed $1 billion in 1863 under Abraham Lincoln, and exceeded $1 trillion during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. In the last two years, under Obama, the annual debt rate has been reduced by 50%. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Anthony Pilla Forest Hills
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 7
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www.workerslaw.com 8 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
South Queens Detective and Five Others Remembered at Ceremony Unveiling Their Names on Police Memorial Wall
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, left, and Mayor Bloomberg attend a ceremony memorializing six members of the NYPD, including one who served in Queens, who died in the line of duty.
By Anna Gustafson Six members of the NYPD who died in the line of duty were honored at a ceremony led by Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly at the Police Memorial Wall last week. During the ceremony, the mayor and commissioner unveiled the names of the six brave individuals, including one who had served in Queens, that have been inscribed on the memorial wall, which is located in Battery Park City. The names of Detective Alick Herrmann, Detective Fermin Archer, Capt. Dennis Morales, Lt. Christopher Pupo, Sgt. Garrett Dan-
Photo Courtesy NYC Mayor’s Office/Spencer T. Tucker
Mayor Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and family members and friends of the six police officers whose names were most recently inscribed on the Police Memorial Wall in Battery Park City gathered last week for a ceremony to honor the city's bravest.
za, and Police Officer Denis McLarney were inscribed on the granite wall. Archer died from injuries he sustained in an on-duty vehicle accident on July 13, 2011, and the five other members succumbed to illnesses contracted during the rescue and recovery efforts following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “The Police Memorial Wall bears the names of nearly 800 members of New York’s finest who have given their own lives so that the rest of us may live in peace and safety,” Bloomberg said at the Oct. 11 event. “The greatness of our city is reflected in these names, and they tell the story of New York - its struggles and victories, and its transformation from a capital of violence and crime to the safest big city in America.”
State Delays Plan to Expand Trash Train By Anna Gustafson A company’s application to nearly triple the amount of garbage it exports daily through Middle Village, Ridgewood and Glendale has been “indefinitely delayed” following numerous concerns aired by civic leaders and area legislators, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. One World Recycling - a company that processes the garbage in Lindenhurst, Long Island, that then travels through Queens by rail cars operated by New York & Atlantic - had recently applied to the state DEC to increase its garbage output from about 370 tons to approximately 1,100 tons. The proposal drew outrage from residents and legislators who have for years complained about the rail cars that leave a pervasive stench throughout the area. Civic groups, Community Board 5 members and elected officials, including Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), all asked the DEC to deny the permit application. “The permit cannot be granted without them addressing the conditions of the open rail cars,” said Mary Parisen, chairwoman of the Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions. Since 2008, One World Recycling has had a state permit that allows the co-mingling of commercial waste with construction and demolition debris in open rail cars. For years, putres-
cible waste, which can be, for example, food pieces, used diapers and pet waste - essentially the parts of garbage that smell - has been shipped in the cars traveling through Queens. Residents have said the garbage smell and debris has resulted in a wide variety of problems, from residents being unable to open their windows during the summer because of the stench to children having problems with asthma. Parisen said the company must protect the public from the garbage through “containerization.” “How can NYSDEC control for dust, odors and vectors for the health of workers inside the trash transfer facility and then expose people outside the facility to those same health risks? Communities must be protected too,” Parisen said. Hevesi too said he is pleased with the state's decision to heed concerns from the community. "After voicing concerns to the DEC in both a joint letter with my colleagues and during a meeting with agency heads regarding the expansion of this permit at the Lindenhurst facility i’m encouraged that they will be delaying the process indefinitely," Hevesi said. "While increasing waste transfer from road to rails still remains an admirable goal, it is of the utmost importance that any increases on these rail lines are accompanied by measures to mitigate quality of life and environmental impacts."
Herrmann, who last served in the 100 Precinct Detective Squad and also had worked in Queens’ 102nd Precinct, died after being diagnosed with mylogenious leukemia, an environmental cancer contracted as a result of his work on the rescue and recovery from the Sept. 11 attacks. He received a bone marrow transfer in September of 2008 and went into remission for two years, but by 2011 his cancer had returned. He died Dec. 23, 2011 at the age of 49. As well as serving in the 102nd and 100th precincts’ detective squads, Herrmann served in South Brooklyn’s 75th Precinct, the Brooklyn South East Narcotics Division, Queens North and South Narcotics Divisions, the
Auto Crime Division. He joined the NYPD in 1986 and first served in the 75th Precinct. “I often pass this memorial and admire its quiet and simple dignity, designed to symbolize the life of a police officer from his very first day on the job until the end of his watch,” Kelly said at the ceremony. “This year, we add the names of six outstanding police officers devoted to law enforcement and to New York City, united in a common mission to aid and protect the public. We gather a few blocks from where many spent days on end, 12 years ago. We owe each of them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their many years of exceptional service as members of the Police Department.” “I often pass this memorial and admire its quiet and simple dignity, designed to symbolize the life of a police officer from his very first day on the job until the end of his watch,” Commissioner Kelly said. “This year, we add the names of six outstanding police officers devoted to law enforcement and to New York City, united in a common mission to aid and protect the public. We gather a few blocks from where many of them spent days on end, twelve years ago. We owe each of them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their many years of exceptional service as members of the Police Department.” Created in honor of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, the memorial is located at Liberty Street and South End Avenue and was dedicated in October 1997. The memorial has a total of 780 names, including the six recently inscribed. The granite walls includes the names of the officers and the dates they died, and a small fountain and open pool are often referred to as the “Sacred Precinct.”
Police Hunt for Pervert Lures 12-year-old into SUV, sexually assaults her
NYPD
Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in Jamaica. The man lured the child into an SUV after telling her that he was going to meet rapper, Nicki Minaj, according to police sources.
The girl is believed to have been walking near the corner of Lincoln Street at 116th Avenue around 2:30 on Sunday afternoon when the man pulled up beside her and offered to take her to meet Minaj. The girl got in the vehicle and he drove to nearby location where he pulled over and exposed himself and sexually assaulted her. She got out of the SUV and ran to a friend’s house, where they called 911. She was treated for her injuries and released from Queens General Hospital. A video of the vehicle used in the assault was released by the NYPD and identifies the car as a sliver, 4-door SUV. The suspect is believed to be in his 20’s and is around 6 foot tall and 200 lbs. Police say he also had a scruffy beard. Anyone with any information is urged to call NYPD at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting tips to 274637 and then entering TIP577.
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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 9
FORUM POLITICS
In Bid for Queens Borough President, Tony Arcabascio Focuses on Being 'Man of the People' Republican campaigns on support for small biz, responsible development and education By Anna Gustafson If there is anything that will set off Aurelio “Tony” Arcabascio, it is calling the Republican running for Queens borough president part of the 1 percent - a term invoking the Occupy Wall Street movement that his opponent, Democrat Melinda Katz, has thrown at the Astoria native. “My parents came from Italy with nothing; I didn’t speak a word of English until first grade,” Arcabascio said in an interview with The Forum this week. “My parents have a second-grade education. I’m a guy who comes from a hard-working family. My parents were both union workers. My mom was a seamstress, and my dad was a construction worker until he was 72-years-old. Don’t you dare put me into the 1 percent.” The 1 percent is a term that was frequently used by Occupy protesters in reference to the country’s richest residents. Katz, who defeated Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. (D-Astoria) in September’s Democratic primary, sent out a campaign
mailer earlier this month that did not name her opponent but stated that, “as long as there’s a Republican running to be the next Queens borough president, fighting to make life easier for the 1 percent while working families struggle, our work is not yet finished.” Arcabascio, who lives in the neighborhood in which he was born - Astoria, said he hopes it is that message - one of humble roots and understanding the immigrant experience - that lands him support come the Nov. 5 election. “The Queens borough president job needs someone who understands the people, who’s a man of the people,” he said. “You need someone who’s lived with the people - I have. “I love Queens; I grew up here,” the candidate continued. “I played baseball here; I lived by LaGuardia Airport. I’ve lived Queens - I’ve seen what goes on here. I’ve ridden my bike to Adventureland in College Point. We played stickball in the streets. I go to the same Chinese restaurant in Jackson Heights that I went to as a kid - when my father
10 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Photo Courtesy Tony Arcabascio's Campaign
Aurelio "Tony" Arcabascio is the Republican candidate running against Democrat Melinda Katz for Queens borough president.
