Newsletter-Apr 1012.wpd - Kew Gardens Civic Association

Founded 1914
Tel: 718-263-7180
Kew Gardens Civic Association, Inc.
105 82ND ROAD, KEW GARDENS, NY 11415-1422
www.kewgardenscivic.org
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NEWSLETTER STAFF: Murray H. Berger and Carol Berger
Technical Consultant: Martin Hack
Contributors: Rachel Epstein, Paulette Foglio, Sylvia Hack, Mary Levine, Dominick Pistone, Adam Whiteman
V IE W S E X P R E SSE D B Y C O N T R IB U T O R S A R E T H E IR O W N A N D N E E D N O T R E P R E SE N T T H O SE O F T H E K E W G A R D E N S C IV IC A SSO C IA T IO N
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E-TRASH EMBARGO
By now everyone is aware that electronic waste – ranging from heavy television sets to lightweight tablets
or computer mice – may no longer be deposited in our garbage or recyclables for pickup by Sanitation. As of
April 1, violators have been subject to fines of $100 for each violation. The restrictive regulations were mandated
by the State Legislature in Albany several years ago and activated in stages, which is why most people were
unaware of it until the fines were implemented. The basic purpose of the program is to keep pollutants out of our
water supply system and to reclaim and recycle valuable minerals or metals in the discarded equipment, declared
to be a responsibility of the equipment manufacturers. The manufacturers, in turn, are supposed to have arranged
for a to truck pick up the electronic material at apartment houses of over ten units, leaving everybody else to fend
for themselves.
“Everybody else” may deliver their electronic trash to a BestBuy, a Staples ((no TVs for Staples), a
receptive Goodwill or Salvation Army depot, or to a designated depot on dates that may be specified.
When KGCA learned of the impending embargo in January, we contacted Council Member Karen
Koslowitz and then met with Michael Cohen of her office. They agreed that it was an improper and unfair burden
for the elderly and those without cars to have to lug a heavy TV set or other hard-to-handle equipment to dispose
of it. We suggested the law was counter-productive and would encourage the dumping of such devices on our
streets (as discarded tires used to be). They drafted a law for the City Council that would extend the same pickup
services offered apartment house residents to everybody else every 60 days. Sanitation, however, advised them
it was not up to the City; the State had to change the law.
KGCA then wrote to (or spoke to) the five State legislators representing Kew Gardens: Senators
Addabbo, Comrie and Sanders, Assemblymen Simanowitz and Hevesi. As we go to press, Assemblyman
Simanowitz has assigned his Albany staff to draft a bill that could remedy the problem by making it possible to
have some sort of pickup service for our electronic trash.
OUR 102ND POLICE PRECINCT
After more than two years in command at our 102nd Precinct, in late February Deputy Inspector Henry
Sautner received his travel orders and transfer to a Brooklyn Detective command. His reassignment was
accompanied by the reassignment of a number of other Queens precinct commanders, a regular practice of the
NYPD. Immediately upon his appointment as the new Precinct Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector Deodat
Urprasad, a Queens resident and veteran officer with 24 years of service, called KGCA to introduce himself.
Subsequently, prior to the March Precinct Council meeting, KGCA’s Brooks Borden and Murray Berger
met with D.I. Urprasad, along with Community Affairs Officers Jose Severino and Edwin Martinez, to discuss
some of the problems plaguing Kew Gardens, both quality-of-life issues as well as several still pending criminal
developments. KGCA Board member Kris Monaco also got to meet D.I. Urprasad at the March meeting.
Monthly meetings of the Council are held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Richmond Hill Library
at 7 pm. Kew Gardens residents are urged to attend and let the Precinct brass hear directly any concerns you may
have requiring police attention. The sessions are informal and provide a valuable insight as to what’s going on
in the other neighborhoods of the Precinct: Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven.
Non-emergency calls to the police are best made to 311, which forwards them to the Precinct. The
Precinct itself is located at 87-34 118th Street, ½ block below Jamaica Avenue; the Precinct phone number is
(718) 805-3200. The phone number for the Community Affairs Office is (718) 805-3215.
Weekly NYPD internal CompStat reports of crime statistics in the Precinct are available on the Internet
at http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs102pct.pdf.
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www.kewgardenscivic.org
KGCA NEWSLETTER: APRIL/MAY 2015
Founded 1914
Tel: (718) 263-7180
Kew Gardens Civic Association, Inc.
105 82ND ROAD
KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK 11415-1422
website: www.kewgardenscivic.org
email: [email protected]
April 2015
Dear Fellow Hom eowner,
Our Kew Gardens Civic Association is beginning its second century of ensuring that our neighborhood
rem ains a desirable place to live. Som e things never change; we m ust still be vigilant and guard against
actions proposed by public and private parties that do not benefit us. A prim e exam ple is the latest Mayoral
proposal to m odify zoning conditions which has upset civic groups throughout the city. A confusing 166-page
Scoping Docum ent is intended to be the basis for a Zoning Text Am endm ent. It is not yet clear just how far
flung these zoning changes m ay be. The Queens Civic Congress, with which KGCA is affiliated, is very
concerned about the effect this proposal will have on residential neighborhoods in Queens. Unlike rezonings
requested by neighborhood associations, which have taken years to achieve, the City is trying to fast track
what could be radical changes. (Sylvia Hack, President of KGIA, says m ore in the Newsletter on page 10.)
