Adrift Barges Threaten Bay Updates for BP Pol Urges Corps Bayside Station a SLICE of FLUSHING VANISHES to Remove Boats
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LARGEST AUDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN QUEENS Dec. 11–17, 2015 Your Neighborhood — Your News® 75 cents THE NEWSPAPER OF FLUSHING, AUBURNDALE, KEW GARDENS HILLS & FRESH MEADOWS CB 11 opposes Adrift barges threaten bay updates for BP Pol urges corps Bayside station A SLICE OF FLUSHING VANISHES to remove boats BY TOM MOMBERG leaking toxins Community Board 11 voted BY MADINA TOURE unanimously Monday night to recommend that the city U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D- deny a zoning variance for BP Jackson Heights) and commu- to make improvements at the nity groups that use Flushing Bayside station, 218-01 North- Bay are urging the U.S. Army ern Blvd., due to alleged vio- Corps of Engineers to remove lations on the property by the two barges in the bay immedi- company’s current tenant and ately. caretaker. The barges arrived in the Nearby residents com- bay in the summer of 2011, plained the operator leasing according to Hector Mosley, the BP station had been con- an Army Corps spokesman. ducting business out of the The Army Corps is waiting convenience store when it was to receive funding and au- supposed to be closed pending thorization from its national inspection, that junked cars headquarters to remove the were being stored in the park- barges. ing lot and the operator had “We expect the funding and been accepting rent for vehicle authority by the end of Janu- storage, all in violation of the ary 2016, which will allow re- business’ zoning variance. moval to be initiated in Febru- BP submitted the applica- ary subject to weather and bay tion to amend the zoning vari- conditions,” Mosley said. ance so that it could do some A Dec. 7 letter about the is- landscaping, reconfigure the sue from Crowley to Col. Da- parking lot, alter curb cuts, vid Caldwell, who is leading replace the underground gas the dredging project, said the storage tank and install a barges present a danger to in- 17-feet-high canopy over the dividuals who use the bay for pumps. business and recreational pur- The application did not try poses as well as law enforce- to extend the term on the cur- ment. rent variance, which is set to Barone Pizza, a staple on Main Street in the heart of Flushing for 45 years, closed its doors this “Styrofoam is leaking expire in 2021. week, another victim of high rent, says owner John Pace (c), watching as Gabriel Rodriguez (l) and from these barges,” he said. Attorney Michael Nac- Tyrese Cofer chow down on some of the final slices he served. Photo by Steve Vazquez “They’re rotting away in the Continued on Page 1 Continued on Page 1 A CNG Publication Vol. 24 No. 50 60 total pages Get ready, get set, shop! Check out our Holiday Gift Guide on Page 29 for suggestions to help you find just the right something special for everyone on your list. Bayside marks holidays Grodenchik settles Vallone joins BID to lead parade, tree lighting event into City Council BY TOM MOMBERG had been done in the past, BY MADINA TOURE and that’s good, because I Councilman Barry Gro- don’t have to spend a lot of More than 1,000 parents, denchik (D-Oakland Gar- time in Manhattan,” Groden- children, elected officials, dens) was given his City chik said. “I would rather be teachers, residents and school Council committee assign- out here among my constitu- administrators came out for ments this week and has se- ents.” the second annual Bayside Hol- lected community advocate The councilman reopened iday Parade and Tree Lighting and attorney Steve Behar as the same district office used Ceremony on Saturday. one of his top aides. by his predecessor, Mark We- Sponsored by City Council- Grodenchik, who was prin. The office, at 73-03 Bell man Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) sworn in Nov. 28, has been Blvd., Suite 1N, in Oakland and the Bayside Village Busi- appointed to the committees Gardens, is open for con- ness Improvement District, on courts, general welfare, stituent services. To contact the parade ran from Bell Bou- housing and buildings, juve- Grodenchik, who represents levard and 36th Avenue to nile justice, mental health Bayside Hills, Oakland Gar- the Bayside LIRR station and and technology. dens, Glen Oaks, Floral Park, concluded with the lighting of The councilman said he New Hyde Park, Bellerose both a Christmas tree and a was particularly looking and parts of Little Neck and menorah. forward to working on the Queens Village, email bgro- Santa Claus appeared, as committee on mental health, [email protected], or he did at last year’s parade, considering one of the city’s call 718-468-0137. and students from PS 31, St. largest mental health facili- Steve Behar, who served Andrew’s, PS 169, Bell Acad- ties, the