would say, ‘What? You can’t eat pasta?’ I know this borough.” Saying he hopes to spend “85, 90 percent of my time outside of the office,” Arcabascio said he would like to focus his potential tenure on drawing businesses to the borough. “We need to take some of the
more vacant areas and deem them urban enterprise zones - meaning give them tax incentives to move and do business here,” he said. “In the zones, businesses would be exempt from paying taxes on all purchases except for luxury goods. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but all of those taxes you spend on office supplies adds up. That allows you to hire people. We can really help small businesses in Queens.” The Republican also said he’d like to set up a program that would allow businesses to file various paperwork for their companies at Borough Hall instead of having to trek to Manhattan. Responsible development has been a major platform of Arcabascio’s campaign, and he said he’d especially like to focus on building up the Rockaways and generating tourism for a waterfront that he said has been almost entirely abandoned by City Hall. “You can’t seem to give away Rockaway,” he said. “Nobody’s done anything to bring business there; nobody’s done anything to bring entertainment there.”
Stressing that the Rockaways - as well as other waterfront communities in Queens - need more comprehensive disaster preparedness plans, in order to be ready for the next Hurricane Sandy, the candidate said he would, not long after taking office, gather people from such states as Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to discuss planning for disasters. Additionally, Arcabascio has said he would like to focus on two of the borough’s most vulnerable populations - the youngest and oldest residents. “We’ve got schools where kids are learning in trailers,” he said. “This is happening in the United States? It’s horrendous. We need to stop building these mega high-rises and figure out where kids are going to go to school. There are a slew of problems facing seniors, Arcabascio said - including a litany of issues plaguing the city’s Access-a-Ride program. “We’ve better fix Access-a-Ride,” he said. “People are spending an hour and a half for a ride that could’ve taken them 20 minutes?”
FORUM POLITICS
Biz Leaders Tell Crowley They Need More Support from City By Anna Gustafson Passing crates of soda - a seemingly never-ending sea of red, yellow and brown cans emblazoned with names like Dr. Brown’s, Squirt and Pennsylvania Dutch - in Maspeth’s Canada Dry warehouse, company heads told Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) last week that the city must do more to help businesses drowning in tedious parking fees. “Ticketing has made doing business extremely difficult,” said Kevin Walker, vice president of sales at the Canada Dry Bottling Company of New York, “We pay a quarter of a million dollars each year on parking tickets. “I’m all for keeping traffic moving, and I know our drivers can be wrong sometimes, but more has to be looked at to make life palatable for everyone,” Walker said to Crowley last Thursday, when the legislator visited the Canada Dry warehouse on 56th Avenue with Maspeth Industrial Business Association President Jean Tanler as part of an effort to determine how to grow the area’s economy. During a tour of the Canada Dry facility, which has operated at its 56th Avenue location for more than three decades and employs approximately 175 workers, Crowley slammed the
Photo Courtesy Elizabeth Crowley’s Campaign
Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley walks with supporters during a tour of small businesses along Myrtle Avenue last week.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley speaks with Kevin Walker, vice president of sales at the Canada Dry Bottling Company of New York, as his company's site in Maspeth last week.
Bloomberg administration for what she said was a proliferation of tickets. “They’ve looked at giving tickets as a way to balance their budget, which isn’t fair because it’s essentially a tax on businesses,” she said. Walker, who has worked in the soft drink business for 35 years, said businesses like his “are all struggling in this environment with hiring people. “That has become a difficult thing,” Walker said. Crowley and Tanler stressed that the Maspeth Industrial Business Zone, in which the Canada Dry facility resides, can lend support to facilities like the soda company.
As part of her proposal to support the zones, Crowley said she wants to expand the Council’s Small Business Investment Fund, which provides grants to businesses that seek to revitalize or refurbish unused or underutilized factories. The legislator has also called for creating a small business task force within the district to address businesses’ concerns and has said she will work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to extend public transportation to industrial business zones. As part of her campaign’s focus on business, Crowley also toured area shops in the Ridgewood Busi-
“We help to connect businesses to resources to help them reduce their costs of doing business,” Tanler said. “We can help them with everything from getting potholes repaired to getting low-interest loans.” Crowley, who is being challenged by Republican candidate Craig Caruana for her Council seat representing the 30th District, said she is pledging to expand support for industrial business zones - which offer tax credits for companies that relocate to their area. As part of the program, businesses receive a $1,000 tax credit per employee up to $100,000, as well as other business assistance.
ness Improvement District along Myrtle Avenue Friday and stressed that the next mayoral administration should focus less on issuing fines that shop owners have said the Bloomberg administration too liberally gives them out. “Commercial strips like Myrtle Avenue are important economic engines for our communities,” Crowley said in a prepared statement. “We need to support our local businesses and ensure that they aren’t used as a cash register for the administration and the [Department of Consumer Affairs] to make up for their own revenue shortfalls.
Caruana, Teachers Slam City Over Common Core By Michael Florio Craig Caruana, the Republican candidate running against Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), held a rally in Middle Village last Friday against the city’s controversial new academic curriculum that has incited outrage among numerous educators throughout the five boroughs. Common Core is a new curriculum that was implemented in the city’s public schools at the beginning of the school year and which city officials say is designed to hold students to more rigorous standards. “Common Core are effective standards,” Caruana said at the rally outside PS 128 in Middle Village. “The problem is the way they are being implemented.” Caruana believes that the teachers need more time in adjusting to the Common Core curriculum. “One of the things they did was tying it to teachers’ evaluations in the very first year,” he said. “At the same time they didn’t give the teachers the resources necessary to implement the new standards. All I’m saying is maybe wait a year or two before tying the Common Core standards to teacher evaluations.” The teachers at the rally agreed with Caruana. “It is being implemented way too quickly, and we don’t have the materials to actually do
too much stress on the students. It also puts pressure on them and their schools, as they are funded based in part on test results. “It puts a lot of pressure on the kids in such a small period of time,” Boos said. “It forces us to teach test prep instead of the curriculum because we are tied to it and so is our schools letter grade,” Zalak added. The teachers do believe there are positives in the Common Core curriculum. It makes students think more critically and not just give us a summary of the work, Zalak said. Both Boos and Zalak thinks that Common Core is great and students should be challenged, but it needs to be implemented over time. Rose Ann Randazzo, a fellow teacher, spoke at the rally and agreed with Boos and Zalak. “The problem is not with Common Core - the standards are fabulous, our students should be ready for college and a career, and we really do Michael Florio/The Forum Newsgroup need to raise the bar,” she said. “The problem is Craig Caruana, a Republican candidate running to represent Council District 30, and teachers protest against the the implementation. They would work effeccity's implementation of the Common Core curriculum. tively if they were distributed effectively and we so,” said Sandy Boos, a teacher at PS 128. “I dents arrived in September we would have all were trained on them effectively.” don’t think it’s fair for the kids to be graded, the materials we need to fully implement it - and Randazzo stated that the emphasis on the as well as ourselves, until they are comfortable we still don’t,” Zalak said. test has created a higher stress on the students taking the test and being taught to the common The teachers do believe that Common Core because they know the standards they need to core standards.” provides good standards, but the issue is the meet. PS 128 teacher Anthony Zalak also slammed emphasis that is being placed on them right “I think city council should take a vote that the curriculum’s implementation. away. Under the Common Core curriculum, New York City won’t judge teachers by these “The city provided no... materials for it last educators said there has been an over-emphasis Common Core test standards,” said Caruana. “I year, and we were promised that before the stu- on standardized tests, which they said places will make this an issue at City Hall.” THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 11
12 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
York College Conference on Raw, Law and Justice Draws People from Throughout Queens York College hosted the City University of New York's Eighth Annual Black Male Initiative Conference, titled “Race, Law and Justice,” which drew intellectual heavyweights to its Jamaica campus for a packed day of keynote talks, film screenings, and panel discussions focusing on the racial history of the United States. “These are thorny, pressing and uniquely American issues,” said Dr. Marcia Keizs, President of York College. “All of us at York were honored to facilitate robust discussion among some of the leading minds of our time.” More than 1,000 students, staff and community members attended last Friday's conference, which comprised 11 panels and three keynote addresses, with a focus on the history of race and racism in criminal justice, education, housing, residential segregation, employment and other social issues. Prominent thinkers who addressed the conference included Juan Cartagena, a leading civil rights law-
Photo Courtesy York College
Attendees of the CUNY Black Male Initiative 8th Annual Conference on Race, Law and Justice gather at York College last Friday.
