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LONG ISLAND CITY: MTA seeks community partner to repurpose 2 railroad bridges

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

For now the only activity atop a train trestle known as the LIRR Montauk Cutoff in Long Island City is a few feral cats hunting for field mice. That could change if the MTA finds a partner who would revamp and repurpose the twin elevated railroad tracks that have gone unused since the 1990s.

The tracks emerge from the woods east of Skillman Avenue that are surrounded by a gritty industrial zone near 49th Avenue. The railroad tracks descend into the Sunnyside Yards, the 180-acre rail yard which one day may be home to more than 11,000 affordable apartments if Mayor Bill de Blasio gets his way.

The MTA is searching for an entity with the resources and a plan to find some use for the structure.

“It is true that the MTA is seeking official expressions of interest from businesses, nonprofits, community groups, and individuals who might be interested in taking over the management of a series of LIRR bridges in Long Island City that are no longer needed for train service,” an MTA spokesman said. “We’re looking for detailed implementation and operating plans for their concepts, which can include, but are not limited to, public open space, urban farming, or museum or sculpture garden space.”

The MTA would lease the 1/3-mile-long structure but not sell it, in case it is needed for transportation purposes in the future. There are also parameters that may prove to be prohibitive for certain groups.

Potential operators would have to provide access to the trestles that are 16 feet above Skillman Avenue. There are no utilities currently serving the Montauk Cutoff, so any adaptive reuse plan might require electricity, water, sewer or gas at the partner expense. They would also be responsible for the upkeep of the site, bridge maintenance and the cost of insurance, with general liability limits of up to $5 million.

Mitch Waxman, a western Queens historian and activist tour guide in the industrial zones around Newtown Creek, said he is “stoked” about the possibilities atop the Montauk Cutoff.

Waxman envisions an “LIC Greenway” that transforms a post-industrial wasteland into a green infrastructure and urban agriculture hybrid that offers educational opportunities, green collar jobs and community engagement.

Waxman says he’s “on the same page” with Gil Lopez, the founder of the Smiling Hogshead Ranch—an urban farm that operates on MTA-owned land at the base of the trestle between Pearson Place and 49th Avenue—is formulating a plan to expand his operation onto the Montauk Cutoff that would include other western Queens greening groups with new cutting-edge ecological technologies from cleaning polluted water from sewage overflows to the latest in pollinating insects. Lopez believes the notion that Queens could get its own Highline-style park, which has been mentioned in some published reports, completely misses the mark.

“Please don’t get me wrong, I and other members of Smiling Hogshead Ranch all love city parks and absolutely adore the Highline,” Lopez said. “It is almost endearing to have the comparison made, but it creates a public expectation for a richly designed and opulently constructed, passive park while we have been working to create something very different. If you mention Highline to the specialists I’m engaged with they’ll move on to other projects. We have the opportunity to develop something much bigger here that would better serve the population. Now we have to come up with a serious business model to figure out how to pay for it all.”

The MTA will hold a site visit for other interested parties on Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. Potential partners are asked to email John Coyne at jcoyne@mtahq.org to RSVP.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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ASTORIA: Fall Family Day at the Museum of Moving Image celebrates Jim Henson

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Museum of the Moving Image will celebrate Jim Henson’s birthday with a special Fall Family Day Saturday with screenings, puppet-making and other fun and educational activities for children of all ages. The late television, film and puppetry pioneer, who died in 1990, was best known for creating The Muppets.

“It should be a fun, family-oriented event,” MoMI Deputy Director Chris Wisniewski said. “It’s a taste of the programs and activities that are in store with the upcoming Jim Henson permanent gallery and exhibition this winter.”

The Jim Henson Legacy, the entity in charge of the Henson collection, has begun turning over articles that include nearly 400 puppets, costumes, props and other objects to the museum. They represent every major film and televisions production in which Henson played a role during his 40-year career.

“Sesame Street,” “The Muppet Show,” “Fraggle Rock” and “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” were among his productions, which remain world-famous. Each will be represented in a new wing at the Museum of the Moving Image.

“Our Fall Family Day is just another in a series of events designed to build excitement for the exhibit,” Wisniewski said. Museum admission for children 12 and under is free all day. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Families are invited to make paper-bag puppets, participate in puppet karaoke, design a character combining their favorite Henson puppet with a family member and enjoy family-friendly screenings.

At 1:30 p.m., as part of its monthly series Jim Henson’s World, the museum will present a live discussion with Rollie Krewson, a master puppet designer and builder at the Jim Henson Creature Shop. Krewson designed and built puppets for more than 40 years and will discuss her craft and show clips of her favorite scenes, as well as some rare insider video footage taken at the workshop.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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FLUSHING: CB 7 votes against proposed Q44 Select Bus Service route

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By Madina Toure

TimesLedger Newspapers

Community Board 7 voted against the implementation of the Q44 Bronx-Flushing-Jamaica Select Bus Service route at its monthly board meeting Monday night in Flushing.

A total of 32 board members voted to deny the city Department of Transportation and the MTA’s proposal. Two voted for the proposal and one member abstained due to a conflict of interest.

Opposition centered on the loss of parking spaces, confusion over what would happen if machines broke down and worries about people having to cross over the bus lane to find a parking spot, among other issues.

CB 7 chairman Gene Kelty said the MTA has a history of ignoring the board’s concerns.

“I think we’ve got to make sure that elected officials know that (about the vote) so that it is not a done deal,” Kelty said during the meeting at Union Plaza Care Center at 33-23 Union St.

