Rochdale Village Summer Edition 06-25-20

QUEENS Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

In conjunction with Rochdale Village management The Queens Chronicle presents

Summer Edition

A quarterly supplement distributed throughout Rochdale Village and Southeast Queens

Top left, Board members Joyce Williams, Assistant Secretary of the Board Glynis Urquhart and Board President Jean Castro. Top right, RV Board members, Assembly Member Vivian Cook, Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee (also lower left) and Community police from the 113th Precinct. Bottom right, Rochdale Vice President Ed Douglass, Board Director Jean Hall, Glynis Urquhart, Vice President Tim Mercer, Community Police Officers Bradley and Edwards, Jean Castro, Board Chairman Clifton Stanley Diaz, Vivian Cook and Sharon Lee.

• SUMMER 2020

Abundant PPE donations arrive at RV from Council Member Donovan Richards

by Susan Van Brackle Council Member Donovan Richards applied the personal touch when dropping off masks for distribution at Rochdale Village. With care packages in hand, Council Member Richards went door-to-door throughout the cooperative distributing personal protective equipment to anyone that needed it. Board President Jean Castro, Board Chairman Clifton Stanley Diaz, representatives J.D. Huell and Kevin Livingston of the 100 Black Men Organization, Senior Center Director Sheree Shivers and Lieutenant Gaither from Rochdale’s Public Safety department accompanied the council member on this team distribution effort. Surprised residents were grateful to receive this unexpected gift of potentially life saving PPE.

PHOTO CREDIT: LARRY LOVE MOORE

For the latest news visit qchron.com LIVING IN ROCHDALE VILLAGE

by Susan Van Brackle s the Coronavirus pandemic continues, one thing is abundantly clear. Wearing personal protective equipment has become a part of our everyday wardrobe. It’s no secret that stores, airports and work places now require citizens to wear personal protective equipment before they can enter. This safety mandate makes having access to PPE’s more important than ever before. That’s why mask contributions, like those donated from acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, are so important.

On Saturday, May 2, Borough President Lee, along with members of Rochdale’s Board of Directors, New York State Assembly Member Vivian Cook, community police officers from the 113th Precinct and Lieutenant Gaither from Rochdale’s Public Safety department collaborated to distribute masks to residents sheltering in place in the community. President Jean Castro said, “The Rochdale Village Board of Directors, thanks State Assemblywoman Vivian Cook and acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee for the much needed masks for our vulnerable cooperators. We greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule, to present the masks on Saturday to the Board. The President of the Board and the Board of Directors are humbly grateful for your generous donation and support.”

Queens Borough President Lee added, “It was a privilege to join Assemblymember Cook in delivering hundreds of masks to Rochdale Village, thanks to the generous and timely donation from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association,” said Queens Borough President Sharon Lee. “These masks will help bend the curve and protect Queens residents at a time when every single effort counts.”

A

PHOTOS BY LARRY LOVE MOORE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 2

Acting QBP Sharon Lee and RV Board members convene to distribute hundreds of masks

J.D. Huell from the 100 Black Men Organization, Lieutenant Ernest Gaither, Kevin Livingston from 100 Suits, Council Member Donovan Richards, Board Chairman Clifton Stanley Diaz and Ms. Sheree Shivers hold up PPE equipment donated by Council Member Richards.

RV Maintenance of 2,000 PPE from Brooklyn Borough President Diaz is going to be there to assist you.”