yer and President of LatinoJustice / PRLDEF, formerly the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Ron Daniels, the former leader of the Center for Constitutional Rights and a Distinguished Lecturer at York College; and Paul Butler, one of the nation’s leading critical race theorists and a Professor at Georgetown University Law Center were the prominent “I was so inspired by the BMI conference, its brilliant leadership
team, and especially the amazing students I met during the conference,” said Butler, whose keynote address highlighted the devastating impact of mass incarceration on AfricanAmerican and Latino families and hip-hop’s role in telling these stories. “I hoped I inspired some folks to want to become professors, and get paid to think for a living. It’s a great job and if I can do, so can you!” The Black Male Initiative, which
is a CUNY-wide program funded by the City Council, is an effort to raise societal awareness of the challenges facing underrepresented students, particularly African American and black males. “The Black Male Initiative Program has become a very valuable and critical program to the university as it pertains to diversity recruitment and retention of students of under-represented populations,” said Jonathan
Quash, Director of York College’ s Black Male Initiative. “While university standards are increasing, the admission of specific populations, such as Black males, is facing increased challenges. Programs like the BMI Program offer a pipeline for success, to both undergraduate and graduate programs.” Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), a participant of the “American Apartheid: The Emergence of Residential Segregation in Urban America” panel, dubbed the Black Male Initiative Conference and the overall CUNY program a success. “Having been on the leadership team in the City Council that first allocated funds for the Black Male Initiative, it is great to see how this program has helped guide so many youth across the city stay on the right path,” said Comrie. “York College has been a leader in this program, with its well-known mentoring program, making it a perfect place to hold the conference.”
After Shutdown Cancels Recruitment Fair, Glendale Family Worries About Son's College Plans By Anna Gustafson For a teen from Glendale and his parents, the partial government shutdown has meant more than reading headlines about the fiscal showdown among legislators in the nation’s capital. Dylan Bilski, a 17-year-old who attends the Asheville School in North Carolina, has for years had his hopes set on attending the prestigious Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland for college, but the student who comes from a family of military members was unable to attend a recruitment fair planned for Oct. 17 at Forest Hills High School because the event was cancelled in the wake of the partial shutdown, which Congress was expected to end after a 16-day standoff Wednesday night or Thursday morning. “This came at the worst time possible,”
Dylan’s father, Mike Bilski, said of the shutdown. “To apply for a place like the Naval Academy, you have to have letters of recommendation from senators and Congress people, but everyone is furloughed.” Bilski noted that the deadline to apply for a letter of support for a military school from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is Oct. 24 and for U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is Nov. 1. “We’re hoping the dates are extended so once the shutdown ends we can proceed with the process,” said Bilski, whose father, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, inspired Dylan to apply for the Naval Academy. Meng said the shutdown forced her to cancel the U.S. Service Academy Information Forum she had scheduled for Queens high school students and their parents because many of the
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Photo Courtesy Mike Bilski
Dylan Bilski, 17, of Glendale and his family are worried about the partial government shutdown interfering with his college plans.
college recruiters had been furloughed thanks to the financial battle raging in Washington D.C. The shutdown - which means there has been a temporary halt in some government services began Oct. 1 after lawmakers could not agree on funding measures for the country. A deal announced Wednesday, which was expected to be passed after The Forum went to press, is anticipated to include funding that will keep the government running through Jan. 15. Meng’s event would have included the Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, among other top-tier institutions. Representatives from the various institutions were set to attend to discuss requirements and procedures for applying, as well as field
questions from students and parents. “Canceling this important forum for our local students is extremely disappointing,” Meng said in a prepared statement. “It illustrates how our Congressional district continues to feel the effects of the GOP shutdown.” Each year, members of Congress nominate top high school seniors and college students from their districts to attend the nation’s elite service academies. The institutions are fouryear post-secondary schools that combine rigorous academics with officer training for the country’s uniformed services. Students who need an application packet should call Meng’s office in Forest Hills at (718) 445-7861 or in Flushing at (718) 445-7860. Individuals may also submit a request online at http://meng.house.gov.
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 13
SULLIVAN’S COURT
Richmond Hill Man Arrested Endangers four children, beats wife and animals
Robert Stridiron/The Forum Newsgroup
By Patricia Adams A 29-year-old Richmond Hill man has been arrested for endangering the welfare of a child and cruelty to animals. Jasean Holmes was taken into custody at his home on Sunday morning after police responded to the location for a domestic dispute. What they found was a filthy apartment, with a total of 15 dogs, 10 of them from a newly born litter, several poisonous snakes and other reptiles. Several of the adult dogs had been badly abused. Law enforcement personnel as well as EMS workers
were obviously disturbed at the scene to uncover these conditions where four children were living. They were described by police sources as “in terrible danger.” One emergency services worker emerging from the scene declined to give his name but said “People should know about things like these. If we don’t get these kids out of here, they would have died here at some point.” Police sources say the address has a history of calls in regard to domestic violence incidents but that the wife refused to cooperate with police and press charges. But this time, Holmes’ abuse was witnessed
14 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
by emergency service personnel, and police were able to make an arrest. On Sunday, police responded to a call that came into 911 around 8 a.m. claiming that there was a domestic altercation at the house. Neighbors who gathered outside said they were relieved to see that he [Holmes] was being taken away. Stories circulated among them of how Holmes was rumored to have used the snakes to threaten the children, 7 -12 years old, when they misbehaved. Police and EMS workers say the house was littered with garbage, rotten food and dog feces. The children were removed from the premises and taken to area hospitals. They were cleaned up, examined, treated and placed under temporary custody with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). The animals were removed by the city’s Animal Care and Control department and will be cared for there while authorities complete their investigation.
A.
Q.
My wife was recently in a car accident. The other driver caused the accident, but he has no insurance. How can my wife be compensated for her injuries? - Jon R.