Kelty said the agencies were just seeking feedback from the board and that their goal is to launch the route in November.

The Q44 SBS would replace the Q44 limited bus, following its route from Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica to the Bronx Zoo.

The CB 7 Transit Committee met with the MTA twice to discuss the proposal, according to Warren Schreiber, the committee’s chairman.

“We had some concerns about the service,” Schreiber said. “We had some concerns about the loss of parking, about the ways fares were going to be paid on the bus.”

The DOT and MTA said features include improved fare collection at every SBS stop, bus lanes where appropriate, transit signal priority, passenger information, pedestrian safety amenities and improved curb regulations.

Patrick Dougherty, a DOT transportation planner, said the agencies will be onsite during the first two weeks to help customers.

He noted that 83 percent of 753 individuals interviewed on Main Street between Northern Boulevard and 41st Avenue in October 2014 said they take transit or walk.

“What Select Bus Service is is our way to cost effectively bring better bus service to heavily used corridors throughout the city,” Dougherty said.

Riders would pay with a MetroCard or coins before boarding, take the ticket from the machine and board the bus through all three doors. MTA New York City Transit will conduct random fare payment inspections.

The route will remove four stops in CB 7’s coverage area: the Whitestone Expressway/Center Drive, Parsons Boulevard/17th Avenue, Parsons Boulevard/21st Avenue and Main Street/Northern Boulevard. These stops will be served by the Q20.

There will be offset bus lanes northbound from 60th Avenue to downtown Flushing and southbound from downtown Flushing to 60th Avenue.

There will also be curbside bus lanes with midday parking at northbound Main Street from Reeves Avenue to 60th Avenue; westbound Hillside Avenue from Sutphin Boulevard to Queens Boulevard; Sutphin Boulevard from Hillside Avenue to Archer Avenue; and eastbound Archer Avenue from Sutphin Boulevard to 150th Street.

CB 7 First Vice Chairman Chuck Apelian criticized the DOT for abandoning a plan introduced by the board about five years ago calling for a one-way pair in which Union Street would be one-way south from Northern Boulevard to Sanford Avenue, while Main Street would be one-way north from Sanford Avenue to Northern Boulevard.

“This plan was ready to go and it had bus lanes like this,” Apelian, said.

DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia said the plan could not be implemented but that the agency will revisit it. She said the SBS proposal will be efficient.

“This we think can deliver safety and delivery benefits,” Garcia said.

Kim Ohanian, chairwoman of the budget committee, asked if the project was a “done deal.” Representatives at the meeting told her they are soliciting community feedback. “You’re not making anybody’s lives better,” Ohanian said.

Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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KEW GARDENS HILLS: Police looking into possible hate crimes against Jews

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By Madina Toure

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police were investigating two possible hate crimes in Kew Gardens Hills in which Jewish victims were hit by BB guns.

On Sept. 18, a 25-year-old man was walking southbound in front of 75-10 150th St. when he felt something hit his left leg, according to a police spokeswoman.

His left leg was bleeding, apparently from a BB gun, the spokeswoman said, noting that the victim did not see anyone or hear the BB gun being shot.

Another victim, a 28-year-old man, was walking home at about 7:55 p.m. Sept. 11 around 150th Street and 73rd Avenue and heard a pop and felt pain on his back, the spokeswoman said.

He discovered a pellet in his back, which was then removed by a private doctor, she said. He ended up having a small puncture in the middle of his back.

Although police have not yet determined whether the assaults are hate crimes, City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) said that the two incidents occurred near Lander College for Men, a Jewish college and yeshiva located at 75-31 150th St.

He noted that the Jewish community is already on high alert given the increase in the number of hate crimes targeting Jews in New York City over the last year.

“Both of the victims were identifiably Jewish individuals and so we’re concerned not only that there’s criminal activity going on but that it might be hate-crime related, and we want to make sure that the public is aware so that they can be careful, but also so that they can keep their eyes open,” Lancman said.

He also said that Jewish institutions, including his synagogue, Young Israel of Hillcrest, hire off-duty police officers and other private security to patrol the synagogues during the major holidays to prevent attacks. Rosh Hashana was last week and Yom Kippur this week.

They also extend resources to train members of the congregation to serve as volunteer security during the holidays, he said.

State Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the recent incidents.

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“We live in a community that should celebrate and be proud of our diversity,” Simanowitz said in a statement. “Acts of bigotry will not be tolerated or go unpunished. I am confident that all perpetrators will be brought to justice, ending a recent string of shameful crimes.”

Evan Bernstein, the New York regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. said: “If the reports are accurate, these incidents are deeply disturbing because of their violent nature, and the fact that they took place during one of the holiest times of the Jewish year.”

Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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SUNNYSIDE: 7 train riders can’t believe their line was named best in city

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Riders of the 7 train couldn’t believe what they were reading when the Straphangers Campaign’s annual rankings came out last week. For the second year in a row, and the eighth time in the last 17 years, the No. 7 subway line was named the city’s best in the advocacy group’s annual report card.

“We were very surprised, it really increased our traffic, especially on Twitter,” Melissa Orlando, the founding member of the social media group 7 Train Blues, said. “There’s such a disconnect. Right when the report came out my train broke down.”

One glance at her group’s Facebook page showed the dismay among its nearly 1,400 members. “Mind is blown!” posted Helenka Kullcza Whelan, “Makes me feel like I’m living in the twilight zone,” wrote Bridget Riley.