New recycling rules for Electronic-waste (old TVs, com puters, fax m achines, etc.) took effect April 1.
Risking $100 fines, we can no longer put E-waste out on the curb for pickup, but m ust bring it to a specified
store or depot. W e are encouraged, however, by news from Albany that KG Assem blym an Michael
Sim anowitz’s bill to relieve the problem – introduced at our urging – is m aking progress in the Legislature.
Finally, lest you think all news is doom and gloom , we are happy to report that the NYC Departm ent of
Parks has com m itted $1.3 m illion to a capital im provem ent project in the Overlook section of Forest Park for
reconstruction of paths, drainage and the T-ball field. Also, a new feature will be the planting of trees and
bushes to create a bioswale that is designed not only to decrease erosion but also reduce rainwater, silt and
polluted runoff from going into our sewer system .
Construction is scheduled to start in June of this year and continue for 12 m onths. Although a portion
of the park will be fenced off, construction will not affect the playground or the basketball and handball courts.
Debbie Kuha, the Departm ent’s Adm inistrator for Forest Park, will be our guest speaker at the Annual Meeting
on May 7th. Intim ately fam iliar with the park as a hands-on overseer, Ms. Kuha can answer any questions.
As we go to press, we learn that the City’s Com post Project has just opened a drop-off station for food
scraps at Kew Gardens Road between 80th Road and 81st Avenue on Thursdays from 7:30am -9:30am . For
m ore details, log on to nyc.gov/site/dsny/resources/initiatives/ nyc-compost-project.page .
As KGCA digs in for its second century of service, its Board of Governors continues to rely on your
support, in num bers, for the Association to retain and even enhance its effectiveness. Please becom e a
m em ber of KGCA now, if you are not one already. (See coupon on page 12.) And if you are a m em ber, please
subm it your e-m ail address so you can be updated on neighborhood events and concerns In a tim ely fashion.
Your e-m ail address is used exclusively by KGCA; it is available to no one else.
See you at the Annual Meeting; bring a neighbor.
Sincerely,
Dom inick Pistone, President
CALIFORNIA’S GAIN, KEW GARDENS’ LOSS
Although he was a member of KGCA’s Board of Governors for a relatively short time, Ido Tuchman
endeared himself to all who got to know him. Residing on Beverly Road, he and Leslie, his wife, became well
known in the community, both because of their active involvement in Kew Gardens activities and especially for
hosting the chickens that paraded outside their home. Since the Tuchmans’ move to San Diego in December,
Ido’s presence on our Board and service to the community have already been missed. Although the chickens did
not move to the west coast, they were placed in a good home. We can only hope that Ido and Leslie will one day
return to Kew Gardens, a community they loved.
A COMMUNITY IS WHAT ITS CITIZENS MAKE IT
www.kewgardenscivic.org
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UNIVERSAL PRE-K COMING TO KEW GARDENS ROAD
Kew Gardens may soon (by September) be vying to become a candidate for the “universal pre-K/daycare
capital of Queens!” In operation right now are the several privately-run schools on Park Lane South, 80th Road
at Austin Street, Lefferts Boulevard, and – nearing completion – the large 3-story + roof facility on Beverly Road
just east of Lefferts Boulevard.
Also under construction and scheduled to be completed by September is a Universal pre-K facility for
the NYC School Construction Authority at 83-30 Kew Gardens Road in the Classic at Kew Gardens apartment
building (formerly the Chatillon Scale factory), designed to accommodate 72 children and to be operated by the
NYC Department of Education, independently of PS 99.
A GREAT DEVELOPMENT IN BUS SCHEDULING
Thanks to the most recent MTA technology it is now possible to use your computer, smartphone, tablet
or other mobile device to know when the next bus will arrive at your stop (anywhere in the City) regardless of
where you are located. As the MTA says, instead of waiting for the bus, you can meet it.
CLICK IT: Visit mta.info/bustime from your computer, smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Enter
a bus route, address, or intersection, or zoom in on the map and select the bus nearest your stop to see where the
buses are in real time. To find your bus stop code, simply click the stop.
TEXT IT: Text your bus stop code or intersection along with your bus route to 511123. The MTA will
text back how many stops away the next bus is. You can find your bus stop code online at mta.info/bustime by
zooming in on the map, selecting the bus nearest your stop and then simply clicking your stop. Bus stop codes
are available at all bus stops, at the top of the bus schedule.
