Located right off of Austin Street and Lefferts Boulevard, The Long Island Rail Road is a staple in Kew Gardens. On schedule the Rail Road rumbles under the hill letting off passengers. They walk up the hill to find the Q10 or the beautiful Kew Gardens landscape. The Rail Road was created in 1875 so mourners could get to Maple Grave Cemetery several blocks away. I often wondered though how locals can stand the noise of the railroad. A normal conversation is between 60-70 decibels while the train is around 95. Asking around I went to the long time staple, Dani’s Pizza. Workers always go into the back to get supplies and have to hear the Rail Road. I camped out in the back acting like I was waiting for the train, when a worker ran out back I just asked casually “Do you ever get use to the noise from the rail road”. In an itallian accent he shouted “I don’t care” as he walked into the storage room outback. I’m not sure if he meant he didn’t care about my question asking or if he meant I don’t care about the noise. None the less, you really do get use to the sound. I don’t live any where near Kew Gardens so the first couple of times walking the neighborhood I was a little startled. It seems like you just get use to it though. When the train isn’t stopping it roars past the station and shakes the earth. Looking around it seems like it really isn’t a big deal. I guess it has just become a way of life for locals in Kew Gardens. Maybe the same way people who live around airports deal with Air Plane noise the locals deal with the rail road noise. 
Archive for March, 2008 Page 2 of 3
One might feel a bit depressed after leaving a loved one at a senior center. However, one can rest assure that their loved ones are in safe hands at Glenwood Senior Center. This institution is a focal point bringing older adults together as one big happy family. The staff makes it their sole priority to ensure that members are treated with respect by making a connection with each individual. Healthy nutrition is very important and is highly promoted at the center. They offer a balanced diet of whole grains, greens and protein.
The center realizes that there are diverse needs and hobbies, thus providing a wide range of activities for its members. On Fridays, the seniors are given the opportunity of bringing along their grandchildren. If one should visit the center on a Friday, I can guarantee that their hearts will be deeply touched by the beautiful picture painted. Seniors are engaged in fun indoor and outdoor activities; in the summer time one could see them enjoying the beautiful sunshine and laughing and talking together. Members also get a chance to express their creative side by taking part in arts and crafts and displaying their own individual uniqueness. The staff knows that exercising is also a very important aspect that is even more vital at an older age. Thus, aerobic classes are offered where members get a chance to be flexible and stretch their muscles and keep in good shape. On a visit to his grandmother, Roger Powell claimed “I could hear the seniors bellowing in a state of excitement from playing a game of bingo.” The seniors have no problem showing off their bodies, some of them are eager to wear their bathing suits into the beautiful pool that is provided for them. Trevor Mcclear said, “I just feel a sense of tranquility when I come into the pool.” But the center goes further, they even offer fieldtrips where members get the chance to leave Avenue H and go to different places. Computer lessons are also offered so that members can keep up-to-date with technological advancements. There are rumors going around that a creative writing and dancing class will be offered.
Graffiti has been a part of New York City culture since the 1960’s. On nearly every block of every neighborhood a name or design, born of spray paint, melds with a city surface. Even the sound of the word, “graffiti”, seems to mimic the motion inherent in its meaning. An artist takes hold of the can and with the wave of his arm, like a magician casting a spell, the surface is transformed.
For some, graffiti is about putting their names in as many places as possible, known as ”bombing“. For others, it is an elaborate art executed with a painstaking attention to detail. They take time to plan their designs, choose its location and breath life into imagination with the hiss of a paint can. A graffiti artist named “CRASH” has even had his work displayed in art museums.
Still, building owners are not always happy when the sometimes indecipherable markings adorn their walls; and the City would like to see the urban canvas wiped clean. To help continue its efforts, the City has invested in 23 new vans dedicated to the “graffiti-free” initiative enacted by former Mayor Guiliani. “The Bloomberg administration’s successful efforts to combat New York City’s seemingly intractible graffiti problem has helped make the City a better place to live and do business in all five boroughs,” said Giovanni Taffa, head of the Graffiti-Free New York operation.
For no charge, a graffitied wall will be repainted or power-washed. All it takes is a call to 311 and filling out a form. In 2007, the 62nd precinct, which includes Gravesend, received the fourth highest number of graffiti complaints. There are more than 30 graffiti clean-ups pending in the area since the middle of October last year.
Despite the City’s actions, it is hard to imagine a completely “graffiti-free” city. Not just because of the logistics, but also what an unmarked city would be like. There is something so NYC about graffiti; the different forms it takes, different styles, the new pieces constantly popping up and the images that have never faded. For five decades paint has covered the City. Graffiti artists will no doubt continue to paint the town red, and every other color of the rainbow.
Irish eyes are smiling. Adults and children of all ages join the festivities. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Bay Ridge on Sunday, March 30th.
The parade, which usually falls the Sunday after the actual Saint Patrick’s Day, was moved back as a result of Easter Sunday. Every year the Irish and many other nationalities from Bay Ridge and surrounding neighborhoods join the fray.