7 Train Blues formed nine months ago so riders could share information about the constant delays that plague the No. 7 line as well as service suspension on weekends, dangerous overcrowding and near daily system issues such as stalled cars and signal malfunctions, according to Orlando. The Straphangers Campaign said the 7 ranked highest because it was the best in the system on frequency of service and subway car cleanliness, and it also performed above average on two other measures: delays caused by mechanical breakdowns and seat availability at the most crowded point during rush hour.

“I would like to see them work more rider data into their analysis,” Orlando said. “They weight their metrics and I’d say they need to be adjusted, like the chance of getting a seat during rush hour. That’s become irrelevant as the number of riders has skyrocketed every year. What really matters as I stand on the platform waiting for 15 minutes is wondering if I’ll even get on the train. Sometimes four or five trains go by totally packed.”

The Straphangers report was issued a week after the Citizens Budget Commission said the No. 7 had the worst stations in the city.

“There’s been a very steep decline in service this year, especially when there’s bad weather,” Orlando said. “I’m hoping this report doesn’t set us back. We’ll continue to raise our voices and set the record straight.”

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) is a member of 7 Train Blues and checks it daily. “As far as my constituents are concerned, I’m not sure the report is worth the paper it’s printed on,” he said. “The day to day reality for 7 train riders is a nightmare.”

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said that despite the report, it’s clear to any resident of western Queens that the 7 line is in dire need of improvement. “If the 7 train is the city’s best, I shudder to think of how bad the others must be,” he said.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said the Straphangers report offered nothing that is not already available on his agency’s website. “Furthermore, their evaluation of our service indicators does not represent the customer perspective,” he said.

Two other elected officials are more concerned with the state of No. 7 subway stations which a new study says are the “worst” in the city. A new study by the Citizens Budget Committee last week showed that 37 percent of the 7 line stations were not in a “good state of repair.”

State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) complains that the conditions at the stations angers him. “A lot of the stations along Roosevelt Avenue are in very poor condition,” he said.

“It is my hope that the MTA makes every possible effort to upgrade the stations along the 7 line, especially those at 52nd and 103rd Streets. These stations are not compatible with our 21st century New York City.”

City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) hates the weekend shutdowns “when there are major events happening in Queens,” but he finds the conditions at the stations “are deteriorating greatly.”

Dromm was less than thrilled to read on Politico that MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast suggested that if Mayor Bill de Blasio failed to meet his demands for more financial support, he might apply cuts to just the city rather that to services across the entire metropolitan region. City Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and MTA board member called that notion “punitive and pretty divisive” as several other board members objected.

“It’s outrageous what he said. I’ve seen Mr. Prendergast not be responsive to the city’s needs before,” Dromm said. “I think he has something against the city and I was glad to see other board members pushing back along with Commissioner Trottenberg. She really stood up for the city.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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FLUSHING: Police searching for suspects who reportedly stole from woman’s car

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By Madina Toure

TimesLedger Newspapers

FLUSHING—Police were looking for individuals who allegedly flattened the tire of a woman’s car and stole her belongings in Flushing last week.

At about 2:50 p.m. last Friday, a 68-year-old woman parked her car in front of 25-17 Parsons Blvd., according to the police.

While she was away from the car, a man wearing a gray T-shirt, shorts and sneakers allegedly approached the car and punctured the rear passenger tire with an unknown object, officials said.

After driving a short distance, the woman discovered the flattened tire and parked the car in front of 25-03 Parsons Blvd. to change the tire, police said.

She was approached by a man wearing a light-colored shirt, white pants and a baseball cap and another man wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a black baseball cap, who offered their assistance, they said.

The men allegedly distracted her while a woman wearing a dress and sandals removed the woman’s purse, which had $1,175, a cell phone and several credit cards, from the car, according to the police. The suspects then fled.

A police spokeswoman said the investigation is ongoing.

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GLENDALE: Several injured in Glendale bus accident

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By Michael Shain

TimesLedger Newspapers

A speeding car slammed into the back of a bus carrying a group of special-needs adults Wednesday near Forest Park, police said.

The driver appeared to have been seriously injured in the crash shortly after 4 p.m. on Woodhaven Boulevard and 81st Road in Glendale. Cops called for special life-support equipment after pulling the male driver from the wreckage, according to Breaking News, the news service that monitors police radio traffic.

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Nine people riding on the white, chartered school bus were also reported injured in the first radio calls. The bus from Brooklyn Transportation Corp. had been specially modified with most of its seats cleared to make space for wheelchairs that could be secured to the floor.

Several hours after the accident, police had not released any information on the condition of the victims or the name of the day-care facility where the bus had picked up its passengers.

But neighbors who live on the busy stretch of Woodhaven Boulevard said none of the passengers appeared to be badly hurt. One witness said the car had been speeding on the six-lane highway when it hit the back of the bus.

The rear left side of the bus showed signs of a serious accident with the bumper twisted up and the back end of the transport caved in.

The accident, meanwhile, shut down bustling Woodhaven Boulevard, a major north-south route in central Queens, in the middle of the evening rush hour. North-bond traffic was blocked off for more than two hours and cars on cross-street Union Turnpike were backed up for more than a mile and a half.

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BLOCK SHOTS: Aviation is facing challenging path to second crown

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By Joseph Staszewski

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city champions certainly aren’t getting the star treatment.

A season after winning the school’s first PSAL Class A boys’ soccer crown Aviation is without a home field to play on and is practicing as little as one day a week on half a field at a public park.

Even while on top, the Flyers know they don’t have the same advantages as some of the city’s top programs. It doesn’t faze them.

