Five civic associations were represented at the meeting which featured Joseph O'Shea, Governor Pataki's Queens representative.

Mr. O'Shea listened to our members and guests.  He said he would get in touch with the Empire State Development Corporation, the sellers of the land, and the governor himself to let them know the community's feelings.  Within a few days after the meeting, we were informed that the governor had promised that while anyone would be free to bid on the property, no special, closed-door deals would be made with the United Jewish Housing Organization. This group is an umbrella organization, but is largely identified with the Satmar sect of Williamburgh, Brooklyn.

Furthermore, O'Shea promised a future meeting with the civics to develop further a consensus of what the community wanted to do with the unused land totaling 34 acres.

Last month on this page we pleaded for an extra good turnout.  We want to thank all those to came out because, despite some light rain, it was a better than average attendance and it helped to impress the State that our community was very concerned about the sale of Creedmoor land.  In numbers there is strength.

The civic associations that had members present in addition to Creedmoor were Rocky Hill, Parkside, Bellerose Commonwealth, Queens Colony, and Queens Braddock.

In the meantime, a steering committee of the Creedmoor Task Force which is a sub-group of the Queens Civic Congress has drawn up a more detailed master plan to complement the conceptual master plan written several months ago. This plan divides the hospital up into discreet segments that make more sense from the standpoint of salability.  We are requesting that Creedmoor withdraw in a more orderly fashion so that the land is not sold in haphazard parcels that make redevelopment problematic.

The plan will be presented informally to the City Planning Department, and once we have their comments, it will be placed on the agenda of the Borough President's Creedmoor Working Group for adoption.
 
 

There are six changes in the line up which include four new people. This is the most radical change in many years. (New members in italics):
 
 

Nine volunteers from Queens and Nassau planted the garden on May 16th.

The local Rotary Club has agreed to foot the bill for the plants.  The Florist has agreed to water the plants, and the Bank says they will put it on their grounds maintenance contract.

The idea for the project came from the Joint Bellerose Business District Development Corporation.

The volunteers from the JBBDDC were:
President Kay Payne, Vice President Jim Trent, Secretary Richard Hellenbrecht, and members Phil Ebel, Barbara O'Gorman (also a Bellerose Village Trustee), Mike Augugliaro, Charlene Salito, Nancy Cappiello, George Franke (Mr. Ribbon.), and local resident Bill Ull. The Bellerose-Floral Park Florist also donated additional plants.
 

The Bellerose Diner was mentioned in a recent Queens Tribune feature story about Queens diners.  It seems that a "true" diner is one built of prefabricated parts, and that by that definition only a few diners in Queens qualify.  Our own Bellerose Diner is one of those.

Welcome to new neighbors: Gino and Kathleen Biscardi at 236-01  88th Avenue.

Mario's Deli is under new ownership.  Tony, the employee who was held over at Mario's from when the store was known as Brothers Delicatessen has bought the business from Mario Kokkonis, who also owns the American Physique health club. He is in partnership with Roseanne, wife of the owner of the Bellerose Vacuum Store on Jamaica Avenue. After a few changes, there will be another grand opening scheduled.
 

The Douglaston Civic Association led protests and was joined by the Queens Civic Congress, of which Creedmoor Civic is an active participant.  The planned project was part of the extension of the high occupancy vehicle lanes that start in Nassau and Suffolk.  Now they will end in western Nassau.

The governor promised, however, that the funds that were to be spent on the widening will be spent instead on other highway projects. This was to placate the construction industry.

Also, one cloverleaf road will be eliminated with the land being returned to landscaped parkland.  This is making local environmentalists very happy.
 
 

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