Texting Tips: For best results, the MTA suggests you add a specific bus route to your text and be sure
to insert a space between the bus stop code or intersection and the bus route. (Texts are not case sensitive.)
SCAN IT: Each bus stop has a unique QR (Quick Response) code, located on the bottom of the new bus
schedule. If your smartphone has a Quick Response (QR) reader, scan the QR code and get info on how many
stops away the next bus is. (We tried it, it works!)
MAKING USE OF KGCA’S WEBSITES
kewgardenscivic.org is KGCA’s prime website. Edited by Diana Shaman, it offers news articles,
selective literature and a variety of reference material for which there is not always space in the Newsletter.
Readily available is our map of Kew Gardens, showing the Association’s boundaries and street layouts. Another
map clearly delineates the zoning for every block in Kew Gardens along with a concise explanation (prepared
especially for KGCA) of what the various zoning designations signify.
KGCA’s website also provides useful links to over a dozen City agencies and organizations you might
find worth tapping into, as well as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all our elected officials and
most called-upon services.
kewgardenshistory.com or oldkewgardens.com is the nostalgic website developed by Kew Gardens
resident Joe DeMay which achieved a nationwide audience, displaying countless photographs, letter exchanges,
anecdotes, stories and historical data. No longer updated or operating as an active site, it is maintained as a
valuable archive and data bank, hosted by KGCA, for all the material cumulated during its active management
by Mr. DeMay. It is our hope that one day the site will be reactivated and receptive to new material.
Many Kew Gardens residents have used the KGCA websites to conveniently send maps and other
“copyable” items to friends and relatives.
KEW GARDENS BOOK STILL AVAILABLE
Carl Ballenas’ book, KEW GARDENS, published last year by Arcadia Publishing as part of its Images
of America series, is still available from KGCA at the special price of $15. The 120-page book is chock full of
photographs with interesting captions describing sites which – and people who – have become part of the history
of Kew Gardens. As long as the limited supply lasts, books will be available at the Annual Meeting on May 7th
and at KGCA, 105 82nd Road (please call ahead to [718] 263-7180).
JOIN KGCA TODAY . . . Mail the coupon on page 12 with your check now
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KGCA NEWSLETTER: APRIL/MAY 2015
IF YOU SHOULD SMELL GAS
Mindful of the deadly East Harlem and East Village gas explosions, we are repeating some of the advice
printed in last year’s Newsletter, updated to include recommendations most recently released by National Grid:
• If you smell gas and if you have a gas range or oven, make sure the controls are turned OFF. Extinguish any
easily accessible open flames such as lit candles, but never try to put out a fire you suspect may be caused by escaping gas.
Leave immediately.
• If you smell gas, do NOT touch any light switches, fans or other electrical equipment and do NOT pull any plugs
from outlets. These actions may produce a spark that might ignite the gas and cause an explosion.
• Do NOT smoke, light matches or do anything to create a flame.
• Evacuate your home, go to a safe area, call 911 ASAP from outside; give your address, with the cross streets.
• Fire Department and National Grid staff will be dispatched.
• The Fire Department will determine if the house should be evacuated. If the gas leak is severe enough, the gas may
be turned off in the street; otherwise, the gas meter in your basement will be turned off.
• DO NOT assume someone else will report the condition.
KEW GARDENS COMMUNITY CENTER
by Rachel Epstein, Director, KGCC
Kew Gardens Community Center is moving full steam ahead with interesting health talks, discussions
and holiday celebrations. There will be another Job Fair on May 15, again sponsored by Kew Gardens Senator
Joseph Addabbo. Our Center is driven by its members and takes pride in celebrating the diverse cultures and
traditions of the membership. (More patrons of the Center now come from Kew Gardens than from any other
section of the borough.)
We have just completed the celebrations of Passover and Easter. As the seasons change, other ethnic
holidays of interest may be recognized, e.g., Diwali in November and the traditional December holidays.
Year-round we travel on trips to various sites in Queens and elsewhere. One of our recent trips was to
the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, which evoked many nostalgic sentiments. Our goal is to find
joy in exploring, socializing and learning about each others’ traditions. Come by, and pick up a Calendar or some
of the flyers describing the diverse and constantly changing classes and events (or join KGCA to receive the
Calendar monthly by email).
During the year we have hosted AARP’s Driver Refresher course, free flu shots and other beneficial,
convenient and low-cost events or services.
Join us – or certainly visit us to observe what’s going on at our spacious quarters on the second floor of
80-02 Kew Gardens Road. Our telephone number is (718) 268-5960; we’d like to hear from you.
MUST HAVES
As Chair of the Audit Committee, Bjorn Matz has once again been appointed to check the financial
books of the Association. He is to be assisted by Brooks Borden.
The Nominating Committee appointed this year by President Dominick Pistone consists of Renee
Levine (Chair), Rosanne Rosano and Dick Eden. Their Committee report will be presented at the Annual Meeting
on May 7th.
