Even though the temperature today wasn’t especially warm, Staten Islanders still flocked to Gateway Park to enjoy the sunny skies and refreshing breeze.
Local citizens found themselves enjoying the outdoors today in unity, although their choice of activity varied. Some jogged vigorously while others walked leisurely. Some drifted down the paved trail on rollerblades while others were on bike. Some skateboarded, and some small children rode their scooters. Two friends could be seen tossing a football in the field. A mother watched over protectively as her young child played in the playground. A loving couple sat together in front of the dock by the boats looking out at the water and enjoying the serenity of the day. In the distance, you could see model airplanes flying around. “It is such a lovely day to be outside. My friend and I like to come here when we can to enjoy the scenery and get some exercise,” says 20 year old avid rollerblader Linda Torricelli.
It was a picture perfect day in Gateway Park on Monday, March 24, 2008. No matter what activity was being pursued, no one could deny the joy that comes out of taking a break from routine life and enjoying some fresh air (as fresh as the air can be on Staten Island) in a scenic setting. Everything was quiet and everyone was relaxing, even if it was only for a little while until they were forced to return to the monotony and responsibilty of everyday life.
Gateway National Recreation Area has many locations that are spread across three boroughs and even part of Northern New Jersey. To learn more about a location near you, please visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_National_Recreation_Area
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
As of Sunday, the Off Track Betting in New Dorp on Staten Island has been officially closed. This OTB, along with other locations in New York City has been struggling financially for months now. It is said that while OTB does bring in a lot of money, the amount that has to be handed over to the state has resulted in minimal profit.
There are a total of four Off Track Betting locations on the Island. The one in New Dorp closed this past Sunday, and the other three in Port Richmond, New Springville, and Eltingville are safe for now. The NYCOTB company has been successful for decades, but is now planning on laying off over one thousand of its employees this coming June. As of right now, it is unclear whether the company is going to shut down completely.
The closure of this particular branch of OTB is one of many closures taking place in New York City to help cut costs in an attempt to save the company as a whole. This branch was home to thirteen employees who have been transferred to other locations. “It is very surprising to hear. I mean OTB has been here [in New Dorp] for years. There are lots of lonely old guys who hang out there everyday. I guess they’re going to have to find somewhere else to go now,” says Phil, a retired cop and someone who frequented the New Dorp branch of OTB.
For more about O.T.B. closings, visit:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=5967167
If you have been to Staten Island, you know that it’s pretty small and you will most likely notice when your favorite places to dine have been closed. The most recent closing of a food place occurred a few months ago in New Dorp. A Pizza Hut had been located in the Hylan Plaza shopping center for years, so it came as a shock to many when all of a sudden it was shut down. “What happened? I used to eat there all the time!” inquired many of its former patrons. A failing score on a food inspection is what happened.
According to the statistics on nyc.gov, the percentage of food service establishments failing initial inspection in the New Dorp Area of Staten Island has increased from 9.7% in 2005 to 16.3% in 2007. The way the scoring system works is as follows; any food establishment that is inspected is evaluated according how many violations they have. Each violation has a point value, and basically each food establishment is allowed to have violations that are under the amount of 27 points. If the violations add up to 28 or more points, then the establishment is required to have a follow-up inspection. If they have not significantly reduced the amount of violations they had on the initial inspection, then they will be shut down by the NYC Department of Health.
I work for a restaurant called Chevy’s Fresh Mex, which is also located in the Hylan Plaza shopping center in New Dorp. Chevy’s was recently inspected on December 3, 2007, and received a total of 20 points worth of violations. When asked about the results of the inspection that took place two months ago, Supervisor Mike P. (he asked that his last name not be revealed) commented the following; “I think that one of the main reasons we didn’t do so well on our last inspection was because the criteria for the inspections has recently changed and the [Apple Metro] company was not sufficiently informed about these changes. We got some stupid points off for not labeling the food containers properly. Honestly, I have probably worked in about ten different restaurants in my life, and I would have to say that Chevy’s is the cleanest overall.”
So if you notice that your favorite restaurant in New Dorp has been shut down, check to see the score on their last inspection. It makes you question how clean the establishments that you eat in really are.
To check the most recent scores on the inspections of restaurants in the New Dorp area, please visit this website: http://nyc.everyblock.com/restaurant-inspections/locations/neighborhoods/new-dorp-midland-beach/
To learn more about the inspection process, visit: http://167.153.150.32/RI/web/howVPWorks.do
Heavy rain and wind caused major flooding throughout parts of the tri-state area, on Sunday, April 15, 2007. For the most part, warned residents were able to prepare their homes as well as arrange their commute for the intense weather conditions. However, there were plenty of residents who were unable to stay indoors and were forced to get around their communities in the storm.
The concern here is not only large cities, but also small areas such as South Beach, Staten Island. Towns that are constantly deserted during the snow storms, with small blocks not being cleaned for up to a week after the hit; but aside from the size of these areas, there is another factor which makes this weather condition especially dangerous-these towns also happen to be on the water.
The rain storm on Sunday can be looked at as a nightmare for the South Beach community, since most of the homes are located on or by the water. If you were to leave your house Sunday night, you would be in for one very rough ride. One of the main streets in South Beach, was flooded so bad that if you were to open your car door in certain parts, water would actually flow into the car. The fact that it is a small neighborhood, with uneven roads is bad enough, but the waterfront factor in a rain storm made it that much worse.
The Office of Emergency Management advised the public to stay inside and have emergency supply kits on hand while the Red Cross urged the residents to stay tuned to radio and TV reports for more information. But after seeing the neighborhood on Sunday, and all the people stuck or struggling to get around, my question is whether or not that’s the best our city can do?
A debate erupted when Staten Island residents learned that another place they loved and appreciated is being distorted in order for the city to raise income. The City has approved the plan of The LaTourette Golf Course, Staten Island to build a catering hall on the property. While the plan sounds harmless and profitable to the city, the residents are upset about the fact that they are losing yet another property for which Staten Island is known. It seems that not only will this addition cause a disruption to the neighborhood, it will also take away another calm and serene area.
The natural and wooded areas of this borough are being rapidly urbanized throughout the last decade; and it is difficult for the residents to come to terms with this change. Aside from the traffic problems and evening commotion this project will present to the community, the residents see a larger issue at hand. This replacement is one of many–where land and environment is being replaced with buildings, business and disturbance; and the residents only see the problem increasing.
“This is a small thing,” said Julia Arshin, a near by resident, “but these small things start to add up.”
           Since we are concentrating on businesses in the neighborhood, there has been a particular place which has been getting a lot of attention, even media coverage in South Beach, Staten Island. A prestigious hotel, where the guest are treated like royalty, an on site hospital and rooms with themes. However, you and I can not stay there –only our pets can.
          The Bay Street Animal Hospital’s Dog Hotel and Catnip Chalet, is considered one of the best pet hotels in the tri-state area, and it is located in the very small, not too familiar part of Staten Island. The hotel is extremely well kept, and the animals are well taken care of, being walked and fed three times a day, with a 24 hour on call veterinarian, and plenty of staff to offer companionship. However what this particular hotel is being praised for; is their Themed Suits. The hotel has suites which are decorated to fit a particular theme, so the pet can feel as though he/she is on vacation too. The suits include a Beach room, filled with beach chairs, tropical print towels and pillows. Among many other themes, there is a Princess room, a pink room filled with fluffy pillows and blankets and a Grand Prix room, where the walls are decorated with steering wheels.
           So the next time you are hesitating to go away while leaving your beloved pets behind. Know that there is a vacation spot for them, right here in Staten Island. A hotel, which to them might be better then your own.  Â
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