“We always have the Aviation mentality,” senior captain Jeffery Gad said. “We are underdogs every time.”

To make things even tougher, head coach Mario Cotumaccio has been away from the team for much of the regular season with his wife expecting a baby. He has only attended the first of the team’s five games, but his son was born last Sunday. Baseball coach Michael Fischer, who has seen his squad go through similar field issues, filled in during Cotumaccio’s absences.

“I miss him coaching us and telling us exactly what to do, but we have to deal with whatever we have to deal with,” senior goalie Andy Lucero said.

It hasn’t affected the team’s performance much so far, as Aviation is off to a 5-0 start. Still it trailed Queens Vocational 1-0 early before rallying for a 2-1 victory on Monday and only beat the Newcomers 1-0. Playing every game on the road means they need to be even sharper each time out.

“It is hard,” Gad said. “The team mentality has to be strong. Everyone has to be together.”

According to the players, it was Cotumaccio who made the decision not to have the team play at Con Edison Field in Astoria anymore, deeming the grass unsafe to compete on. Practices have become an issue, too, with the team working out on a crowded field at Bush Park in Woodside.

“It’s amazing,” Fischer said.

Cotumaccio only makes his group practice a few times a week, with many playing on club squads as well. The kids also get out at different times from school. Seniors are dismissed between noon and 1 p.m., while juniors don’t leave the building until 4:15 p.m.

“I have to encourage everyone to come to the practices,” Gad said. “Some people have a long school day and might not want to come.”

Despite its disadvantages Aviation believes it can make another run at a city title. It lost just two key contributors from last year’s squad that beat perennial power Martin Luther King Jr. in the semifinal and Susan Wagner for the crown. Luciano, Gad, Azzeddine Sekkat and Angel Serrano return, and will be aided by young stars like Stanley Sanchez.

“I still feel like we have the whole team to win the chip again,” Luciano said.

If they do so, it will be done the hard way.

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LETTERS: Hiking JFK taxi fares is a bad idea

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By Joseph Sitt

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Taxi and Limousine Commission should reject its proposed rule to raise Manhattan fares to and from Kennedy Airport to $56.50 during peak times, hiking costs for passengers while failing to address the inefficiency of taxi and airport access in New York.

Passengers traveling to and from Manhattan to JFK currently pay a flat fare of $52, and yet the TLC proposes to add $4.50 to the cost for passengers traveling between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The surcharge would come on the heels of the TLC increasing the flat JFK fare from $45 to $52 less than three years ago.

Over 3.27 million taxis leave from JFK every year. And with many of these rides headed to Manhattan during peak hours, this proposed rule hits passengers where it hurts—their wallets.

According to the TLC, the increase is necessary because trips to and from the airport are increasing in length, with an increasing reluctance among drivers to serve the airport because they are losing time in the central holding lot while waiting to be summoned to a dispatch line. However, this proposed rule fails to address the taxi dispatch process at JFK that is driving much of the problem.

Transportation options to and from JFK are limited as it is. Without access to a one-seat ride, passengers are left with little choice other than a cab when it comes to getting to the city.

And passengers are significant economic contributors. JFK users contribute over $53 billion to the regional economy every year and that number is expected to grow over time. Passenger traffic at the region’s three airports is expected to increase from 117 million a year to 150 million by 2030.

Together with the Port Authority, the TLC must foster growth in the taxi industry at JFK and concentrate its efforts on providing passengers and drivers alike with suitable infrastructure in order to ensure cost-efficient, safe and competitive transit services.

Joseph Sitt

Chairman & Founder, Global Gateway Alliance

CEO, Thor Equities

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BAYSIDE: He’s got magic to do just for you at Queensborough PAC

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

With deadlines and assignments each day, composer Stephen Schwartz barely has time to perform at Queensborough Performing Arts Center — which he is doing this weekend — let alone giving an interview.

Q. What was the first song that you wrote?

A. I was around 6 when I wrote a song called “Little Lullaby” for a puppet show that my sister and I were doing for our parents about a dog that had run away from home. The very first Broadway show that I wrote a song for was “Butterflies Are Free,” which turned into a movie that starred Keir Dullea. At that time I received a princely sum of $25 a week. The first full Broadway show was “Godspell,” which was originally produced Off-Broadway. “Pippin” was the first show that opened on Broadway. I was 24 at the time.

Q. When you’re writing for a show, do you write from the script or book?

A. Book has two meanings. For instance, an adaptation of the novel by Winnie Holzman from which “Wicked” was written vs. the scripted dialogue. I and my collaborator outline the show and figure how we’re going to tell the story through song while analyzing the characters as to the tone in which they speak. In “Wicked,” the decision was that the leading character, Elphaba, would have a first song in which she dreamed about some day meeting the Wizard, entitled “The Wizard and I.”

Q. I notice that there are songs for which you compose either the lyrics or music?

A. I work closely with Alan Menken, known for shows like “Beauty and the Beast.” For the show “Enchanted,” for instance, I wrote the lyrics while Alan wrote the music.

Q. Do you have an expectation of what will become the hit numbers in your Broadway show?

A. I’m always almost wrong about that. For instance with “Godspell” there is this song called “All Good Gifts” that I clearly thought would be the hit. As it turned out it was “Day By Day,” which was recorded by Robin Lamont for the original cast version. When you’re writing for a musical in contemporary times, because it’s so story-oriented and character-driven, you really can’t worry about writing something that might have a life outside of the show. Cabaret performers will choose a song that people like hearing and show off their talents.