KGCA BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2014–2015
President: Dominick Pistone, 116-02 84th Ave, 11418 (847-1789)
Vice-Presidents: Bjorn Matz, 82-34 Grenfell St, 11415 (849-3534)
Rosanne Rosano, 84-04 127th St, 11415 (441-3307)
Secretary: Diana Shaman, 109 81st Ave, 11415 (793-0434)
Treasurer: Betty Francullo, 116 82nd Rd, 11415 (544-6632)
Alfred H. Brand, Chairman, 80-67 Grenfell St, 11415 (846-8799)
Murray H. Berger, Executive Chairman, 105 82nd Rd, 11415 (263-7180)
Brooks Borden, 115-05 84th Rd, 11418 (850-1369)
Renee Levine, 114 82nd Ave, 11415 (268-6389)
Dick Eden, 120-10 Audley St, 11415 (847-1936)
Kris Monaco, 116-16 84th Ave, 11418 (487-3443)
Mary Lefkarites, 123-09 82nd Rd, 11415 (263-5295)
Governors Emeriti: Sylvia Howard Fuhrman (Chair),
Joseph Trommer
A COMMUNITY IS WHAT ITS CITIZENS MAKE IT
www.kewgardenscivic.org
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CLOSING OF THE MUNICIPAL GARAGE
With the sudden closing in September of the Municipal Garage behind Borough Hall for safety reasons,
a series of emergency alternate side parking regulations went into effect. Those new and temporary parking rules
were lifted as the public – the jurors, the employees, the visitors to Borough Hall and the courts – adapted to the
reduced parking facilities in the Kew Gardens/Briarwood neighborhood with the garage closing. Of course, street
parking became ever tighter, with more driveways blocked than ever before. Some of the nearby private garages
have raised their prices. Many additional parking spaces were to be created by DOT by their authorizing angle
parking and modifying parking time periods.
KGCA was invited to the five briefing meetings so far held at Borough Hall by Borough President
Melinda Katz before and after the closing, at which agency chiefs who work in the Borough Hall/Court complex
made clear what a great and costly inconvenience to their staffs and the public the closing was to cause.
DOT staff, including DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and DDC (Division of Design and
Construction) personnel, explained the background to the closing and described the plans for the future. The old
multi-story garage, that at one time could house 900 cars, is to be replaced by a ground-level open parking lot
to accommodate about 300 cars, to be designed and constructed under DDC supervision. (One interesting feature:
Taking advantage of new technology, instead of being carted away, the concrete remains of the old garage
building are being chopped up and granulated, to be used in the base material for the new parking lot.) Demolition
is scheduled to be completed by this fall.
With everyone present agreeing that the need for a new parking facility was most urgent, KGCA pressed
DDC to take advantage of the longer days now available and work past the regular 3:30pm quitting hour. In
response to our follow-up inquiry, DDC maintained that such overtime would save too few days to warrant the
resultant cost and would present further problems relating to noise, safety and permitting.
OUR LIRR KEW GARDENS STATION, PLUS MORE
In the works for many years, certainly since the renovation of the LIRR westbound (Manhattan-bound)
station house and platform, has been our request for a shelter on the eastbound platform. Championed by Sylvia
Hack, President of the Kew Gardens Improvement Association (KGIA), we almost had it, but it failed to
materialize. Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz has been pursuing our cause and may be close to achieving it
– if he can convince the LIRR that we’re not looking for a costly Kew Gardens version of Penn Station!
The lawn area behind the LIRR westbound platform has been adopted by Austin’s Ale House in an agreement
with the MTA. Developing the area – with new plantings and professional maintenance – has proven to be a
major improvement of which KGCA and the entire community are most appreciative.
The eastbound and westbound perspectives of Kew Gardens artist John Chadwell are portrayed in the
two colorful 90' wide DOT-funded Murals, sponsored by KGCRA (our Kew Gardens Council for Recreation and
the Arts), painted – mostly by local volunteers – on the walls on either side of Onslow Place, above the LIRR
tracks between Grenfell and Austin Streets. One side portrays the westbound view of Manhattan from a LIRR
train, the other side portrays the eastbound view of eastern Long Island. Dedicated last June, the project was
shepherded to completion for KGCRA by Rosemary Sherman and Carol Lacks.
ODDS AND ENDS
• Residents of Beverly Road will be gratified to know that – at long last – Beverly Road is scheduled
to be milled and repaved sometime before the end of this year. Notice to this effect was received from the DOT
last month via Community Board 9.
• Residents of Onslow Place may be pleased to know that – in response to KGCA’s request – the DOT
is seriously reviewing our proposal to have several speed bumps installed along Onslow Place, south of Grenfell
Street. If they deem speed bumps to be an improper remedy for the speeding problem, we’re open to other
practical alternatives. (DOT Case Number DOT- 249309-R9N1)
• KGCA has also recently asked that parking regulations along the two blocks of Lefferts Boulevard,
from Abingdon Road to 84th Avenue, be changed from No Parking to No Standing to make traffic passage
safer by curbing the current indiscriminate, permissive parking practices.