Dear JR, I am sorry for your wife’s misfortune. Hopefully she will be fully recoveredvery soon. Fortunately for her, under your own car insurance policy there is a little know clause that will protect her. It is called “UM/SUM”, an acronym for ‘Uninsured Motorist/Supplemental Underinsured Motorist’ insurance coverage. This is a pro-consumer insurance clause and a very important part of your car insurance coverage. This coverage applies when you or someone residing in your house is injured in a car accident that is caused in whole -or in part- through the fault of another car that has insufficient insurance coverage or no coverage at all. When purchasing car insurance most brokers and consumers focus on the liability clause whichprotects strangers who may be injured by the negligent operation of your car. The law mandates that “UM/SUM” coverage must be maintained. However, since many insurance companies make a nominal profit from this coverage, they often leave it at a minimum level and never offer the option of an increase to the consumer. Even if you have $100,000 or $300,000
in liability coverage, it might not mean that you have this much available for you under the “UM/SUM” clause. Since this clause is the only part of your policy that protects you and your loved ones, it is a good idea to make sure that you are fully covered and increase the “UM/ SUM” limits of your policy to equal the amount of liability insurance you purchase to protect others. By doing so, if another driver causes a car accidentand they are uninsured or have very little insurance, there is still coverage for you and your household residents who may have been injured in the accident, up to the amount of the “UM/SUM” coverage you purchase. The NYS Courts have even ruled that a child who lives away at college is still considered a resident of the house and can also be protected under this clause. Another benefit to collecting directly under your “UM/SUM” clause is that to do so you simply request an arbitration hearing with the insurance company as opposed to filing a lawsuit against the other driver. A lawsuit can drag on for about three years where as the arbitration hearing can be resolved in less than one year.
Keith Sullivan is a partner with Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP and an adjunct law professor at Pace University School of Law and Brooklyn Law School and a lecturer for the NYS bar exam. He can be seen frequently providing legal analysis on various national and local networks such as FOX News, CNN, HLN, NBC and MSNBC. You can e-mail your questions for Keith to SullivansCourt@gmail.com. Sullivan’s Court provides general legal information only, is not intended as legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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St. Helen's Brings Fall Fun St. Helen’s held their annual fall festival on Sunday, hosting a specialty shopping fair in Father Dooley Hall and using the area outside, held a number of fun fall activities for families and kids. Families and children enjoyed a number of fun fall activities including pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, pony rides and a feeding/petting zoo. Several event vendors sold homemade pies, candy apples and other traditional treats. St. Helen’s is planning their next event for December 7th and 8th, a Christmas fair. You can call for more information 718-835-4455.
Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Anthony Santana takes his bean bag tossing very seriously. The 8-year-old visited the festival with his family and took away a prize or two after some very sharp tosses!
Two-year old Gianna was happy for the helping hand from Ashley Horning, 6, after realizing just how “too big” the slide out of the bouncy castle was.
Shoppers enjoyed browsing a wide array of specialty items including children’s clothing, toys, crafts and holiday trinkets. For those who brought along a sweet tooth, there were pies, cookies, muffins, cake pops and candy apples and more.
Teen Found Safe After Being Believed to be Kidnapped Community immediately rallied to find the boy after reports he disappeared “He’s a straight-A student; he wants to go to St. Francis Prep,” she said. “He plays football, he’s A Lindenwood teen originalsmart, he’s funny. He’s usually ly believed by family and friends home studying or playing video to have been kidnapped was games.”Hegarty described Griffound unharmed at the Jamaica fin as a “very sweet, very responLong Island Rail Road station sible boy” who lives with his Friday, police said. mother, a teacher at St. Mary’s, A massive search for 13-yearand his father, who works for a old Griffin Dreger ensued after fire alarm company. family members and neighbors Neighbors noted that they reported that they believed he had been concerned after seeing had been kidnapped while taka “weird white van” that had been ing out the trash before going to After family and friends school Friday morning. Police believed him to be abducted, driving around the neighborhood. said the boy was not kidnapped; Griffin Dreger, 13, was found One woman had taken down the unharmed at the Jamaica license plate number and gave it to he instead had been trying to buy LIRR station Friday. police. a rail ticket to Montauk. Upon news of Griffin's disappearance, comGriffin, who just turned 13 and is a student at St. Thomas the Apostle in Woodhaven, was munity members immediately rallied and beleaving his home at 152-02 Cross Bay Boule- gan to work to find him. Numerous store ownvard in Lindenwood around 6:30 a.m. when ers posted information about the boy in their his mother asked him to take a bag of trash to shop windows and many parents and other a dumpster about 150 yards from where his residents shared information via social media, mother was parked. The dumpster is out of including Facebook. The Forum's publisher, Patricia Adams, sight from where his mother was. “He never came back,” his neighbor An- spoke to Woodhaven Residents' Block Assonmarie Hegarty said. “They went out looking ciation President Ed Wendell about the comfor him, and the police said on a security video munity's response to the incident on his radio you see him throw the trash in the dumpster and program Friday. The program can be heard at then get spooked by something. He starts run- http://www.blogtalkradio.com/project-woodhaven/2013/10/12/radio-free-woodhaven. ning and runs out of the video.” By Anna Gustafson
16 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Olivia LoBello, 3, has that “what do I do now that I ran out of food look”, but luckily the animals in the petting zoo were happy for just the company.
Christopher 5, and sister Sophia 4, were two of many pumpkin decorators determined to create the best pumpkin face.
Your Health, Mind & Body Connection
From incorporating exercise into your schedule to finding healthy breakfast alternatives, our latest section is your link to a healthier lifestyle.
A Special Section from
The Forum
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 17
18 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Elmhurst Care Center Forges New Path in Rehabilitative Health Care By Michael Florio The Elmhurst Care Center invited doctors and other accomplished health professionals to an Oct. 9 event celebrating the new facility that provides a wide variety of rehabilitative health care services. The event featured magicians, palm readings, open bar, free food and a tour of the facilities, located at 100-17 23rd Ave. in Elmhurst. “The hope is to get more admissions is the building,” said Vallie Punwasie, director of admissions at the center. “It has been a success. I didn’t expect so many people.” The event was also used as a way to branch out to other doctors, so they can know the facilities to which they refer their patients. “Tonight’s event is to make the community aware of the services we provide here. Then they can use us for the benefits of their patients,” said Dr. Bhaskar Yeturu. “We want to make them [the doctors] aware of the facilities strengths so they can take advantage and benefit their patients.” The 240-bed facility works with many aging patients, some who cannot live on their own anymore. It offers a wide variety of services, from developing skills essential to restoring independence to 24-hour nursing care. It also provides services for younger adults who are in need of cognitive and rehabilitation programs.
Donna DeCarolis/The Forum Newsgroup Those who attended the event received a variety of Doctors and other health professionals gathered at the Elmhurst Care Center last week to celebrate the facility's role in information about the 240-bed facility that provides comprehensive rehabilitative health care. the community.