Q. Is there a favorite show?

A. I’m partial to a show that people may not know called “Children of Eden.” It is personal and I believe it has my best score. “The Spark of Creation” has had much recording, as well as “Stranger to the Rain,” “Whatever Time We Have” and “The Hardest Part of Love.” There are shows that I write without an expectation of their coming to New York such as “Baker’s Wife.”

Q. I understand that you worked for Disney?

A. Working with Alan, I have done three animated films: “Pocahantas,” of which the best known song is called “Colors of the Wind”; “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Enchanted.” “Hunchback of Notre Dame” was recently adapted into a stage musical, for which we are about to record the cast album in a couple of weeks. “Son of Pinocchio,” originally called “Geppetto, “was a television special. Children’s theater groups were interested and so we did a stage adaptation. Sonya Isaacs did a “pop” recording of the movie title song, “If I Gave My Heart Away.” She is a wonderful singer with an evocative voice.

Q. Do you ever sing any of your own songs?

A. I can sing, but I’m not a singer. People do like to hear a songwriter sing his own songs. I will be singing at the QPAC event. However, I have three singers that will be performing songs from my shows.

Q. Are there any shows in the making?

A. I’m working on an upcoming adaptation of the animated movie, “The Prince of Egypt,” for which I have written songs. Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston popularized “When You Believe.” Although the production may not go to Broadway, it will be licensed for theaters around the country to perform it.

If you go

“Stephen Schwartz and Friends”

When: Saturday, Sept. 27, at 3 pm

Where: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside

Cost: $39 - $45

Contact: (718) 631-6311

Website: www.qcc.cuny.edu/qpac

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EDITORIAL: Religious diversity

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As Queens awaited the pope’s visit to Manhattan and the Bronx, the borough produced its own kaleidoscope of different religions in motion tending to congregations from all over the world.

In Flushing, hundreds of the Hindu faithful poured into the streets for a procession celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles who assumes the form of an elephant. The colorfully dressed worshipers followed a holy statute of Ganesha placed on top of a 15-foot silver chariot by the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapatri Devasthanam Temple.

On a recent weekend in Elmhurst, hundreds flocked to the Rock Church for an open-air baptism. A giant blue banner with the block letters “Baptism” was stretched across the front of the church, which occupies the former Elmwood Theatre, a Golden Age movie palace. On the day of baptism the diverse members of the nondenominational church appeared to represent most parts of the globe as they were immersed in the outside pool.

In Queens Village the Masjid Ar-Rahman congregation has decided to build one of the largest mosques in southeast Queens to accommodate nearly 800 parishioners mostly from Guyana. It started out in 1998 in a home in Jamaica with just under 100 members. Scheduled to be completed in October 2016, the mosque will operate a soup kitchen open to all faiths in the neighborhood.

In Forest Hills, the Havurat Yisrael congregation has just moved into a new synagogue, 17 years after a fire destroyed their temple. The Modern Orthodox members bounced from spot to spot until Havurat Yisrael received a substantial settlement for its insurance claim and built a large new home for Russians, Israelis and Jews of other nationalities.

Several Christian churches with deep roots in Queens are also marking milestones this year.

The Church of Douglaston, St. Anastasia in Douglaston and the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Astoria are holding centennials, while St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City is celebrating 150 years and the First Reformed Church of Astoria has its 180th birthday next month.

We think the People’s Pope, as Francis is known, would appreciate the rich tapestry created by the followers of many religions who have brought their teachings to Queens. He has appealed to all faiths to help the poor, share their wealth in a more equitable manner and save the environment for future generations. He has also preached the gospel of peace.

Each of these institutions share at least some of his goals and practice religious tolerance in a place where everyone belongs.

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FLORAL PARK: Queens county fair returns to Floral Park

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By Gabriel Rom

TimesLedger Newspapers

This past weekend Queens residents got a little taste of country life at the borough’s only county fair at Floral Park.

Now in its 33rd year, the fair hosted a panoply of events and entertainment from the wacky to the delicious.

“For those viewing the entries, it is incredible to find that even in our fast-paced city, people with such busy schedules find the time to make jam, jellies and pies using treasured family recipes; grow beautiful flowers and create amazing artwork,” said Farm Museum Director Amy Boncardo.

While there were plenty of down-on-the-farm activities to keep visitors entertained, a couple of new performers with an international flair were featured.

On Saturday, the fair hosted Irish bands and dancers and on Sunday, German bands and dancers performed rollicking Bavarian folk songs in a makeshift beer garden.

In addition to new acts and bands, the fair featured its traditional blue-ribbon competition in livestock, produce, home crafts, arts and more. Visitors had the opportunity to listen to music, try their hand at juggling and see different exhibits, yet the county fair still houses its time-honored activities like pig racing, pie eating and corn husking contests. Hayrides were also available to explore the farmland throughout the fair.

“I’m here to show my children what a real farm looks like, without the crowds,” said a woman from Sunnyside who only gave her name as Denise. “I want to show them where food comes from.”

Tours of the farmhouse give background information on the farmland. The house dates back to 1697, residing on New York City’s largest parcel of unaltered farmland. The farm has 47 acres of New York state’s longest farmed land, including historic buildings, greenhouses, and planting fields.

Lou Pastorini was out enjoying the farm grounds with his wife Betsy.

“We’re here for the pig racing,” he said with a chuckle. “We like to support things in the city of New York that are very different, especially a working farm in New York,” he said. “That’s an amazing thing.”

