Many eyebrows were raised after a report appeared in the July 8 issue of the Glen Oaks Ledger that showed St. Gregory the Great School as the worst performing private school in District 26. But more, it scores worse than many of the public schools.

Clearly, there are serious implications to the report that the Public Schools of District 26 outperform many of the private schools in the District. But it’s particularly important for those of residents our civic association and the greater Bellerose area who spend extra dollars for a private education. The academics of St. Gregory’s appear to be lower than not only District 26, but also P.S. 33 in District 29.

According to the report in the Ledger, fourth-grade students at both private and parochial schools in District 26 had an average passing rate of 64.5 percent on a new state reading test.  However, the average for the District 26 public schools was 75 percent.

Private schools in District 26 were listed as follows:
 

While Creedmoor Civic, a secular organization, does not involve itself with religious organizations, we cannot ignore the fact that the quality of schools determines the worth of a neighborhood, particularly with regard to property values.

Traditionally, a neighborhood can possibly maintain itself when the public schools fail if there are quality private schools as a back-up. If Bellerose’s primary private school, St. Gregory’s, performs worse than the public schools, then our Civic cannot help but be concerned.

For years there has been anecdotal information filtering down that St. Gregory’s was a second rate school. We’ve heard parents complain that students who transferred from St. Gregory’s to P.S. 33 and Martin Van Buren High School or even other Catholic schools could not keep up. But these stories never really registered until the Glen Oaks Ledger printed its story.

Parents need to look carefully at many factors, then, when making a choice for a school.  The religious training may, for some, overshadow other academic considerations. But it seems inconceivable to have to pay a premium for private education that is academically inferior to the notoriously bad New York City public schools.
 

The purpose is to discuss what can be done and what is being done to rectify the problem.  Many homeowners have complained to the Civic about loudspeakers that can be heard for blocks around. Although past complaints have brought out investigators, usually there were no games going on when they arrived, and they closed their files on the complaints.  However, Creedmoor Civic has been keeping up the pressure and thus has extended the invitation to come to the September 13 meeting.  As of press time, however, it was not known whether the DEP has accepted the invitation.

No one is aware of any public hearings concerning the discontinuance of this handy route. It has been running for at least 50 years, perhaps much longer.  For a single fare of $1.50, the bus ran express from the Jamaica Bus Terminal to Jones Beach stopping only at certain locations.  In Bellerose, the location was the Bellerose Theatre.

The Joint Bellerose Business District Development Corporation fired off a letter to the MTA and Senators Padavan and Balboni, along with Assembly Member Barbara Clark sent letters in support of the JBBDDC’s request for resumption of service.

Surprisingly, the MTA never answered any of the letters.  The JBBDDC will be pursing this further, still hoping for the restoration of the bus in time for next year.
 

Elections will be held at the October meeting.  Only paid members will be permitted to vote.
 
 

We have been informed that the five years has hit for the names that were submitted for the Bellerose community.  A decision will have to be made at the September civic meeting whether to pursue collecting the names all over again, or to just forget it.  There is some question about just how effective this process is anyway.

The current law replaces an earlier policy that was challenged by the real estate interests.  The previous practice was known as the non-solicitation ban, but was found by the courts to be an unfair infringement on the right of real estate companies to advertise and conduct their business.  The current rules were set up to meet the objections of the courts.

Sen. Padavan has reported that he has secured a $90,000 expense budget grant for the Queens County Farm Museum.  He also reported that he secured $10,000 for the Joint Bellerose Business District Development Corporation for a study.  The JBBDDC has yet to decide which of two studies it was planning to undertake would be the subject of the Padavan money, but it probably will be the traffic/parking study. Unfortunately, Sen. Balboni of Mineola, who was asked for $10,000 for the other study, which would have been the feasibility for turning the Bellerose Theatre into a performing arts center, was not able to raise the funds.  Neither was Councilman Leffler able to come through with the $400,000 JBBDDC requested for ornamental light poles for Jamaica Avenue.

However, Queens Borough President Claire Shulman was able to find $100,000 in capital money for the Queens County Farm Museum for planting a buffer along the Elkmont Avenue property line.
There may have been other non-school funds for our area from Assemblymembers Weprin and Clark and Councilman Leffler.  We will report these in our next issue.
 

On Saturday evening, September 4, the owners, Angelo Avena and Joe Paravati held a party for their relatives and civic leaders. Representing the Joint Bellerose Business Development Corporation were: Vice President James Trent (Creedmoor Civic), Board Members Joan Hyatt (Queens Colony Civic) Mike and Angela Augugliaro (Queens Colony Civic), George Franke (Mr. Ribbon), and Jean Rizzo (Floral Park-Bellerose Florist)  Also, Helen Trent (Creedmoor Civic).

On Sunday, a more formal presentation of a plaque from the JBBDDC President, Kay Payne was made.  The mayor of Bellerose Village, Tom Van Buskirk was expected to be on hand as well.

The A&J Met Food is no ordinary grocery store.  It is a store that specializes in Italian delicacies. Many products imported from Italy can be found.  They have an on-site butcher shop serving many unusual foods.  Plus, home delivery service is available.  On-site parking is adjacent to the store, and the deli offers daily specials plus hot prepared meals to go along with a wide array of imported and domestic cheeses and the finest imported Italian products including sun dried tomatoes and grilled vegetables.  Special bargains abound in the opening days of the store.

A&J management owns a number of stores in the region.  All are known for their cleanliness and good management.  We are delighted that they have joined the Bellerose community and are  a key step in the re-establishment of Jamaica Avenue/Jericho Turnpike as an important retail center. Please patronize all our local merchants.
 

The concert will showcase selections from his debut album “The Way of Life”, a contemporary Christian CD, as well as songs by many popular composers.  He will be accompanied by some of Broadway’s finest musicians, choral group New Millenium, the youth choir of St. Thomas the Apostle, and the children’s choir of St. Gregory the Great.

The church is located at 24 Westminster Road, West Hempstead.  A free will offering is requested that evening.  For information, call (516) 489-8585.
 

......Back to the main newsletter page.

......On to the next newsletter.

.....Back to the main page of the Creedmoor Civic Association....