“We deal with short-term rehab and long term care. We provide short-term rehab for those with fractures or who cannot walk. We try to make them more functional so they can return to their homes and communities,” said Yeturu. Affiliates of the center were there to not only show support but to also help spread the word about the center. “My feeling is that many of our guest have not seen Elmhurst care center, really see it and the operation. To meet the people you
are dealing with and enjoy your evening,” said Robert Amsel, an affiliate of the Elmhurst Care Center and administrator to Elm York Home for Adults Assisted Living Program. “It had been a long time since we went out to the communities and hospitals and tonight’s goal was to reintroduce ourselves,” said Gregg Bendeth, administrator of Madison York Assisted Living Community, who shares common ownership with the Elmhurt Care Center. “To let them know the quality of care that we give the patients that are here in Elmhurst
and let them get a better feel for our family.” The event provided guest with free food and drinks and allowed plenty of time to mingle and get to meet the employees of the center. It also featured a performance by Michael Chaut who is a mentalist extraordinaire. Chaut dazzled those in attendance with his mid tricks. Many of the guest spoke highly of the center's staff. “The doctors who you deal with here, you can always reach,” said Amsel.
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www.HowardBeachCrossFit.com 102-01 159th Drive 718.644.7463 • HBCfit@gmail.com THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 19
The Benefit of Breakfast Super foods to start your day!
Looking better and feeling better both start with eating better. And nothing counts more than starting your day off the right way --with breakfast. Yeah we know you’ve heard it all before but it’s no joke. Studies show a multitude of benefits enjoyed by breakfast eaters as opposed to those who skip the most important meal of the day. Here are a few suggestions to start your day in a healthy and delicious way! Why do breakfast? Now that’s a question that’s real easy to answer. If you skip breakfast you could be setting yourself up for overeating later in the day. Conversely eating breakfast can give you plenty of energy to kick start the day, satisfying your appetite and believe it or not, help you to make smart decisions all day long.
Oatmeal
You may have noticed a heart-shaped seal on your box of oatmeal recently. The seal’s there because oats contain betaglucan, a type of fiber that’s been shown to help lower cholesterol when eaten regularly. Need another reason to dig in? Oats are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. Steel-cut oats, which take about 15 minutes to cook, contain more fiber than rolled oats or instant varieties, but any type of oatmeal is a healthy choice. Just avoid the flavored kinds, which can be packed with sugar. Instead, sweeten your bowl with milk and a bit of honey, and top with fruit and nuts.
Bananas There’s nothing like a banana at breakfast to keep those mid-morning cravings at bay. The yellow fruit—especially when they’re still a touch green—are one of the best sources of resistant starch, a healthy carbohydrate that keeps you feeling fuller longer. Thanks to a healthy dose of potassium, an electrolyte that helps lower blood pressure naturally, bananas are a particularly good choice for people with hypertension.
Greek yogurt
Wheat germ
This tangy, creamy yogurt is loaded with calcium and boasts plenty of protein—nearly twice as much as regular yogurt—to keep you feeling full throughout the morning. Your best bet: Choose a plain, nonfat variety, and add some fruit to give it some sweetness and flavor (and a dose of added nutrition).
A little wheat germ goes a long way. Just two tablespoons provides about 15% of your recommended daily intake ofvitamin E and 10% of your daily folate.
Trying to lose weight? According to one study, eating half a grapefruit before each meal may help you slim down faster, thanks to the fruit’s fat-burning properties and its beneficial effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. Grapefruit is also hydrating, filling, and packed with immunityboosting antioxidants.
Eggs
Blueberries Fresh or frozen, these tinysuperfruits pack a big antioxidant punch. Or better yet, a flurry of punches: Studies suggest that eating blueberries regularly can help improve everything from memory and motor skills to blood pressure and metabolism. Blueberries are also lower in calories than a lot of other fruits (they contain just 80 per cup), so you can pile them onto your cereal without worrying about your waistline.
As its name suggests, watermelon is an excellent way to hydrate in the morning. What’s less well known is this juicy fruit is among the best sources of lycopene—a nutrient found in red fruits and vegetables that’s important for vision, heart health, and cancer prevention. Best of all, watermelon contains just 40 calories per cup, landing it on lists of so-called negative-calorie foods that supposedly burn more calories during digestion than they add in.
Q
Watermelon
20 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Grapefruit
These incredible edibles have made quite a comeback in recent years. Once shunned for being high in dietary cholesterol (one yolk contains about 60% of your daily allotment), eggs are now embraced as a healthy source of protein and nutrients like vitamin D.
Almond butter Don’t eat eggs or dairy? Almond butter is an excellent alternate source of protein, and it’s filled with monounsaturated fat (one of the good fats).
C I U
K
T IP!
If you’re eating healthy you’ll be using a lot of lemons—and as the price of the little yellow guys continues to rise with everything else, you’ll want to get the most juice for your money. If you have a microwave simply place the fruit in for 20 seconds. The heat will loosen up the juice and you’ll get the maximum yield. If no microwave is available, place the fruit on a hard surface and put your palm over it and simply roll it back and forth. The pressure will also loosen the juice to give the same effect!
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22 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
forum Fun & Games ACROSS 1. Opposite of rappel 6. Be mistaken 9. Long, long time 13. Eagle's nest, e.g. 14. Remain 15. Like unrefined oil 16. Actor Jeremy 17. Credit card acronym 18. *Spooky 19. *It's illuminating 21. Two dots above a letter 23. Last word of "America the Beautiful" 24. Speed unit 25. Highest card in "War" 28. Calf-length skirt 30. Relating to living organisms 35. Legal prefix 37. Hyperbolic tangent 39. Around or approximately 40. Socket insert 41. Cruising 43. Bank claim 44. Chinese fruit 46. Shells, e.g. 47. "____ be surprised" 48. Unlike a mammoth, e.g. 50. Insubstantial 52. Bond, e.g. 53. *Avoided by Dracula 55. Corn site 57. *Fairy 60. *Kind of Halloween house 64. *Specter 65. Tarzan's parental role model 67. Out of the way 68. Figure out 69. ___ Appia 70. Fencing move 71. At the top 72. Moray, e.g. 73. Artiset Fernand or designer Herve
DOWN 1. To finish with a ceiling 2. Vega's constellation 3. Chipping choice 4. Breath refreshers 5. Befit 6. Distinctive flair 7. *Body marker 8. Old episode 9. Acreage 10. Leader or expert 11. Prep for publication 12. Get the picture 15. Boston pro 20. Indian restaurant condiment 22. Capone's family 24. Flesh and blood 25. *In season, sing. 26. Flower part 27. Spew 29. Computer entry 31. Greasy 32. Threesomes 33. Freeze 34. *Halloween swag 36. Muslim honorific 38. Part of hemoglobin 42. Blood carrier 45. Compose 49. Sylvester, to Tweety 51. Everyone else 54. Boxer's move 56. Arise 57. 3-pointer, e.g. 58. a.k.a. the sport of kings 59. Please get back to me 60. Cure 61. Sound of a small bell 62. U2 guitarist 63. Doe in "Do-Re-Mi" song 64. Fed. property manager 66. *Around now pumpkin ones become popular
CROSSWORD
SOLUTIONS FROM LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE
SUDOKU
TRIVIA 1. Where did Jack-O-Lanterns originate? 2. What is the most popular trick-or-treat candy bar?
3. The horror film, "Halloween" features what killer?
4. What other colors do pumpkins come in besides orange? 5. What was the first wrapped penny candy in the U.S.? Answers from Last Week: 1: Humpty Dumpty. 2: Mouse. 3: Christmas. 4: Sukey. 5: The farmer's wife. THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 23
THE HAPPENINGS Thursday, Oct. 17
Howard Beach Senior Center Art Class
Maspeth High School Halloween Carnival
54-40 74th St. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Maspeth High School's Key Club will hold its Halloween Carnival and Haunted House to raise money for Shriners 155-55 Crossbay Blvd. The Howard Beach Senior Center will offer art classes with Hospital for Children. There will be pumpkin carving and decorating, games, cupcake decorating, and more. a certified teacher from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., as well as All members of the public are invited for the festivities. from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. All individuals age 60 and older are welcome to attend. The center is located on Crossbay Boulevard across from Waldbaums. For more information, call (718) 738-8100.