Reach reporter Gabriel Rom by e-mail at grom@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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FLUSHING: Hindu worshipers flock to parade in Flushing

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By Gabriel Rom

TimesLedger Newspapers

Thousands of Hindu worshipers assembled at the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam Temple at 45-57 Bowne St. in Flushing Sunday afternoon to celebrate the birth of Lord Ganesha, also known as the Destroyer of Obstacles.

Ganesha is a god many devout Hindus pray to every morning, and whose power to bring luck, fortune and peace is considered to be vast.

“Every human being has obstacles, from birth to their death, and to ward them off one prays to Lord Ganesh,” said Mahadeo Deopersaud, a Hindu religious scholar. “The lord is usually confined to the temple and doesn’t get to go out. This a chance to take him out and show him to the world.”

The celebration began with prayers inside the temple, where many worshipers brought food offerings in exchange for good tidings in the coming year. They then spilled into the street, dressed in their best dhotis and saris, and a holy statue of Ganesha was placed upon a 15-foot silver chariot. The procession then began in earnest.

The worshipers moved down Main Street. Many had their hands clasped and would briefly touch a rope trailing the chariot, connecting them to the god, after which they would quickly move aside and offer the rope to those near them. Deopersaud stood on the sidewalk watching.

“This statue is not an ordinary statue,” he said. “The energy of god is invoked into the statue and it becomes a holy object. The Hindu scriptures, the word of God, tell us that the one god of the universe is unfathomable so we find ways to reach this god, to form a connection.”

As the procession made its way back to the temple, the Ganesha statue was dipped in water in a ceremony meant to symbolically dissolve away the sins and problems of those who show their devotion and thanks to the god.

“The temple is full of positive vibrations, that’s why I’m here,” said a man from Jackson Heights who only gave his name as Murthy. “That’s why people come to the temple: to pray for something positive,” he added as he walked towards the temple along with a friend whom he was taking to the ceremony for the first time. “All the positive energy is directed towards the God, and that positive is radiated back.”

Reach reporter Gabriel Rom by e-mail at grom@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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JAMAICA ESTATES: St. John’s law school alum and benefactor Belson dies

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By Madina Toure

TimesLedger Newspapers

Jerome Belson, alumnus, benefactor and trustee emeritus of St. John’s University’s School of Law died Sept. 17 at the age of 90. Faculty, friends and family remembered him as generous, friendly and committed.

Belson, who graduated from the law school in 1948, was elected to the university’s board of trustees in 1986. Because of his contribution, the university was able to renovate and expand Belson Hall.

Belson Hall and Finley Hall—both of which contain the law school—have offices, classrooms and other facilities.

Belson and his late wife, Maxine, also provided the main funding for the Belson Moot Court Room. The Belson Soccer Stadium, which was built in 2003, is used by St. John’s NCAA men’s and women’s soccer teams.

Michael Simons, the law school’s dean, called Belson a “great friend” of the law school.

When Simons was a young lawyer in the early 1990s, he was working for a law firm which had Belson as a client. At the time, Belson was doing work in building and managing publicly subsidized housing.

“Jerry had a remarkable career and was an important player in the New York City real estate scene and in particular the development of affordable housing for New York,” Simons said in a telephone interview. “Jerry did very well and also understood that the blessings that he had been given gave him an obligation to give back to others.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Belson attended Lafayette HS and Brooklyn College, before earning his J.D. from St. John’s School of Law.

He started his career in law as assistant corporation counsel for the city before founding his firm, Belson, Connolly & Belson.

As chairman of Jerome Belson Enterprises, a real estate and management company, Belson created more than 50,000 residential units for low- and moderate-income families in New York.

In March 2005, he became president of the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York and was inducted into the New York State Builders Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He was the first person from New York City to receive the recognition.

He also served as chairman of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and was on the board of the National Jewish Fund. He was the past chairman and director of Amrep Corp., a real estate and media company.

“With the passing of Jerome Belson, our university has lost a tireless and visionary benefactor,” St. John’s University President Conrad Gempesaw said in a statement. “He has served as an example of excellence and civic commitment for St. John’s, New York City, and our nation. Our prayers and sympathies are with the entire Belson family.”

Jerry Belson was predeceased by his wife Maxine and son Michael. He is survived by his son Tad, daughter Brianne, brother Victor, his five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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PARKS: Controversial synthetic turf remains at 35 Queens athletic fields

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By Tom Momberg

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city installed more than 200 synthetic turf athletic fields that contain a substance known as crumb rubber, linked by some to certain types of cancer, in the past couple decades. But since putting a halt to the installation of these fields in 2008, the city said it has no intention of removing them until they need to be replaced from wear.

Made from ground-up car tires, crumb rubber can contain up to seven carcinogenic chemical compounds, according to the nonprofit health organization Environmental and Human Health Inc.

New York City Parks Advocates President Geoffrey Croft said there have been growing concerns around the country that excessive play on crumb rubber fields is linked to cancer.

While some are tracking cancer clusters in cities across the country trying to find a link, there has been much industry-sponsored counter-research suggesting data on exposure to the chemicals in the turf were insufficient to link attribution to cancer.

Queens has 35 crumb rubber fields.

The city Department of Parks and Recreation said it continues to monitor conditions at all of its fields regularly. If conditions of any particular field merit replacement, the department said it would go about its standard capital process to do so.

Any synthetic turf athletic fields installed in city parks since 2008 contain alternative materials, not crumb rubber.

The state Department of Health hired a firm to conduct an independent study of the fields testing only traces of lead, concluding crumb rubber poses no significant public health risks.