by Susan Van Brackle While Borough President Adams repreIt is no surprise that Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams put himself right on the sents Brooklyn, he is no stranger to Queens, front line of the Coronavirus pandemic while let alone Rochdale Village. According to others have run in the opposite direction to Borough President Adams, “A lot of people shelter in place. Since the outbreak began, don’t realize that I spent my young life here in Queens and so when I got the former New York City Police the call from Rochdale Village Department captain and career that they needed masks… We first responder made it his busiwere able to bring 2,000 masks ness to begin distributing thouout here. to show our support sands of personal protective and love. You know that this equipment (PPE) supplies to Coronavirus does not have any neighborhoods in need. borders. It crosses borders so we Fortunately, team members cannot allow boroughs to get in of Rochdale’s Maintenance the way of us helping each other. department were selected to We are all in this together, we’re receive thousands of boxes of going to get through this and I masks thanks to a recommendation by longtime Rochdale Rochdale resident Nikki thank the entire team over here Village resident Nikki Smith. Smith (lef t) and Brook- at Rochdale Village for under“I have connections to political lyn Borough President Eric standing how important it is that people that are doing things,” Adams (Center) distribute we protect ourselves. During said Smith. “I saw that we needed PPE to frontline this time… you know. Let’s weren’t getting any help and Maintenance workers at RV. keep going. And, again I want to thank Jean Castro and the whole I know that my development, Rochdale Village, is a blue collar, essential team that’s out here reaching out and making worker. We are the people that are keeping this the connections and making this happen. We city going, said Smith...So, I reached out to Ms. are in this together.” It’s true. Having access Jean Castro and she said, ‘If you can get it, to protective equipment is what allows Rochwhatever you can get it would be appreciated.’ dale Maintenance and the entire community And she called me back and she said, ‘Clifton to remain safe.

by Michael Gannon Editor

Though a neighborhood of Queens, Rochdale Village is the size of a small town. And just as the seriousness of COVID-19 was becoming common knowledge to the masses, the co-op’s Board of Directors was faced with many of the same decisions as a city government.

“We have 20 buildings, 5,860 units and more than 28,000 residents,” said Jean Randolph-Castro, president of the board.

“And 25 percent of them are seniors,” she said, with state officials pointing out early and often that seniors were especially vulnerable.

“In mid-March we got the word,” Randolph-Castro told the Chronicle in an interview. “We knew it was going to be bad.

Then Gov. Cuomo ordered the pause over the weekend [of March 22] and everything closed.”

The Board of Directors had parks and playgrounds that they had to shut down, plus maintenance, security and senior citizen services that they couldn’t.

“We had to keep the essential workers,” she said. “Our senior center was closed, but we still had to serve our seniors. As far as the administrative staff went, a lot of them

The leadership at Rochdale Village, with the population of a large town, had to take serious FILE PHOTO preparations and action to deal with COVID-19. worked from — I worked from home organizing things because I’m a senior.”

But maintenance workers couldn’t perform their jobs from home. Security people had to be at their posts. And senior citizens who ordinarily would depend on their center for social activities, companionship and a

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hot meal per day still needed assistance.

“We staggered hours and days,” Randolph-Castro said, allowing them to keep necessary operations up and running. She said the arrangement also helped protect the workers by allowing them to keep better social distancing.

It also helped reduce and isolate employees’ exposure should one of their co-workers become exposed or sick themselves.

It didn’t always work, particularly with such a large, vulnerable population.

“Rochdale lost a lot of people,” Randolph-Castro said.

Merchants in the area, and within the 120-acre complex itself, came through with donations of food for the seniors.

Staffers went around bringing meals dayin and day-out to those elderly residents who could not safely venture out of their homes.

The ground effort, she said, was headed up by Clifton Stanley Diaz, president of the Rochdale Village Residents Association.

“I would coordinate things from home and he was going door-to-door with the residents,” Randolph-Castro said. “That’s still going on now.”

Officers from the NYPD’s 113th Precinct, located on Baisley Boulevard on the parcel of land across from Rochdale’s northern periphery fence, also helped with food delivery and a host of other things.

Upon learning that the complex needed more personal protective equipment, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams — a former NYPD captain and now mayoral candiQ date — delivered 2,000 face masks.