Sunday, Oct. 20
Wonderful Woodhaven Street Fair
Saturday, Oct. 19
Italian Professor at Sons of Italy Old Mill Yacht Club 163-15 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach 7:30 p.m. Sons of Italy Fiorello LaGuardia Lodge #2867 will have as its guest speaker GaetanoCipolla, a retired professor of Italian and chairman of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages at St. John’s University. Cipolla will speak about the origins, grammar and modern use of the Sicilian dialect. He is the author of “MparamuluSicilianu,” and will have copies of the book on hand at the meeting. Those familiar with other southern Italian dialects will see many similarities.
Kew Gardens Fall Flea Market
LIRR North Parking Lot 82-60 Austin St., Kew Gardens 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fall flea market will include the Heavenly Angels Animal Rescue, which will be there with dogs and cats available for adoption from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. All of the vendor fees from the event will benefit the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Department. The rain date will be Oct. 26.
Forest Park Fall Festival
Friday, Oct. 18
Bill Goirn Bike-a-Thon
Howard Beach Senior Center Bridge 155-55 Crossbay Blvd. The Howard Beach Senior Center offers a variety of bridge playing experiences. There is supervised bridge on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and duplicate bridge is offered on Fridays from 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. The Howard Beach Senior Center is now located across from Waldbaums on Cross Bay Boulevard and is open Victory Field in Forest Park - Intersection of Woodhaven to anyone 60 or older. Blvd., Myrtle Ave. and Park Dr., Woodhaven For more information, call (718) 738-8100. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Councilman Eric Ulrich and the City Parks Department will sponsor a fall festival that includes a variety of family activities, including a pumpkin patch, face painting, games 80-00 CoooperAve., Glendale 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a Halloween costume contest. All are welcome. State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. will host his eighth annual job fair, at which more than 100 potential employers are expected to attend. The event will take place indoors, although the line to meet with employers may extend outdoors. Business attire is strongly suggested. Participants are encouraged to bring plenty of resumes. Trinity Lutheran Church The workshop schedule includes a talk, “Elevator Speech/ 63-70 Dry Harbor Rd., Middle Village 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Selling Yourself at the Interview” at 10:30 a.m., “Effective Trinity Lutheran Church will hold an Oktoberfest celebraInterview Strategies” at 11:30 a.m., and “You Think You tion as part of its year-long 150th anniversary celebration Know the ABCs, Think Again,” at 12:30 p.m. of worship and service to the community. For more information, Part of the festivities will include live music by John Weber call (718) 738-1111 or (718) 497-1630. and entertainment by the Original Enzian, aschuplattler dance group. The menu will include a choice of smoked loin of pork or chicken breast, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, applesauce, homemade desserts, wine, beer, soda, and coffee. Howard Beach Senior Center Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Children 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. age 12 and under are $12.50. All seniors, ages 60 and over, are welcome to attend yoga Make reservations early with Charlie Roemer every Friday morning. by calling Elaine at (718) 849-1475. For more information, call the center at (718) 738-8100.
Job Fair at Atlas Park
Oktoberfest at Trinity in Middle Village
Yoga in Howard Beach
24 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Jamaica Avenue from 80th St. to Woodhaven Blvd. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Woodhaven street fair, sponsored by the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, will include great food, music, rides, entertainment, and many vendors. All are welcome to attend.
Addabbo Memorial Bridge 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Boy Scouts of America, Tomahawk District, presents the second annual Bill Goirn Bike-a-Thon. The event will start at the west parking lot for the Addabbo Memorial Bridge on Broad Channel Island. All proceeds will go to Friends of Scouting. There is a $3 suggested registration fee.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Richmond Hill South Civic Association Knights of Columbus Hall 135-45 LeffertsBlvd., South Ozone Park 7:30 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend the Richmond Hill South Civic Association’s monthly meeting. It will be international dessert night, and attendees are asked to bring a dessert.
Friday, Oct. 25
Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association 7:30 p.m. Emanuel United Church of Christ Corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and 91st Avenue All members of the public are welcome to attend the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association’s monthly meeting. Several candidates running for public office are expected to attend, and residents are welcome to come and discuss concerns or other happenings in the community.
We'll show you how to have a good time... Enjoy your community. Saturday, Oct. 26
Forest Park Dog Run Halloween Costume Contest 85th Street and Park Lane South 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The annual K9 Costume Contest will take place at the Forest Park Dog Run. Judging begins at 2 p.m. If you want to enter your pooch in the costume contest there is a $5 fee. A Bobbing for Biscuits contest will be held at 2:45 p.m. Donations of blankets and pet supplies will also be accepted at the event.
Howard Beach Kiwanis Halloween Parade
Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program, as she discusses the steps the AFSC is taking in improving U.S. immigration policy that protects the human rights of all people. Gottlieb supervises AFSC's Legal Services, Community Organizing, and Outreach and Education Projects. The AFSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween Masquerade Ball
Russo’s on the Bay 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach 7 p.m. Bobbi and the Strays, a pet rescue and adoption nonprofit, will hold its masquerade ball on Halloween night. It will include auctions, music, wine and beer, raffles, prizes, dinner, and dancing. Tickets are $100 and costumes are optional. Pre-purchased tickets are required. Howard Beach Senior Center To purchase tickets, 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd. 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. call (718) 845-0779 or (917) 213-9840. All seniors, ages 60 and over, are welcome to attend the tai chi classes, taught by Elaine Fleischman. For more information, call the center at (718) 738-8100.