Croft said the problem lies with the city, which laid all the artificial turf fields before conducting any prior tests on the material, which is supposed to help break the fall of those who use it — a safety feature.

“We should be replacing these artificial turf fields, but the problem is we are still paying the bonds on them,” Croft said. “The city installed them so they wouldn’t have to put in the maintenance on the fields, but they aren’t removing them so threat is still there.”

Local resident Peter Malusis has two children who attend Sacred Heart School, which hosts soccer games at Raymond O’Connor Field on 33rd Avenue in Bayside.

O’Connor Field is an artificial turf field made of crumb rubber.

“Seeing as how at least half of my kids’ home games are hosted here, even with some risk, it doesn’t seem worth it,” Malusis said. “My opinion is that people just really don’t know about the risk.”

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Reach reporter Tom Momberg by e-mail at tmomberg@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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ASTORIA: City Council wants all businesses to shut doors when air conditioning is on

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

All New York City businesses, large and small, will be required to keep their doors and windows closed when air conditioning is on or be subject to fines, if the City Council has its way.

A bill sponsored by City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), which passed 44-1 Sept. 17, would levy fines against stores that keep their doors open during the summer months to entice potential consumers inside for the cooler air.

“Shutting the front doors of businesses so that the air-conditioning doesn’t escape can help reduce carbon emissions by thousands of tons,” Constantinides said. “There is no evidence that shows leaving doors open during hot days helps business owners increase sales. In fact, this practice of saving power will see business owners reap real savings in their energy bills.”

The bill expands the already existing mandate that all chain stores and commercial establishments over 4,000 square feet are required to keep their doors closed while air conditioners are operating. According to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, 10,000 businesses would be affected by the new legislation and enacting the policy would result in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing 3,600 cars from the road.

“This common sense policy will help us reach our goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050,” Constantinides, the chairman of the Council’s Environmental Protection Committee, said. “It will take the cooperation of everyone to make our city greener and save energy.”

The reduction of energy would significantly affect the city’s power grid, where most plants are over 40 years old and are equipped with technology that has a lower efficiency and larger emissions impact than modern plants. More than half of the city’s power plants are concentrated in Constantinides’ district.

“This new law, if paired with effective enforcement, could bring an end to one of the most brazen forms of energy-wasting in this city,” Eric Goldstein, the city’s environment director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said. “It holds the promise for reduced air pollution in our neighborhoods, fewer brownouts or blackouts on the hottest days of the summer, and big savings in fossil fuel burning.”

Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign the legislation as it fits in with his sustainability plan.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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JAMAICA: New Americans take oath at King Manor

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By Sadef Ali Kully

TimesLedger Newspapers

A group of 75 people became naturalized American citizens Sept. 17, the 228th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, at King Manor Museum in Rufus King Park.

The new citizens were from 28 countries stretching from the West Indies to Southeast Asia. Along with families and friends, they heard the “Star Spangled Banner” sung and watched a color guard present the American flag.

The Oath of Allegiance was administered by Federal Judge Eric Vitaliano for the Eastern District of New York.

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz gave the keynote address and Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) made remarks to welcome the new citizens in the museum at 150th St. and Jamaica Ave.

“The new citizens came into the house and we have a large statue of Rufus King. They had a chance to add their signatures to the copy of the original Constitution which we have on site,” said Kathy Forrestal, director of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services for King Manor.

Forrestal pointed out that many of the citizenship candidates live in downtown Jamaica and the citizenship day represents a long and successful relationship with the neighborhood.

Jamaica is largely a community of immigrants who hail from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

King Manor was the home of Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution, who lived in Jamaica from 1805 until his death in 1827.

King’s political career was just beginning when he signed the Constitution in 1787. He became one of the first two U.S. Senators for New York under the new Constitution, eventually serving four terms.

He also served as ambassador to Great Britain from 1796 until 1803 and he was an outspoken opponent of slavery throughout his long political career. After King’s death, his eldest son John King lived at King Manor and served as a congressman and New York governor, carrying on his father’s anti-slavery tradition.

Reach Reporter Sadef Ali Kully by e-mail at skully@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4546.

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JAMAICA: Fifth terror suspect arrested for trying to join ISIS: Feds

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By Sadef Ali Kully

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Queens man has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, the foreign terrorist organization, according to federal prosecutors. He is the fifth person in Queens to be brought in on such charges this year.

Based on a federal criminal complaint unsealed Sept. 17, Ali Saleh, a 22-year-old American citizen who once lived in Jamaica, allegedly made multiple attempts to travel to the Middle East to join ISIL, also known as ISIS.

Saleh was arraigned the afternoon of Sept. 17 before U.S. District Judge Roanne Mann in Brooklyn federal court.

Federal investigators had been watching Saleh’s social media activity since last September. In August 2014, he made a flight reservation to travel from JFK airport to Istanbul, Turkey, just a few days after he tweeted: “I’m ready to die for the Caliphate, prison is nothing,” according to the criminal complaint. Saleh was unable to travel last August because his parents took away his passport, but that did not end his efforts to join ISIS overseas, according to federal prosecutors.

In Queens, four other alleged terror suspects have been arrested and charged so far this year alone. In April two women, Asia Siddiqui, 31, and Noelle Velentzas, 28, were charged with plotting a terror attack and having alleged ties to terrorist network Al-Qaeda, according to the U.S. atttorney’s office in Brooklyn.