Page 3 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020

The town within a city: How Rochdale planned for and dealt with COVID-19

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• SUMMER 2020 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 4

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020

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by Susan Van Brackle At the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic Dr. Frankel and his team of amazing technicians from Cardiovascular Advanced Diagnostics brought their mobile van to Rochdale’s Mall #1 parking lot for a cooperator’s house call. The purpose of the appointment was not to perform COVID-19 testing but instead to provide wellness diagnostics for residents unable to attend regular medical appointments due to Governor Cuomo’s unprecedented stay-at-home order.

People may wonder why bring in cardiovascular diagnostics when the big concern is the effects of the Coronavirus?

The idea originated from Board President Jean Castro who suggested to bring the diagnostic van to the community in memory of former resident and DC37 union leader Stanley Hill. “I did all the unions and he was the head of DC 37 at the time,” said Dr. Frankel. “So me and Castro talked...She asked me if I would be interested in doing it now in memory of Stanley and everything. So, I said I would because we are getting asked to go to a lot of places but we put you [Rochdale] first.”

According to Dr. Frankel “I think stress is a big component and also at the same time they [people] figure they can’t get to their doctors, so when this was available they

jumped on it. Stress level is big.”

Dr. Frankel was exactly right. In fact his team saw and treated multiple cooperators that were combatting chronic conditions like high blood pressure and other serious heart conditions. Their life-saving diagnostics prevented individuals from having future medical emergencies. Some people were even referred to a hospital.

Residents were notified about the visit via Rochdale’s emergency alert system, digital bulletin boards and social media. The visit occurred over the course of two days by appointment only and was extended for another two days the following week. How were people able to be treated in such close quarters? Dr. Frankel stated, “...Because of the social distancing, we normally do five people in the bus at the same time. We are already doing two people at a time, so I can only do 20 or 18 people a day instead of 50 people a day.”

Top: Board Chairman Clifton Stanley Diaz (left) practices social distancing with a technician from Cardiovascular Advanced Diagnostics and patient, (below) with Public Safety Officers.

• SUMMER 2020 For the latest news visit qchron.com LIVING IN ROCHDALE VILLAGE

PHOTOS BY LARRY LOVE MOORE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 6

Cardiovascular Advanced Diagnostics van provides needed attention to shut in at RV

Rochdale Board members extend greetings and well wishes via YouTube channel

by Susan Van Brackle Since the Coronavirus pandemic had most people sheltering in place for the last few months, Rochdale’s Board of Directors seized the moment to send residents virtual greetings and heartfelt hugs via YouTube.

Each official created their own “stay safe” message and words of encouragement to broadcast. Board President Jean Castro even presented a special Mother’s Day greeting for all shut-in’s

that could not be with family and friends on the holiday. Over 1,000 views were registered.

In addition to being shown on YouTube the messages were aired via Rochdale’s social media and on the internal blog page of rochdalevillage.com.

Those that may have missed the airing can still catch it on YouTube at Rochdale Village TV – RV’s Official Video Channel. Be sure to like and subscribe with us on all of our social media.

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RVSS wraps up successful tutoring program with remote awards ceremony via Zoom and other similar computer apps. In a few weeks’ time lead instructor Andrea Johnson retooled the entire program.

Distance learning classes began March 31, 2020 focusing on Common Core standardized instruction, continued use of the web-based Study Island academic tutoring program and preparing students for the next academic grade level in the fall.

Ultimately 59 of the original 62 registered students signed up to continue via digital study methods.

On April 17 the first of 10 distance learning classes began teaching the same 59 students with programs that focused on providing student instruction on computer coding and animation.

The last class was scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020, the day of the 2019-20 Academic Success Tutoring Program virtual awards event.

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by Susan Van Brackle A distance-learning ceremony that celebrates students who’ve completed Rochdale Village Social Services Inc.’s (RVSS) Academic Success Tutoring Program was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2020. Certificates of completion will be extended to participating students during the event set aside for parents/guardians, staff instructors, teachers and high school student tutors to attend.