• KGCA members who have provided their email addresses have been receiving email reports of house
sales in Kew Gardens shortly after they are recorded. The reports list the address, sale price, old and new owners.
Mark your calendar: Don’t miss the Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 7th!!
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KGCA NEWSLETTER: APRIL/MAY 2015
P.S. 99Q, THE KEW GARDENS SCHOOL
by Paulette Foglio, Principal
P.S. 99Q began the 2014/2015 school year receiving exciting news by having student artwork from our
school selected and currently displayed at the U.S. Embassy in Japan. The artwork was originally exhibited at
the Studio-in-a-School’s 35th Anniversary Gala. Caroline Kennedy, one of the chairs of the Gala and the current
American ambassador to Japan, noticed the artwork and requested it be displayed at our Embassy in Tokyo. The
artwork, created by Grade3 students, consists of two large murals, 10.5' x 5'.
The school continues to receive good news. Through the Office of Arts and Special Projects and Studio
in a School, a grade 3 student’s artwork, "Lotus Flower", has been selected as a P.S. Art 2015 semi-finalist and
is being considered for inclusion in an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Students have been busy at the school. They plan to read 40,000 books to satisfy the 40,000 Book
Challenge, the second year in a row they will meet this challenge.
Promoting peace is a theme at our school. On Peace Day, September 23, 2014, 80.7% of our students
wore white shirts to promote peace, with our Kindergarten students having the highest participation rate of 93%.
Our Peace Committee is busy creating two murals, one for each building, using peace imagery.
Our Student Council is working on a very interesting project, putting together a time capsule which will
be placed somewhere around our school. They are gathering items to place inside the capsule, which will describe
what P.S. 99 looked like in the year 2015. Some of these items are letters, poems and student work.
I am very proud of our fifth graders. Out of their desire to write, they formed a Writer’s Club and meet
daily under the direction of a teacher. They have created “The 99 Words Bulletin” and expanded it to create an
interactive bulletin board, encouraging other students to write and have their work displayed. It was very
impressive that this type of project was initiated by students. It is also interesting that the school received the
original journal of the 1936 “The Spirit of 99” from the grandson of a former P.S. 99 student. His grandmother
had taken part in writing the journal, now is being shared with the Writer’s Club members and destined to be
included in P.S. 99's archives.
The student performances at P.S. 99 are receiving rave reviews. The Holiday Concert had a line outside
the door and was enjoyed by all. I would like to invite you to our annual School Performance, “The Lion King”,
on Wednesday, June 10th or Thursday, June 11th at 7:00pm in the Main Building auditorium.
NATIONAL GRID’S PLOUGH THROUGH KEW GARDENS
National Grid has embarked on an enormous project in order to provide sufficient gas for Queens as the
anticipated extensive need for gas materializes. One new large 20" gas line, on which work should start soon,
which will affect Kew Gardens, runs over six miles from Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park – through
Kew Gardens – to north of the LIE in South Corona. Smaller pipes will branch off the main line to feed
neighborhoods. Coming up from the south along Lefferts Boulevard, the line will turn west on 84th Avenue,
north on 115th Street into Park Lane South, and then west on Metropolitan Avenue into Forest Hills on its path
to South Corona. (The route is outlined on the Kew Gardens street map on page 11.)
A COMMUNITY IS WHAT ITS CITIZENS MAKE IT
www.kewgardenscivic.org
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PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
“Participatory Budgeting” (BP) is the title applied to a relatively new, “more democratic” system of giving
the public a say on how City money should be spent. Started in 2011 in four Council districts, BP is being
implemented in 24 Council districts. Our Council member, Karen Koslowitz, is trying it for the first time in our
district, CD 29, which takes in Forest Hills, Rego Park, Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens.
Like the others, she has allocated $1million of the total $5 million in her discretionary capital budget to
be voted on by community residents over 16 years old.(Capital budget items must exceed $35,000 in cost and be
somewhat durable.) Starting last fall, Christina Prince, aide to Karen Koslowitz, has recruited volunteers from all
sections of CD 29; they have met many times and held open public meetings in their communities (including one
at PS 99) to round up and filter ideas for projects that could be voted on in April (yes, this month).
After various “nominated projects” were cleared by the relevant City agencies, thirteen were selected
to be voted on by the public on ballots cast at either CM Koslowitz’s office in the ConEd Building on Queens
Boulevard or at one of the other 17 locations in CD 29, including three in Kew Gardens, during specified time
periods between April 11 and April 19.
By the time you are reading this Newsletter, the voting will be over, but the five winning projects may
still not be known. When the winners are announced, KGCA will send emails to all members with email
addresses on file.