In June, federal investigators arrested and charged Munther Saleh, 20, and an unnamed co-conspirator for allegedly plotting an attack as well as allegedly communicating with ISIS.

In the latest case, Saleh again made repeated attempts to travel overseas between July 23 and Aug. 5, the complaint said. He first went to JFK to board a Qatar Airways flight on a one-way ticket to Cairo. He was questioned by airport law enforcement officials as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and then denied a ticket.

Later in the day, law enforcement agents observed him at Newark Airport trying to board another flight to go overseas. Prosecutors said the next day Saleh took a train to Philadelphia, made his way to the airport, and approached an airline ticket counter where he was again turned away. Federal agents questioned him again.

According to federal investigators, Saleh told them he was leaving for Yemen and that his parents would be upset if they found out about his trips. He was asked about ISIS, investigators said, and in the criminal complaint he was quoting as saying, “It’s hard to figure out who’s right or who’s wrong.”

But Saleh’s attempt to leave the country did not stop there, according to federal prosecutors. He traveled July 30 to Indianapolis International Airport, where he was again stopped by federal investigators. He mentioned to law enforcements agents that he had lived in Fort Wayne, Ind. for several months but was originally from Jamaica, Queens.

Then on Aug. 2, Saleh attempted to board a train to Canada, but investigators stopped him and said he would be denied entrance into Canada. Saleh then changed his train ticket destination to Cleveland, Ohio and left the train station.

In between these alleged attempts to travel overseas and join ISIS, the criminal complaint said Saleh had four different Twitter accounts, which constantly tweeted out rhetoric supporting the terrorist organization ISIS and communication with ISIL facilitators.

Reach Reporter Sadef Ali Kully by e-mail at skully@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4546.

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DOUGLASTON: Douglaston composer honored with worldwide day of music

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By Kevin Zimmerman

TimesLedger Newspapers

Douglaston composer Jim Cohn will be feted this weekend with three concerts on two continents, all taking place in one day.

Things get underway Sunday at 10 a.m.—Eastern Daylight Time—in Ghent, Belgium, with a performance of six of Cohn’s compositions arranged by Guido Six, director of the Claribel Clarinet Choir in Oostend, Belgium.

“He has said that he loves Jim’s music and would like to arrange everything for a clarinet choir,” Eileen Cohn said.

Although the Cohns will not be making the trek to that show, they have been to Belgium on three occasions for other performances of his work, including a world premiere of a piece written specifically for clarinets.

“Twelve of Jim’s groupies came with us on that trip,” his wife said.

Closer to home, the Metis Concert Series kicks off its new season with an afternoon of classical music by the Velveteen String Quartet, including the United States premiere of Cohn’s “String Quartet,” at the Community Church of Little Neck scheduled for 3 p.m.

Rounding out this unofficial Jim Cohn Day, the Queensboro Symphony Orchestra begins its new season, which includes the New York premiere in Flushing at 7 p.m. of Cohn’s Symphony No. 4.

Although a Newark native, Cohn has called northeast Queens home for most of his 87 years.

He has been playing and composing music for nearly as long.

“I took violin lessons as a kid, and I also studied the trombone,” Jim Cohn said.

Cohn attended the Juilliard School of Music, where he received two degrees in composition.

His catalog includes an eclectic mix of pieces written for solo performers, chamber musicians and choral groups. He has also dabbled in musical theater, composing “KATrina — The Enchanted Cat,” which premiered at Theatre by the Bay in Bay Terrace.

“Voltaire had a saying,” Jim Cohn said, “the style is the man.”

But if pressed to pick his favorite style of music, without hesitating he says it is those pieces written for a full symphony that give him the most pleasure.

“My love has been the symphony orchestra,” Jim Cohn said.

And he continues to write new pieces, which he hopes touches his audience’s emotional needs and not just their intellectual ones. By putting the right notes together, he tries to touch the listener’s heart.

“Music is like cooking. You can make it sweet or sour,” Cohn said. “I like to mix it together so as not to cause people to run to the exit.”

Reach News Editor Kevin Zimmerman by e-mail at kzimmerman@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4541.

If You Go

Velveteen String Quartet

When: Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3 pm

Where: Community Church of Little Neck, 46-16 Little Neck Parkway

Cost: $15-$25

Contact: (718) 229-2534

Queensboro Symphony Orchestra

When: Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 pm

Where: Mary’s Nativity Church, 46-02 Parsons Blvd., Flushing

Cost: Free will offering

Contact: (718) 359-5996

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ASTORIA: Gianaris brings MetroCard Van to the Big Six Towers, the Astoria Houses

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The MTA MetroCard Van is coming to the Big Six Towers in Woodside and the Astoria Houses Tuesday, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) announced

The van will enable residents living in areas without a nearby subway station to access a variety of services only available at MetroCard vending machines, which are primarily located at stations.

The mobile van allows residents to purchase or refill their existing card by applying for or refilling a Reduced-Fare MetroCard or simply asking questions. Senior citizens or disabled residents who would like to apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard will need to bring a photo ID.

Customers can also explore the EasyPay reduced-fare payment option. EasyPay allows customers to link to their credit or debit card to their reduced-far MetroCard so it refills automatically.

“The MTA MetroCard Van enables residents who lack consistent access to these services to remove a major transportation obstacle,” Gianaris said. “I am pleased to help provide these services to those who need them and ensure their commute is that much easier.”

The MTA’s MetroCard Van can be visited on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 4-05 Astoria Boulevard from 10 a.m. to noon and at the Big 6 Shopping Center located at 61-10 Queens Blvd. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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