Special invited guests included were City Council Member Adrienne Adams, who provided discretionary funding to run the Academic Success Tutoring Program and three other RVSS youth education efforts.

A total of 62 elementary, middle and high school students began the weekly tutoring program between October 11, 2019 and March 7, 2020. By Friday March 13 the onset of the pandemic put study group activities on hold indefinitely and forced traditional classroom sessions to cease.

The program quickly pivoted to digital inclusion via distance learning provided by student’s computers, tablets and smart phones using Zoom, Google Classrooms

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Maria Hubbard, Director of Agape-Bethel Community Development Corporation, and her organizers from her church. Dr. Hubbard personally delivered groceries bags containing canned goods, fruits, vegetables and masks door to door for about 200 seniors with assistance of Councilwomen Adrienne Adams office, Monique Ullah, Director of the organization Girls Set the Ground Rules. Also thanking Rev. Dr. Phil Craig of the Greater Springfield Community Church Pantry for his donations. Rochdale Village is grateful and salutes Dr. Hubbard for her generous support.

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by Susan Van Brackle Whether she’s coordinating donations of household goods, food and clothing or providing goody bags that bring happiness to RV seniors, Rev. Dr. Maria L. Hubbard always extends herself with a giving heart.

Even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Hubbard’s selfless contributions continue to bless Rochdale Village.

She recently organized distributions of hundreds of meal and PPE donations to this community’s most vulnerable population.

Board President Jean Castro shared, “I want to express a special thank you to Dr.

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Tyrell Hankerson, Director of Community Outreach and Events for C ounc il M e m ber Adrienne Adams’s office, left, Board President Jean Castro with Rev. Dr. Maria Hubbard delivering bags of groceries to seniors.

Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020

Rev. Dr. Maria Hubbard is a gift to RV community

by Susan Van Brackle hase one of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Coronavirus antibody research initiative began with an unprecedented call for community grocers across New York State to convert their stores into testing centers.

With Queens county having the third highest incidence of COVID-19 cases in the five boroughs, New York State Assembly Member Vivian E. Cook (D.32) collaborated with representatives from Governor Cuomo’s office and community partners like store manager Rudy Guzman of Key Food in Mall #1, who was more than willing to enable Rochdale Village to be a testing site.

A strong showing of participants lined up for each of the two testing sessions: first on Monday, April 20 then again on Saturday, April 25.

Until that moment, Coronavirus related testing in southeast Queens was performed at drive-through facilities with the nearest location being the parking lot at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, Queens. People without cars or no ability to drive were totally disadvantaged. Rochdale’s Board President, Clifton Stanley Diaz, said, “We

P PHOTOS BY LARRY LOVE MOORE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 8

Rochdale Village community selected for two rounds of COVID-19 antibody testing remotely from home, stated, “Thank you Assemblywoman Vivian E. Cook and Councilwoman Adrienne Adams and owner Rudy [Guzman] at Key Food for your support of our Rochdale Village family for bringing in testing for antibodies ... A special thank you to Chairman of Rochdale Village Board of Directors Clifton Diaz for being supportive during this COVID-19 crisis, for putting your health at risk to represent the Board and president. Some of us have underlying conditions. Staying home is the safest place at this time.”

According to Jonah Br uno, Director of Communications for the New York State Department of Health, “The New York State Department of Health is conducting a statewide seroprevalence survey to assess the proportion of people previously infected...from a representative population from geographic locations around the state. It will help us determine who has antibodies and what that means for each individual, and provide initial estimates...among the general population in New York State, which we will confirm with additional research.”

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• SUMMER 2020

Chairman of the Rochdale Village Board of Directors Clifton Stanley Diaz, Joanne Choi, Director of Asian-American Affairs for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office, Assembly Member Vivian E. Cook (D. 32), Rochdale Village Public Safety Lieutenant Ernest Gaither all wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while remaining socially distant.

should have our fair share of services in regard to this to ensure that residents of Rochdale Village are able to get tested.