DID YOU KNOW? . . .
by Adam Whitem an
Inventor Saul Marantz: Audio engineer Saul Marantz (1911-1997) founded the Marantz Corporation, a name
that became synonymous with hi fi audio products that were pleasing to look at, easy to use, durable and sonically
first rate. It was in the basement of his Kew Gardens home at 124 81st Avenue, where Saul Marantz began to
hand assemble the “Audio Consolette,” the first in a series of high-end audio products spanning the early 1950s.
These included preamplifiers, amplifiers, equalizers, speakers, etc. aimed at producing superior sound for the
growing consumer electronics market.
Inventor Lloyd Espenschied: Electrical engineer Lloyd Espenschied (1889-1986), together with Herman A.
Affel, invented the coaxial cable in 1929 while working at American Telephone and Telegraph Company’s
famous Bell Laboratories. The modern coaxial cable is a system of transmitting high-frequency signals that
greatly enhanced voice traffic and made television transmission possible. Espenschied, who lived at 99 82nd
Road, held more than 100 patents in both wire and radio communications systems and was one of the first to
suggest the use of reflected radio waves to determine distance, a theory that took practical form with his invention
of the radio altimeter. The device was first applied to aerial navigation in 1938 and foreshadowed the
development of radar in World War II.
Author Henry Miller: Iconoclastic author Henry Miller (1891-1980) – began his outline for his famous book
Tropic of Cancer (1934) while employed by the Queens Parks Department and worked in the Overlook on Park
Lane South. Miller got the job through a friend, Jimmy Pasta, in an attempt to make enough money to support
his wife, June. He began working as a gravedigger, eventually moving up to office assistant.
Diplomat Ralph Bunche: Ralph Bunche (1904-1971) helped found the United Nations and won the Nobel Peace
Prize (1950) for mediating armistice agreements between Israel and its neighboring countries. In 1952, he and
his wife Ruth used the award money that came with the Nobel Prize to buy their house at 115-24 Grosvenor Road
for themselves and their three children. Dr. Bunche served on KGCA’s Board of Governors as an active member
and he lived here until his death in 1971; his wife Ruth lived here until hers in 1988. The house has since been
designated a National Historic landmark.
Artist Philip Evergood: A world-renowned artist, Philip Evergood (1901-1973) painted the 160-foot mural, The
Story of Richmond Hill, for the Richmond Hill Library on Hillside Avenue. The mural was commissioned by the
WPA's Federal Art Project and completed in 1936. Evergood’s works hang in many world-class museums,
including the Smithsonian (Washington, DC), Tate Gallery (London), Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Art Institute
of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), Museum of Modern Art (NYC) and the Brooklyn Museum of
Art, among others.
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KGCA NEWSLETTER: APRIL/MAY 2015
SAVE THIS PAGE
President Barack H. Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20500
D C Tel: 202-456-1414
C ontact: whitehouse.gov [then click on C ONTACT]
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U. S. Senator Charles (“Chuck”) E. Schumer, 780 Third Avenue, Suite 2301, NY, NY 10017
N Y Tel: 212-486-4430
N Y Fax: 202-228-2838
D C Tel: 202-224-6542
D C Fax: 202-228-3027
W eb: http://schum er.senate.gov [then click on C ONTACT]
U. S. Senator Kirstin Gillibrand, 780 Third Avenue, Suite 2601, NY, NY 10017
N Y Tel: 212-688–6262
N Y Fax: 212-688-7444
D C Tel: 202-224-4451
D C Fax: 202-228-0282
W eb: http://Gillibrand.senate.gov [then click on C ONTACT]
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Congresswoman Grace M eng, 40-13 159th Street, Flushing, NY 11358
Forest HillsTel: 718-358-6364
D C : 1317 Longw orth H ouse O ffice Building, W ashington, D C 20515
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, N Y 11375
D C Tel: 202-225-2601
W eb: www.M eng.house.gov [then click on C ONTACT]
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Governor Andrew M . Cuomo, New York State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224
A lbany Tel: 518-474-8390
E-mail + w eb: www.governor.ny.gov/contact/G overnorContactForm .php.
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State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
State Senator Leroy Comrie
State Senator James Sanders, Jr.