The day begins with a 9:30 A.M. mass at Saint Patrick’s on 95th Street and 4th Avenue, followed by a parade at 1 P.M. that runs from 95th street all the way to 59th Street. After the parade, the day is nowhere close to being over.There is not an empty stool in any of the neighborhood bars. Many local bars offer Irish menus including corned beef and shepherd’s pie, accompanied by enough drink to get your fill.
Many local residents mark this day as Local 40 worker Joe Nicholson says, “with all the various jobs my friends have it is hard to get together, but not on Saint Patty’s Day.” If you enjoy shamrocks, beer and a fun crowd you may want to take a trip down to Bay Ridge next Sunday, to either have a good time or maybe even change your face.
One morning I wake up to the sound of shrieking, a kind of yelping noise that moves me out of bed. Slug-footed, I follow the crying to my window where I find a dirty, cream cat staring back at me with one good eye. Recently, I have noticed a slight increase in stray cats furtively crossing streets, sitting unperturbed in alleyways, and perching near the shed in my backyard.
This is far from an epidemic. The streets of Woodbridge Township are not crawling with fearless, bug-eyed felines. My observations pertain specifically to the area surrounding my block. But other neighbors have noticed the increase as well.
When asked whether or not the cats were a problem, one neighbor said, “Yes, and they’re having babies. I see the younger ones in my backyard.” They become a real problem when she walks her dog because they are not afraid. She believes the number of strays have increased with each year.
While the cats I’ve seen may not be getting the home they look for, Woodbridge Housing Authority and the Health Department’s Animal Control Staff have partnered to create the senior “Adopt a Cat Program.” These cats are meant to offer a sense of companionship for the elderly. Adoption fees, which were usually $25.00, are now $5.00 for seniors. For more info on pet adoption in Woodbridge click here: http://members.petfinder.org/%7ENJ254/
Easter, is almost here again. This is the time of year everyone remembers rabbits, buying and giving them as Easter presents. Not only are most of these rabbits discarded once the novelty wears out but many suffer at the hands of kids unaware that these animals have very delicate spines. Children tend to drop them, leading to a broken spine or legs and sometimes ending in death. For those of us who don’t have time for pets, but still like to look and if you live near Bay Ridge or Dyker Heights take a walk along side Poly Prep Country Day School in Dyker Heights. It maintains a little pond with a surprising number of animals, scattered through out the property. There are rabbits, swans, ducks, geese, chickens, roosters and turtles.
The pond itself is private property, but many people come daily to feed the birds through the fence all year round. “It gives me a reason to get out,” says Victoria Cassini, a senior who lives nearby.
“My granddaughter loves to come with me and it’s something we like to share.” A major problem arises though; the regular feedings encourage the animals into too relaxed a state, often wandering out into 7th Ave. to be victims of traffic or picked off by raccoons.
“The school takes a lot of pride in it, and it’s something the community really seems to enjoy, but that causes it’s own share of problems,” said Carl Masstif a security guard at the school.
Another common problem, after Easter, when the novelty of the rabbits die off, people leave their pets at city parks, or places like Poly Prep.” It’s sorta notorious around here,” said Marie August, a receptionist at the school. “Over the course of a few weeks more and more spring up!” The school does not add additional security, but some around the campus express anger, “People make bad choices, but then choose not to deal with them,” said Ms. August.
While a walk down 7th Ave. can be enjoyable, often you will find some things are better left as they are found. Poly Prep moved to its location in 1916 from 99 Livingston Street where it had become one of the largest prep schools in the country. Notable alumni include Arthur Levitt Jr., the longest serving chairman of the S.E.C, and actress Bonnie Somerville.
The school today still adheres to the founding father’s pledge of excellence “in all those studies and attainments that can enlarge the understanding, develop the mental action, cultivate the mind, and beautify and adorn the intellect and the heart.” You can visit their website at polyprep.org
A school song below.
FAR DOWN ON THE HEIGHTS CALLED DYKER
Far down on the heights called Dyker,
Overlooking New York Bay,
Stands a school with a tall white tower,
Greeting ships that ply their way.
Her young, as they leave her portals
With visions of world-wide fame,
Carry with them the fight of Poly,
Where they learned to play the game.
Poly! Poly! Poly! Poly!
Poly! Poly! Poly! Poly! Poly!
There will be no more harsh waiting on a windy and rainy night. Starting last year, the City’s Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) constructed elaborate, glass bus stop shelters in Flushing, New York. They were originally completed on the major roads such as Northern boulevard and Whitestone expressway. Now, they are reaching local areas in northern Flushing. “We will replace every bus shelter and install an additional two hundred by 2011,” announced on the official site. They will be working with community leaders to identify the best locations for the additional two hundred shelters. The locations will be selected to ensure that the shelters serve more bus-commuters and the public. D.O.T. is also panning to add more features to the shelters; not only seating, but new technologies like Bluetooth, L.C.D. screens and real-time bus arrival information. “It looks much nicer. The bus will not just pass by this stop especially late at night,” says a pedestrian at the bus stop, pictured above. It is located at the corner of Linden Place and 32nd Ave, where Q25, Q34 and Qx1, three buses are supposed to stop. “Even though it does not change my waiting time for the bus, I appreciate that the city started to do something for this neighborhood.”