Creedmoor Psychiat- as Grodenchik’s campaign emy and the Landrum School ric Center, is in his district in manager in his run for of- of Performing Arts in Whites- Queens Village. fice in the off-year election, tone performed. The NYPD’s After taking part in just announced his resignation marching band performed a couple of stated meetings, from Community Board 11 during the parade as well. Santa Claus appears during the Bayside holiday parade and tree lighting Grodenchik threw a compli- Monday night, to serve as Parade participants also ceremony for the second time. Photo by Julie Weissman ment to the council speaker counsel to the councilman. included U.S. Rep. Grace Meng while addressing a com- Behar ran unsuccessfully (D-Flushing), state Assembly- He also said people living tect us every single day,” she munity board meeting this in 2009 for the seat which is man Ed Braunstein (D-Bay- in the 11361 zipcode will be said. “And they can’t be with week, suggesting his new now held by Councilman side), the New York Cosmos receiving coupon books for their families necessarily, so elected position will truly al- Paul Vallone (D-Bayside). He and the Auburndale Soccer the holidays from businesses we’re very lucky that we get low him to serve the people of also served on CB 11 for about Club. on Bell Boulevard, funded to be here today and be part of Queens. six years and once served as “It is the hub of our commu- through money allocated by this wonderful celebration.” “My speaker, Melissa an advising attorney to the nity and we want to do this pa- Vallone. Borough President Melin- Mark-Viverito conducts a U.S. Securities and Exchange rade so you don’t have to go up Braunstein said that in a da Katz said the holidays are much quicker meeting than Continued on Page 2 to Manhattan to shop,” Vallone big city like New York, Bay- a time for everyone to come said about Bell Boulevard. side can still feel like a small together. Lyle Sclair, the Bayside town due to events such as the “To our families, we wish Village BID’s executive direc- parade and tree lighting. you a very, very special time tor, said the BID partners on “My son Charlie, he’s 3 this year. We love families and holiday lighting around the months old, so he can’t re- our closeness,” Katz said. Bayside LIRR station with ally appreciate this yet, so Public Advocate Letitia the Bayside Business Associa- Paul’s going to have to do this James encouraged people to tion, which has been donating next year and the year after enjoy the holidays and to re- the menorah and the manger that and the year after that,” member to give back. for the last 15 years. Bayside Braunstein said. “It’s a holiday season and Milk Farm, Martha’s Country Meng reminded attendees it’s time to be with the people Bakery and Teaspoon Bakery that they are fortunate to be who we love and to give,” donated pastries for the tree able to celebrate the holidays James said. lighting ceremony. with their families. “I want to thank everyone “There are lots of people Reach reporter Madina for coming out, showing sup- around the world who are Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cn- Steve Behar announces his resignation from Community Board port for what we’re doing here working very hard — our ser- glocal.com or by phone at (718) 11 at Monday's meeting to serve as counsel to Councilman Barry on Bell Boulevard,” he said. vicemen and women — to pro- 260–4566. Grodenchik. Photo by Tom Momberg IN THIS ISSUE HOW TO REACH US Police Blotter................................................10 Gift Guide................................................29-32 MAIL: 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 Editorials and Letters............................12-13 Focus on Education.............................38-39 PHONE: Display Advertising: (718) 260-4521 — Editorial: (718) 260-4545 Rhymes with Crazy.....................................14 QGuide......................................................41-48 FAX: Advertising: (718) 224-5821 — Classified: (718) 260-2549 Mayoral Spin Cycle.....................................14 Sports.......................................................51-53 Editorial (718) 224-2934 E-MAIL: Editorial: [email protected] Queens Line..................................................15 Classifieds..............................................55-59 Display Advertising: [email protected] Political Action............................................15 Classified: [email protected] TO SUBSCRIBE: Call (718) 260-4521 Copyright©2015 Queens Publishing Corp. FLUSHING TIMES (USPS#03925) is published weekly by News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY.11361, (718) 229-0300. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2015. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the FLUSHING TIMES C/O News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.