159-53 102nd Street, H ow ard Beach, N Y 11414
Tel: 718-738-1111
Fax: 718-322-5760
E-mail: addabbo@ nysenate.gov
205-20 Jamaica A venue, H ollis, NY 11423
Tel: 718-454--0162
Fax: 718-454-0186
E-mail: m asm ith@ nysenate.gov
142-01 R ockaw ay Blvd, South O zone Park, N Y
Tel: 718-523-3069
E-M ail: sanders@ nysenate.gov
Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz
Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi
159-06 71st A venue, Flushing, NY 11365
70-50 A ustin Street, Forest H ills, N Y 11375
Tel: 718-969-1508
Fax: 718-969-8326
Tel: 718-263-5595
Fax: 718:263-5688
E-mail: sim anom @ assem bly.state.ny.us
E-mail: hevesia@ assem bly.state.ny.us
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City Council Member Karen Koslowitz
118-35 Q ueens Boulevard, Forest H ills, NY 11375
Tel: 718-544-8800
Fax: 718-544-4452
E-mail: koslowitz@ council.nyc.gov
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Hall, NY 10007
Tel: 311
Fax: 212-312-0700
E-mail: http//nyc.gov/htm l/m ail/htm l/m ayor/htm l
Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, 253 Broadway, 14th Floor, N ew
York, N Y 10007
Tel: 311
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Public Advocate Letitia James, Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, Room 1500, NY 10007
Tel: 212-669-7200
Fax: 212-669-4701
E-mail: pubadvocate@ .nyc.gov
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Borough President Melinda Katz, 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Tel: 718-286-3000
Fax: 718-286-2876
E-mail: info@ queensbp.org
Community Board 9, District Manager: Lisa Gomes, 120-55 Queens Blvd, Room 310A, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Tel: 718-286-2686
Fax: 718-286-2685
E-mail: com m unitybd9@ nyc.rr.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------POLICE: Emergencies: 911
102nd Precinct, 87-34 118th Street, Richmond Hill
NYC Quality-of-Life: 311
718-805-3200
Community Affairs: 718-805-3215
SANITATION (Atlantic Avenue): 718-847-8466
BUILDINGS DEPARTM ENT COM PLAINTS: 311,
888-677-5433
then phone com plaint num ber to Com m unity Board 9
A LL-PU R PO SE NEW YO R K C ITY W EBSITE: www.nyc.gov
K G C A W EBSITE: www.kewgardenscivic.org
ENJO Y: w w w .kewgardenshistory.com
4/15
A COMMUNITY IS WHAT ITS CITIZENS MAKE IT
www.kewgardenscivic.org
9
COMMUNITY BOARD 9: A NEW DISTRICT MANAGER
If you've been dealing with Community Board 9, you will be pleased to know that Lisa Gomes has
been appointed District Manager by the Board, after serving many years as the #2 to Mary Anne Carey, who
has retired. Irina Barayeva remains as chief assistant to DM Gomes. Located in Room 310-A at Borough
Hall, the Board's office number is (718) 286-2686; its email address is [email protected].
In addition to serving Kew Gardens, the Board covers Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven.
New officers of the Board, elected in March and assuming office in April, were Raj Rampershad
(Chairperson), J. Richard Smith (1st Vice Chairperson), Joel Kuszai (2nd Vice Chairperson), Ivan Mrakovcic
(Executive Secretary). The Board meets the second Tuesday of the month, and invites the public to attend as
observers and speak freely for three minutes on any topic during the Public Forum held at the beginning and
end of every meeting. Call the Board office for the location of each month’s meeting. (718-286-2686).
There are currently no Kew Gardens homeowners on the Community Board, a condition we would
like love to see remedied. If your interests lie in that direction, we urge you to attend CB 9 meetings (as well
as your KGCA Board meetings) to “test the waters” and explore the possibilities.
MAJOR CHANGES TO ZONING CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR
by Sylvia Hack, President, Kew Gardens Improvement Association (KGIA)
“Housing for Quality and Affordability”, this166-page Scoping Document was released late
February by the Department of City Planning (DCP) to serve as the basis for major new Zoning Text
Amendments. Many civic groups throughout the city are opposing what they are calling a “one size fits all”
proposal. At an April 2 DCP presentation, staff described changes as “minor tweaks.” They concentrated on
the height and other changes proposed for senior housing and to raise ceiling heights in new multiple
dwellings – from 8'8" to 10'; raising the first residential floor so as to increase distance from the street.
Among less benign sounding changes are: removal of parking requirements for senior and “affordable”
housing; new setback rules; reduced rear yard requirements and allowing facilities therein; a return to
allowing sliver buildings, new regs for odd shaped lots. While R1 and R2 zones may be less affected in the
proposal, there are items which could cause issues. Despite the document’s title and innumerable references
to “affordability and inclusionary housing,” there is nothing defining affordability and for whom or how the
City might reach that goal. DCP staff said they are working on these issues. To date “inclusionary housing”
has provided few affordable units despite space bonuses and financial advantages given to developers. As
Community Boards and others study this 166-page opus, the devils in the details may emerge. Attention
should be paid.
ONE- WAY STREETS: A Letter to the Editor
by Mary Levine, Metropolitan Avenue
What do we have to do to change all secondary “east-west” side streets in Kew Gardens to one-way?
In my opinion, it is a dangerous situation, especially with the blind inclines, declines and curves.
My family lives in Great Kills, S.I. and within the past year, all the side streets there were changed to
one-way streets. Although sometimes it may be a little inconvenient to get from Point A to Point B, it is a
pleasure not having to move over and potentially hit a parked car to allow another car from the opposite
direction to come through. And that area is not as “hilly” or “curvy” as our streets.