And with that in mind, I would like to commend our Assemblyperson, Vivian Cook, for getting this testing done here at Rochdale Village because we have a high percentage of senior citizens.”

By having COVID-19 antibody testing facilities at Rochdale, first responders, essential workers, senior citizens and members of the community with limited access to transportation were provided with the necessary healthcare services they deserve.

Council Member Adrienne Adams (D.28) added, “We as black and brown people have really been experiencing this pandemic very, very hard so we are happy that the Governor has brought his team here today to do antibody testing just so we know how many people, what the percentages are of those who have already been infected with the Coronavirus so we thank the Governor, we of course care very much for our Rochdale Village family. We want them to be tested. We want everybody to be safe out there so we thank you.”

Board President Jean Castro, who has been working behind the scenes

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 10

Coronavirus disruption sparks generous meal donations from Rochdale partners Many of this community’s aged, youth and sick and shut-in residents have come to depend upon daily breakfast, lunch and other meal delivery programs. Through ongoing connections established by Rochdale’s board leadership, local politicians, public safety representatives and business partners, each stepped up to provide edible contributions and delivery manpower, which is no small feat in a village of Rochdale’s size.

Boa rd P resident Jean Castro, Board C h a i r m a n Cl i f t on St a n ley Dia z a nd Rochd ale’s Sen ior Center Director Sheree Shivers teamed up to organize deliveries of over 300 meal donations from contributors like Omar “Mike” Dickens, owner of OB’s Bakery in RochOmar ‘Mike’ Dickens generously prepares a com- dale’s Mall #1; Council mand center of home-cooked meals throughout Member Ad r ien ne the month of April for Rochdale’s vulnerable senior Adams of Queens District 28 and Rev. population.

by Susan Van Brackle he Coronavir us pandemic exposed a state of food insecurity that people didn’t really know existed in the Rochdale Village community. Individuals and families that relied upon prepared meal programs in and around Queens were disparately affected by lack of access to food due to the outbreak.

T

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• SUMMER 2020

PHOTOS BY LARRY LOVE MOORE

Dr. Maria Hubbard, CEO of the Agape Community Development Corporation.

Over the course of a month, hundreds of hearty meals were prepared, donated and delivered to vulnerable seniors. In tag team fashion, door-to-door deliveries were made by Chairman Diaz with assistance from Public Safety’s Lieutenant Gaither, 113th Precinct Sergeant Gilot, Community Affairs Officers Washington and Meo and RV’s Maintenance men to groups 1 and 2. Staff members from the Rochdale Village Senior Center ran hot meal deliveries via the senior center’s mobile van to remaining groups 3, 4 and 5. According to Senior Center Director Sheree Shivers, “Meals that seniors get from the Department for the Aging (DFTA) generally arrive frozen and require preparation. The hot meals seniors received from OB’s provided a bit of social interaction during a socially distant time as well as a taste of home cooking.”

Rev. Dr. Maria Hubbard and Council Member Adrienne Adams also made door-to-door rounds of

healthy meal drop-offs to Rochdale’s seniors. With support from senior center staff, recipients collected bags of canned goods, groceries and fresh produce.

Not to be outdone, Kevin Livingston of the non-profit organization “100 Suits” has been delivering grocery bags to residents since the onset of the pandemic. From the very beginning, Livingston pledged that he and his team would

deliver groceries every week until COVID-19 ceases. He was joined

by Council Member Donovan Richards in the distribution effort.

Rochdale’s senior center still maintains a pantry of common food items that are hand-delivered by mobile van to seniors currently registered with the Emergency Home Delivery program, which is underwritten by the Department for the Aging.

If you require assistance, my team is here for you.

You can contact my office at tel: 718-206-2068 or adams@council.nyc.gov.

Council Member Adrienne Adams 165-90 Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11434