Monday, Oct. 28
Tai Chi in Howard Beach
Howard Beach Chair Aerobics
Saturday, Nov. 2
Resorts World Casino Diwali Celebration
Howard Beach Senior Center Resorts World Casino New York City 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd. 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone Park 7 p.m. All seniors, ages 60 and over, are welcome to attend chair Resorts World Casino New York City and Angels Carib11:30 a.m. aerobics with Charlie Roemer. bean Entertainment Group of Companies Inc. will host an The Howard Beach Kiwanis presents the 27th annual HalFor more information, event celebration DiwaliUtsav - otherwise known as the loween Parade. The parade begins at Cross Bay Boulecall the center at (718) 738-8100. Celebration of the Festival of Lights. Diwali is a five-day vard and 159th Avenue and ends at Cross Bay Boulevard Hindu event that celebrates the victory of good over evil and 165th Avenue. There will be hot dogs, pizza, soda, and symbolizes new beginnings. rides, and more. The festival will be held in the casino’s Central Park event The rain date will be Nov. 2 at St. Helen’s parking lot. space and will include traditional and contemporary live music and dances, Indo-Caribbean fashion display, Indian and Caribbean cuisine, traditional henna paintings, Indian art displays, and children’s activities. St. Helen’s School Yard 157th Ave. and 83rd St., Howard Beach 7 p.m. St. Helen’s Church and the Secular Franciscans will host a candlelight interfaith prayer service to commemorate the first anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. All members of the public are welcome, and attendees are asked to bring a candle. 80th St. and Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 12 p.m. Hundreds of residents, civic groups and others will participate in the fourth annual Queens Veterans Day Parade to show their love for their country and those who defend it. Howard Beach Senior Center The parade begins at 80th Street and Metropolitan Avenue 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd. 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will proceed west along the avenue to Christ the King All seniors, ages 60 and over, are welcome to attend tap Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan AvEl Paraiso Tropical 102-11 42nd Ave., Corona dance classes every Tuesday morning. enue. Following the parade, a commemorative ceremony 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the center at (718) 738-8100. will take place. The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens and the For more information, Sunday to Remember program will host their “Fa-boovisit www.qvdp.org or www.eccatoysfortots.org. lous” Halloween celebration, which will include Latin American music with the artistic presentation of Francisco Cantilo, dance and raffles. The center invites families and seniors to join them in an atmosphere for the entire family. Costumes are optional. The event is free and open to all. Space is limited, however, so please reserve a spot by calling (718) 261-7664 or 54-40 74th St. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. emailing LACCQ@aol.com. Maspeth High School's Red Cross Club and Key Club will Transfiguration Parish Hall For more information on the Latin American Cultural host a Halloween Movie Night to raise money for Shriners 64-14 Clinton Ave., Maspeth 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Center of Queens, visit www.LACCQ.org, Facebook. Hospital for Children, as well as to raise money for CPR Numerous vendors will be featured at this crafts fair and com/LACCQ or on Twitter at @LACCQ. certification for Red Cross Club members. flea market. Vendors interested in participating should call All members of the public are welcome to attend. (347) 339-1362. Tables are $30.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Sunday, Oct. 27
Fa-boo-lous Halloween Celebration
St. Helen’s Interfaith Prayer Service
Sunday, Nov. 3
Queens Veterans Day Parade
Tap Dance in Howard Beach
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Maspeth High School Halloween Movie Night
Sunday, Nov. 10
Crafts Fair and Flea Market
Immigrants Rights and Immigrants Wronged
Queens Historical Society 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join Amy Gottlieb, Program Director of the American THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 25
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Legal Notices SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE FORCLOSURE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS Index No. 10944/12 FLUSHING SAVINGS BANK, FSB, Plaintiffs, -againstHAIMNATH RAMSAROOP, IF HE BE LIVING, AND IF HE BE DEAD, HIS EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, LEGATEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, JUDGMENT CREDITORS, RECEIVERS, TRUSTEES IN BANKRUPTCY, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND HIS HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, LEGATEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, JUDGMENT CREDITORS, RECEIVERS, TRUSTEES IN BANKRUPTCY, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, IF ANY, AND ALL PERSONS CLAIMING BY, THROUGH OR UNDER ANY OF THEM, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KHEAIRA RAMSAROOP, STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, ROYAL CUTZ BARBERSHOP, Defendants. YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and
to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the verified complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorneys within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty days after service is complete of this summons if not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear, or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default, for the relief demanded in the verified complaint. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: the foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Augustus C. Agate, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, dated September 12, 2013 and filed with the complaint and other papers in Queens County Clerk’s Office, Queens, NY. The object of the action is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the NYC Registers Office, Queens County, on the 28th day of February, 2005, as CRFN 2005000118235 covering prem. k/a 10251 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11418. DATED: September 30, 2013. Harry Zubli, Esq., Atty for Pltf. Harry Zubli Esq. Attorney for Plaintiff 1010 Northern Blvd., Suite 310 Great Neck NY 11021 Telephone: (516) 487-5777 Facsimile: (516) 487-4834
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Notice of Formation of THEATRE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. BEYOND BROADWAY LLC, Arts. of NAME: 101-19 NORTHERN BLVD., Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY LLC. Articles of Organization were filed (SSNY) on 09/05/13. Office location: with the Secretary of State of New York Queens County. Princ. office of (SSNY) on 09/10/13. Office location: LLC: 116-40 Park Ln. South, D2, Queens County. SSNY has been Kew Gardens, NY 11418. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC designated as agent of LLC upon upon whom process against it may whom process against it may be be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of served. SSNY shall mail process to process to the LLC, 101-19 Northern Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Boulevard, Corona, New York 11368. Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Purpose: For any lawful purpose. Any lawful activity. 26 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
161 COLUMBIA STREET LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 8/8/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 33-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11106. General Purposes. DATE WRITE LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 8/28/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: James Swierczewski, 79-17 Pitkin Ave., Ozone Park, NY 11417. General Purposes. Notice of Formation of AB 32ND STREET CORNER, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/24/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 34-55 32nd St., Astoria, NY 11106. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice is hereby given that license #1273748 has been applied by the undersigned to sell alcoholic beverages at retail in a restaurant under the alcoholic beverage control law at 33-20 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106 for on-premises consumption. Mahapochanahphan Inc. DBA Enthaice Thai Kitchen Notice of Formation of MWB PROPERTIES, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/30/05. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 32-75 Steinway St., Ste. 212, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: any lawful activity.
ADULT DISTRIBUTIONS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/30/2013. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 166-35 20th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357. Reg Agent: Guido Benanti, 166-35 20th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. Yiqi Properties, LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 6/8/10. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 38-21 Main St, #3D, Flushing, NY 11354. General Purposes.
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Legal Notices Arcfe Group 3, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/11/13. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 136-18 39th Ave Ste 704, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: General. ASL CLARKSON LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/06/13. 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: 40-47 Junction Blvd, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of CAPOEIRA TRAINING CENTER, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/18/2013. 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 30-06 29th Street, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: SPANGLISH LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/11/13. 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 United State Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: 58th FLUSHING REALTY, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/23/13. 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, 150-18 58th Avenue, Flushing, New York 11355. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
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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. 159-35 PARTNERS, LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 8/1/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 162-45 Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach, NY 11414. General Purposes. NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. NAME: 20-70 STEINWAY STREET FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. Application for Authority was filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/15/13. The LP was originally filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada on 01/23/01. The duration date is perpetual. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LP, 23-19 Broadway, Astoria, New York 11106. 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. 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. FMA CONSULTING SERVICES LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/26/2013. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Francisco Arianna, 79-15 35th Avenue, 4F, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
TSDNYC, LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 6/10/13. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 142-20 41st Ave, #4H, Flushing, NY 11355. General Purposes. Notice of formation of SOUTH DRIVE MALBA LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/05/2013. Office located in New York. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to The LLC, 42-95 Main Street #3, Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 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. 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. COOKIE MA-ME LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/28/13. 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: 61-88 Dry Harbor Road, Middle Village, NY 11379. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
CAZZORLA STORES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/20/2013. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 1703 210th St., Bayside, NY 11360. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of MAY SQUARED REAL ESTATE LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 4/24/13. Office: Queens. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to The LLC, 255-07 61st Avenue, 1st Floor, Little Neck, NY 11362. Purpose: any lawful activity. THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 27
OPEN HOUSE SAT. 10/19, 12-2PM 164-25 88TH STREET HOWARD BEACH Hi Ranch 60x100 with 10 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 new bath, new kitchen, new heat and hot water heater. CALL NOW! OPEN HOUSE SAT. 10/19 2:30-4:40 102-21 163 DRIVE HAMILTON BEACH 1 family detached 3 rms, living rm, din rm, kit, 1 bedrm, 1 bath, gar, pvt driveway. CALL NOW! HOWARD BEACH Hi Rise Co-op 3.5 room, 1 bedroom, 1 bath all new kit, bath completely remodeled, parking available. Asking $108K
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28 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation
84-01 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven NY 11421 • 718-805-0202
SPONSORS THE
Wonderful Woodhaven Street Festival 2013 On Jamaica Avenue Between Woodhaven Blvd. & 80th Street MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Sunday, October 20th 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
. . . g n i r Featu
The Malaysian Lion Dancers • Country Western Band
Mary Lamont • Country Western Dancers & Dance Instruction with Dancing in the Streets • Great Music by Radio Station Q104.3 & many other musical groups CALL 718-805-0202 FOR MORE INFORMATION
There may be disruptions in transit service due to this event. Please check with the MTA for any re-routing of buses or trains.
