CCA's November 2001 Newsletter

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE CREEDMOOR CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

NOVEMBER, 2001

"UNITED EFFORT REAPS UNITED GAIN"

VOL. 70, NO. 9

LOCAL CULTURAL GROUPS SEE INCOME SLASHED DUE TO WTC

Everywhere in our community, cultural groups have seen a reduction in attendance in the wake of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, and now the City has cut funding to these groups by 15%. This is on top of not yet having received any State subsidy this year.

No group is unaffected. In Queens, layoffs at the Queens Botanical Garden, Hall of Science, Queens County Farm Museum, among others, has become the required response to fewer class trips by schools and a cut in City subsidy as the City's tax revenues shrink. Other groups from Poppenhusen Institute in College Point, Alley Pond Environmental Center in Douglaston, and our Bellerose Business District are also worried about making ends meet. The Farm Museum has undertaken its first layoffs in its 26-year history, letting up to 20 people go but is maintaining its full schedule of activities.

Other groups are cutting hours or finding other ways to stay out of red ink. All that can be done at this point is to recommend that our residents support these institutions with visits, donations, and renewal of memberships.

SOMEONE HAD TO BE FIRST

Despite two articles in these pages about how the community feels about overbearing front yard fences, someone only a scant three weeks after last month's article, had to be the first in our Civic to begin construction on a brick wall around their corner house on 242nd Street.

So far, the metal fence panels have not been installed, but the construction of the low brick walls and piers in our mind constitute a structure, not a fence, and a small retaining wall to boot since the grade behind the fence has been raised about 8". Since the City's property line is not at the edge of the sidewalk, but actually five feet into the lawn both in front of the property and alongside the side street, the Building Department may condemn this monstrosity and demand that it be demolished.

No man is an island. We live within a larger community. While people generally have a right to do what they want with their property, no one has the right to do things to their land that depreciates the value of everyone
else's property. The sudden proliferation of front yard fences have all Queens civics groups up in arms. We intend to fight to preserve the beauty of our communities.

President's Message

Is it just me, or does it seem like most political candidates ignore the laws about slapping their campaign posters on utility poles and other public property? By the time you get this newsletter, we'll know who our next mayor is. Let's hope this isn't a sign of what's to come.

"Quality of life." What does that mean? I've heard several complaints over the last few months about lack of consideration by neighbors. Failure to sweep. Parking on lawns. Blocking the sidewalk with a car. Honking the horn instead of ringing the doorbell. Car repairs in the driveway every day. An argument could be made that this is all minor stuff, especially considering the events of two months ago. But this is what makes or breaks a community.

Long-time residents have seen how our neighborhood has changed. Lack of consideration by one or two residents can ruin it for the rest of us.

Once again, I need to remind everyone to be careful of the intersection of 242 St and Braddock Ave. Any llegally parked cars along those curbs can contribute to an accident. Some braniac thought it was a good idea to steal one of the "No Standing" signs from the south side of Braddock. Little did he realize that he now created a "No Standing" area one whole block long.

So, watch where you park over there, too.

Your neighbor,

Rick Duskiewicz

Back in time..

From the Creedmoor Civic News:

June, 1941:
"Governor Lehman has signed the Compulsory Liability Insurance Law and will become effective next January 1.

The law provides that uninsured motor vehicle owners...must show financial responsibility for meeting the claims for damages."

January, 1943:

"Due to a recent ruling by our mayor, the civic association has been forced to discontinue our Bingo games. If at any time Bingo will again be declared legal, we will switch back to Bingo from card and Bunco games."

"The agitation that has been going on for some time to raise the speed limit on the parkways in New York City, has borne fruit. On May 24 the legal limit was raised from 35 to 40 miles per hour."

Local News Roundup

GREENSTREETS PLANTS BRADDOCK AVENUE

Tree pits on Braddock Avenue's mall were opened for the planting of flowering trees. The work is being done by Greenstreets, a division of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Over 1,000 such plantings have been done City-wide in areas that had previously been paved over.

Halloween Parade

Once again, the CCA was fortunate enough to have a corporate sponsor for our Halloween parade. For the third year in a row, Mr. Joseph LoCurto of Gottlieb Skanska, Inc. donated $150.00. This money covers the cost of renting the hall, the refreshments and the raffles. We are grateful for the generosity of Mr. LoCurto.

Our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals who made this parade a success: Mr. & Mrs. Schwizer,
Rosemarie Russo, Jim Trent, Teresa McCreary, Mr. & Mrs. Duskiewicz, Jackie Fiorello, Jean Corbett, Linda Dixon, and Mr. & Mrs. Shillinger (for baking and donating two dozen cookies.)

Also, a "thank you" to Reinwald's Bakery for the wonderful discount on those delicious custom-made Halloween cookies. And, thanks to Officers Collado and Wiesneski of the 105 Precinct, the Auxiliary Officers of the 105, and the QVHB Volunteer Ambulance Corp for their accompaniment through our streets. Thanks as well to our entertaining gorilla mystery guest who we believe was State Senator Frank Padavan but who
won't admit it.

Around the Town

Congratulations to: Helene Schwizer of 242nd Street on being elected to the Board of Governors to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Eloise Gerhardt. Many thanks to Eloise for all the years she has served on the board.

Creedmoor Civic News
Published since 1931
Published 10 times per year by the
Creedmoor Civic Association, Inc.
88-01 Lyman Street
Bellerose NY 11427
Tel. (718) 464-3369