It is also EXTREMELY bothersome and dangerous in the winter on snow and/or ice.
PLEASE, do what it takes to get our side streets made into one-way streets for our community’s
safety.
Thank you! And thank you for being Kew Gardens’ eyes, ears, and especially VOICE!
Editor’s note: KGCA invites your reaction to Mrs. Levine’s suggestion, either by letter, by email to kewgardenscivic.org, or at the
Annual Meeting on May 7. Last year, after the DOT proposed that parts of Grenfell Street and Beverly Road be made one-way, so
many objections were raised by homeowners on those streets, the idea was withdrawn. And we again then asked DOT to do a total
traffic study of all of Kew Gardens, but so far have gotten no commitment – nor seen any indication of its being done.
10
www.kewgardenscivic.org
KGCA NEWSLETTER: APRIL/MAY 2015
A COMMUNITY IS WHAT ITS CITIZENS MAKE IT
www.kewgardenscivic.org
11
HAD YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF KGCA . . .
During the past twelve months, members of KGCA who provided email addresses received over 225
emails, some routine (like monthly schedules of activities at our Kew Gardens Community Center), some very
timely and pertinent (like crime alerts or Sanitation notices regarding electronic trash).
The following is a sampling of extracts culled from the emails dispatched during the past year. They may
serve as a “refresher” for members and, we hope, provide an incentive for you to join KGCA if you are not
already a member.
May 12 (copied from KGCA’s website kewgardenscivic.org): A summary of the Annual Meeting, with photos,
provided by Diana Shaman, our website editor.
June 4: The story of Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, famous pianists who resided on 83rd Avenue, recognized with
a historical bronze plaque awarded by the Friends of Maple Grove prior to a tour of the home in which they lived.
June 10: A story on the imminent closing of PriceRight on Lefferts Boulevard. The upcoming performance of
the Kew Gardens Musicians at Austin’s Ale House. The upcoming KG Summer Flea market at the LIRR Parking Lot.
The upcoming unveiling of the DOT/KGCRA Murals along Onslow Place, over the LIRR tracks.
July 13: A report on the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds and the very easy recovery
via the web of such funds to which any one of us may be entitled. They are often funds from insurance companies,
banks, utilities or medical organizations which wind up with the State instead of being refunded to the customer. (A
number of members were able to recover funds as a result!!)
August 5: Notice from Community Board 9 that Kew Gardens would be sprayed with pesticide from trucks to
reduce mosquito activity and the risk of W est Nile virus between 8:30pm W ednesday and 6:00am Thursday.
September 23: Breaking News! Effective this afternoon the Municipal parking garage behind Borough Hall has
been closed for safety reasons. Parking in KG will become a severe problem and a rare commodity! Alternate side
parking will be suspended (on specified streets) until further notice.
September 28: If you would like a City tree planted at the curb on your property (or a neighbor’s), now is the
time to call 311 and apply for one. OEM Tip #1: Now is the time to set up an Emergency Management Plan with your
family. Tip #2: Take some time now to check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or have special needs.
September 30: Along with the October Schedule of Classes and Highlight events at KGCC, be aware that flu
shots will be available at the Community Center on Thursday, October 2, and the next AARP Driving Class will be held
in November.
October 7: If you know a young person interested in applying for one of our five U.S. service academies (W est
Point, Annapolis, Air Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine), Congresswoman Grace Meng is hosting a forum on
October 18 at Forest Hills High School. The first Kew Gardens session on Participatory Budgeting
will be held at PS 99 on October 21 by Council Member Karen Koslowitz.
October 12: A notice to members, based on a reassuring report from the Queens Civic Congress, with which
we are affiliated, on the successful operation of the water and sewer line repair program of American W ater Resources
(AW R) and the DEP, first exposed to our members when it was offered in 2014.
November 4: A follow-up report from the 102nd Precinct on the rash of car wheel thefts, especially alerting
owners of late model Honda Accord, Infiniti, Nissan, Acura, Mercedes Benz and Cadillac brands.
Year-round: As reports of house sales became available, they were emailed to KGCA members, listing address,
sales price, old and new owner.
January 2015: As soon as the Department of Sanitation announced the state-mandated embargo on electronic
trash (with a special arrangement for apartment house residents), KGCA members were alerted.
C- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To: K EW G A R DEN S C IVIC A SSO CIA TIO N , I N C ., 105 82nd Road, Kew Gardens, NY 11415-1422
Q
Here is my $20.00 membership dues for the fiscal year May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016.
Q I am a New Member, please send me the New Member Bonus:
KGCA’s Versatile and Popular Carry-All Green Tote Bag (as long as they are available)
Q Please send me _________ additional Tote Bags @ $10 each (again, if available)
I am the owner or lessee of a
“ 1-family home
“ 2-family home
“ 3-family home
Name ________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________________ ZIP _________________
Phone ________________________________________________________ Block ________________ Lot ______
E-Mail______________________________________________________________________________________