Walking up the hill towards Austin street on Lefferts BLVD might get you a little hungry. You’ll pass a Chinese food store, walk a couple blocks and see another. But the best thing about this area is the pizza. The only problem is deciding which place you’re going to eat at. Theres two pizzerias and they are right across from each other. The first is Dani’s. Dani’s pizza is a little restaurant/pizzeria. It sits on a corner on the hilly landscape, much of it is restaurant but their is a pizzeria in the front. You can sit on stools and eat your pizza at the counter. Beer from around the world is advertised and as you eat the restaurant is a buzz with people. After 5 there is normally a line that goes out the front door, mainly because people just come out of the railroad and are looking for a quick snack.
Dani’s has been around for over 40 years, making them the only pizza shop in the area. However during 2005-2006 there was major renovations going on across the street. A sign read “Singas Famous Pizza Coming Soon”. One customer shook his head when asked about how he felt when he found out another pizzeria was opening, “It’s stupid, how you gonna open up a pizza shop across from a pizza shop”. Well, Singas soon opened and Dani’s waited, what would happen. Nothing much actually, turns out that they both had different approaches.
Danis pizza was a thinner traditional New York style pizza. They had a much more sweeter taste to their pizza than normal pizzerias. Their pies were large and cooked in a brick oven. One slice cost $2. Singas on the other hand sells a pie for $4, however their pies are small and really equal about 2 of Dani’s pizza, so in a way their pretty much the same in terms of cost and size. Singa’s pies have a unique taste, its a little more savory than sweet. They cook their pizzas in 2 giant gas ovens unlike Dani’s. However the atmosphere at Singa’s is more pleasant. Walk in and you’ll find clean tables with benches, a real upgrade over Dani’s small stools. You won’t hear a a commotion of people at Singa’s as you would at Dani’s, because theres no restaurant attached, its just a pizzeria. The lights at Singa’s are bright and shine down on the stainless steel oven like a piece of jewelry. The bathroom is clean and theres even a small sink in the corner of the restaurant for people to wash off pizza grease. Best of all Singas delivers so I can get my pizza fix without waiting on line. As much as I like the traditional place (Dani’s), Singa’s just does pizza right. If your ever in the neighborhood (Austin St. and Lefferts in Kew Gardens) stop by and judge for yourself, I’m betting you’ll like Singa’s though.
Because I’m cheap I’ll walk an extra two blocks to the laundromat further from my house if I have a lot of laundry and need to use the big washers. Fortunately this doesn’t happen often. However, on Saturday I found myself making my way, in my last pair of clean underwear, through buckets of rain, to the laundromat to do some much needed laundry. As I approached the front door I noticed a sign that read, “we have Wi-Fi.” This was somewhat surprising as nothing else about the laundromat suggests that it would have wireless internet capabilities. No new stainless steel washers and dryers. No modish sculpted plastic chairs to sit in while you wait. Nothing like that at all. Sure enough, though, the sign was telling the truth. Shirking the copies of the Carribean News next to the bench several young people, presumably Pratt students, engrossed themselves in their laptops while a red t shirt spun and flipped end over end in the dryer.
Anything you can do to differentiate yourself from the other guy with coin operated washers and dryers is probably a good thing. On the Ohio State University campus, just a few blocks from where I grew up, there is a laundromat that also has a bar and serves pizza. Which makes more sense in some ways; don’t you have enough to carry to the laundromat already? Do you really want to bring a laptop too?
While there is no denying that wired is the way of the future it is somewhat surprising that a laundromat in Clinton Hill is leading the charge. Despite the surprise and whether or not it is in my opinion a worthwhile addition to a laundromat to have Wifi it is nice to see the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in Clinton Hill.
For over six months, New Dorp residents have had to deal with the inconvenience of driving a couple of miles out of their way just to fill up their gas tanks. The Hess station that is located on New Dorp Lane had been closed for half a year due to construction on a new design.
As of last Monday, the New Dorp Lane Hess station finally reopened for business with a new and improved convenience store to go along with it. Prior to its reopening, local residents had to travel as far as Midland Avenue to get their gas, or they had to deal with the traffic and congestion of traveling all the way down to the other end of New Dorp Lane to fuel up. There was another gas station located on Tysen’s Lane which was just a few blocks away from the Hess station on New Dorp Lane, but that has been closed for almost a year now.
Staten Islanders in the New Dorp area happy about not having to waste gas to get gas; and they are also happy about not having to empty out their wallets, entirely that is. The new and improved Hess station in New Dorp offers regular gas for as low as $3.29 a gallon. The lowest price for a gallon of regular gas on the Island at the moment is $3.23, and that is at the Hess station on Bay Street and Willow Avenue. The most expensive regular gas currently is at the Exxon on Amboy and Annadale Road, which goes for $3.59 a gallon- over $0.30 more per gallon! Richard, a local resident of New Dorp for four years says, “While it’s really good that you can get gas for such a low price for now, don’t expect it to last. They are only doing this as a come-on to try to entice their former customers to bring back business.”
http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/Staten_Island/index.aspx
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