Thank You To Our Sponsors: Nydia M. Velazquez U.S. Congresswoman WOODHAVEN
Joseph P. Addabbo N.Y.S. Senator
Michael G. Miller N.Y.S. Assemblyman
Eric A. Ulrich N.Y.C. Councilman
Elizabeth S. Crowley N.Y.C. Councilwoman
LOGAN BUS COMPANY COMMUNITY
FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
Walker Funeral Home OHLERT – RUGGIERE, INC. LEADER/OBSERVER THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 29
30 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 31
Prevention
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosis in women over age 20, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Healthy lifestyle choices like a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoidance of cigarettes and excessive alcohol are all important prevention steps. Early detection is also key in the fight against breast cancer, so be sure to perform a breast selfexam each month, and ask your doctor when to schedule mammograms and other screenings.
The American-Italian Cancer Foundation Mobile Care Clinic
will be in Queens this month to provide No-Cost Breast Cancer Screenings to women age 50 and over. The mobile clinic will be parked from 9am to 5pm in front of the locations listed to the right.
Saturday, Oct. 19 Kalusugan Coalition 39-04 63rd Street, Queens, NY 11377 Sunday, Oct. 20 Tabernacle Community CME Church 115-62 Farmer’s Boulevard, Queens, NY 11412 Friday, Oct. 25 Office of Assemblyman Goldfeder 214 Beach 96th Street, Rockaway, NY 11693 Sunday, Oct. 27 Holy Child Jesus School 111-02 86th Avenue, Queens, NY 11418 Wednesday, Oct. 30 Queens Library 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Queens, NY 11432
32 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
Where perfection is not an accident… And at Sonny’s Collision Specialists, that’s what we offer our customers – perfection. We know how stressful it can be when you are without your vehicle. At Sonny’s, you will never be dissatisfied – in fact, we’re so sure that we offer you a rental vehicle at our expense if you’re not completely satisfied with out work when we return your vehicle. OUR LIFETIME GUARANTEE IS UNLIMITED • Free computerized estimates • Computerized color matching • Laser measured unibody straightening • Full down draft European heated spray booth • Free 24 hour towing with any collision repair • Your vehicle will be delivered to your door when the job is completed • Sonny’s only uses original factory authorized parts • Rental cars are available • Paintless dent removal AT SONNY’S, NO JOB IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! OUR FULL TIME STAFF INSURANCE ADJUSTERS WILL REPORT YOUR CLAIMS AND HELP YOU SETTLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
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Phone: 718-738-6721 • Fax: 718-846-7755 THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 33
Angels on the Bay Hosts 18th Benefit Ball Gives $500,000 to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children
Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup
Howard Beach singing star Pia Toscano capped off the evening with a performance that thrilled the audience.
By Patricia Adams The 18th Annual Angel’s on the Bay Benefit Ball was held on Tuesday evening at Russo’s on the Bay. Originally founded to raise funds for children’s programs and health care services, the group has thus far raised over $3.4 million dollars for children’s services The organization is dedicated to the premise of making a difference in the lives of children who are chal-
Hundreds of guests were greeted by Angels in flowing white costumes and feathered wings.
lenged by physical limitations, developmental disadvantages and life threatening diseases. The 2013 fundraising recipients of Angels on the Bay were the Good Samaritan Hospital $23,612, HeartShare Human Services of New York $40,000, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center $20,900, Flushing Hospital Medical Center $28,122, and the Riverfund $5,000. One of the largest single donations ever awarded, a check in the
Among the guests were the Board of Directors of the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation and fundraising Chair of the Brooklyn/Queens Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Pictured from left to right: Grace and Mario Faulisi, Jodie Tucci, Joe Mure and Angelo and AnnmarieGurino.
amount of $500,000, was given to the St, Mary’s Children’s Hospital for the Angels on the Bay Fitness Center which serves as a rehabilitation facility for severely injured children and those with rehabilitation needs not able to be met at other facilities. Jan Mittan, Senior Vice President, Development and External Relations at St. Mary's referred to Angels on the Bay as an “incredible group of individuals that are
champions to the children at the hospital.” In speaking about the unit itself, Mittan pointed out that the facility at St. Mary’s is the only one of its kind in the state of New York, offering the degree of specialized pediatric rehab that it does. The facility is used to treat a wide range of patients, from newborns tothose 25 years of age. Angel’s board member Jack Notaro, said it was like a dream come true to finally present the hospital
with the half million dollar donation. “Six years ago, when we were asked to commit to this project, Frank Russo immediately said yes,” said Notaro, “the only thing we didn’t know is where we were going to get the money from.” But that is hardly a concern now. The fitness center, which bears the name of the organization, is used for occupational and physical therapy and treats a population who would be without services if not for St. Mary’s.
The International Society of SS Cosma & Damiano Presents
FRIDAYth
Roma View Catering H al
Oct. 25 . m . p 0 0 : 8 at
l
160-05 C ross Bay Blvd. Howard Beach, N Y 11414
Dance Till You Drop!
featuring the music of Music Flex DJ Michael Nappi
$60
per person
Includes: buffet, wine, soda, cake and coffee, DJ, cash bar, giveaways
Prize will be awarded for Best Costume! For Information Call Sal 718.641.6581 or Jeanette 718.551.1503
34 | THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013
A Harrowing Halloween in Howard Beach
Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup
A skeleton rides atop a gleaming red motorcycle outside Nick Colavito's Howard Beach home.
By Anna Gustafson Come Halloween time, it is not uncommon to see vehicles driving down 84th Street screech to a halt and quickly reverse until they are in front of a house near 161st Avenue in Howard Beach. Then, frequently, those in the car will hop out, scoop cell phones from pockets and immediately begin taking a barrage of photos - after all, the scene before them only lasts for so long. And what is that scene? According to the house’s owner, Nick Colavito, as well as many neighbors living near him, it is one of the “scariest houses around.” “I’ve been collecting Halloween decorations for 15 years, and each year I do this set up it keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Colavito said of the ghoulish extravaganza he creates in
his front yard - everything from a skeleton on a bright red motorcycle to a gruesome body bag and a Frankenstein behind a cage built by the Howard Beach resident himself. For about five years, Colavito has spent about a month each year turning his house from a normal, two-story building into an explosion of bloody monsters and gravestones. And, each Halloween, he and his friends dress up in costumes to the delight of many a shrieking trick-or-treater - only last year was he unable to go through with this because of Hurricane Sandy. “I get thousands of kids coming by to see this house,” said Colavito - a self-professed Halloween buff who loves everything from a good scary movie to some chilling Halloween soundtracks. “It’s so much fun. I really enjoy seeing the expressions on the kids’ faces.”
For 15 years, Nick Colavito has been collecting decorations for one of his favorite times of the year - Halloween.
Thousands of people stop by Nick Colavito's house every fall to witness the ghoulish explosion of decorations.
THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • October 17, 2013 | 35
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At City Leasing of NY, the only BS you get is BEST SERVICE! 159-51 102nd Street, Howard Beach PHONE: 718-323-CARS (2277) • FAX: 718-323-7700 EMAIL: cityleasing@gmail.com *Disclaimer: Above prices DO NOT INCLUDE inception fees-DMV, bank fee, dealer fee, and first month payment.
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Insta