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QUEENS NEWS
Potential bidders get glimpse at carousel City leads tour, hopes to find operator for the Forest Park merry-go-round by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor
Individuals interested in operating the Forest Park carousel got a glimpse into the merry-goround from 1903 during a walkthrough last week — as well as news that the city would allow them to run an amusement venue near the structure. City Parks Department off icials opened the doors to the Forest Park carousel last Thursday morning for those considering running it and another one at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In addition to manning the carousels and snack bars on site, operators also have the option of setting up an entertainment area on the hillside around the Forest Park merry-go-round, Parks officials told the potential bidders. “It’s a very iconic place, and it’s a shame it’s stopped running,” Central Amusement International President Valerio Ferrari said of the Woodhaven carousel, which has been closed since 2008. The structure holds some of the last surviving creations of master wood-carver Daniel Carl Muller,
including 49 sculpted horses, a lion, a tiger, a deer and two chariots. There is also a carousel band organ. Ferrari’s company owns Coney Island’s Luna Park and Scream Zone. At the end of December, the Parks Department issued its fourth request for proposals for the renovation, operation and maintenance of the Forest Park carousel. While the Woodhaven merry-go-round hasn’t spun for several years, the Flushing Meadows site is still in operation. All proposals for the RFP must be submitted no later than Friday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. Evan George, of the Parks Department, said the city will narrow down proposals and hold interviews on Feb. 13. Sal Napolitano, who has operated carousels for the past 40 years, including the one at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, may once again submit a bid. Despite his experience with merry-gorounds — he began his work with them as a summer employee at the Central Park Carousel in 1970 — the city rejected Napolitano’s
offer to operate the two facilities. “It’s such a treasure,” Napolitano said of the Forest Park site. He didn’t say whether he’s definitely submitting a bid, and noted that he doesn’t appreciate that the city would allow an operator to serve alcohol. “I don’t like the idea of serving beer and wine around children,” he said. “I also don’t like that they’re not requiring the operator to restore the organ.” Area residents who have long been advocating for the city to f ind an operator for the Forest Park site, as well as for it to be landmarked, said they feel cautiously optimistic about its future. “It’s historic,” said Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association President Ed Wendell, who joined last week’s tour. “It’s such a rarity, and it’s a real magical place inside.” Allan Smith, of Woodhaven, said he has loved the carousel at Forest Park since he went there as a boy in the 1930s. “There were barn doors that opened up to the carousel, and you could get ice cream and soda,” Smith said. “They did a
City Parks Department officials led a tour of the Forest Park carousel last week for individuals interested in running the beloved merry-go-round. PHOTO BY ANNA GUSTAFSON
pony ride by the carousel for 30 years.” The carousel Smith rode as a boy is not the one currently at Forest Park. The structure now in Woodhaven was originally operated in Dracut, Mass. and didn’t
On Liberty, a struggle to survive Shop owners say city is unfairly doling out tickets by Anna Gustafson Senior Editor
Like many shops in the city, businesses along Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park and Richmond Hill have been hurting financially — but not just because of a rough economy. According to store owners and civic leaders, the city Department of Sanitation has been doling out tickets at about $100 a pop to businesses for violations that aren’t actually the shops’ fault. For example, Patni Madhu, who owns Kalish Pharmacy in Ozone Park, said the city does not conduct enough trash pickups
Kalish Pharmacy owner Patni Madhu, who said the city does not collect trash frequently enough along Liberty Avenue, holds out a photo of garbage on his street. PHOTO BY ANNA GUSTAFSON
in the neighborhood, leaving almost all of the nearby bins filled to capacity for days on end, prompting passersby to toss their garbage on the sidewalk. While businesses try to pick up as much of this trash as they can, they can’t always immediately do so before the city comes and hits them with fines, store owners said. Madhu also noted that he and other owners participate in a city program for which the Department of Sanitation gives businesses green plastic bags for stray trash because shops are not allowed to use black bags for the litter. “But we haven’t gotten the green bags for the last 10 days, so what are we supposed to do?” Madhu said on Monday. “They’re picking up garbage two to three times a week at maximum, and then they fine us for not picking up the trash. I pay $20,000 a year in taxes. They’re not letting people do their business.” A Sanitation spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the department would deliver additional bags to Kalish and noted that businesses must call when they’re running low on the liners. Vishnu Mahadeo, president of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council, also criticized the city, saying there are far too few garbage cans along Liberty Avenue. “We have 900 businesses along the avenue and no garbage receptacles,” he said. Mahadeo and members of his organization recently met with Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who said he would
work with the Department of Sanitation to reach some kind of compromise with the business community. “Many businessmen who left said they were leaving because of the tickets,” Mahadeo said. “Those who are surviving are getting tickets. We need to fix this problem.” The DOS said that, along with funding from Council members, it is “conducting an ongoing campaign to enhance cleanliness along Liberty Avenue.” “Maintaining a neighborhood clean is a team effort,” the department said in an emailed statement. “A department truck may empty the corner basket, leaving the area spotless, but it only takes one inconsiderate litterbug to turn what had been a clean corner into an unsightly mess.” A city official stressed that litter baskets are designed only for light refuse, such as candy wrappers and fruit skins. Mukesh Patel, who owns Ram Stationary in Ozone Park, called Liberty Avenue “a killer.” Along with the trash problem, he noted that the city made Liberty Avenue a one-way eastbound street between Crossbay Boulevard and 93rd Street in 2010, which was meant to curb accidents, but has drastically reduced the number of customers at the mom-and-pop shops along the street. “Business has gone down 70 percent,” Patel said. “With the trash, we try to do the best thing that we can, but they make it hard for us to do that. They’re not concerned about us, but we are supposed to be conQ cerned about them?”
come to Queens until the 1970s. A different carousel, constructed by the same man who built the merry-go-round now at Forest Park, William Dentzel, operated in Woodhaven until it burnt down Q on Dec. 11, 1966.
Father, son die of CO A father and son died after being accidentally poisoned by carbon monoxide in their Ozone Park home last weekend, according to investigators. Kuo-Kung Chen, 66, and Aaron Chen, 29, were found by their respective daughter and sister, Marian Chen, on Saturday evening at their house near 101st Avenue and 90th Street, police said. Chen had reportedly become concerned when her father did not come to meet her on Friday night, as he said he would. A third person in the house, believed by police to be the landlord, was taken to the hospital in serious condition, officials said. Investigators believe a portable heater to be responsible for the poisoning. No criminality is suspected, and police said the investigation is ongoing. Following the deaths, the FDNY released a statement urging residents to make sure they own a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector. “Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer for a good reason — it can take a life quickly, and without warning,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said. Another carbon monoxide incident in the Bronx on Jan. 16 sent 12 patients to the hospital, though there were no Q deaths. —Anna Gustafson
Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 19, 2012
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