Fresh Meadows daycare to have new parking signs

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The street by Little Meadows Early Childhood Center in Fresh Meadows will receive new “No Standing on School Days” signs, according to Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

Rozic announced the signage in cooperation with the Department of Transportation (DOT). She said the center expressed concerns for child safety after noticing a surge of cars parked in front of the building during “all times of the day.” Fifty parents signed a petition requesting a solution to the issue.

“Working with the local community to quickly and efficiently bring about tangible positive changes is what my job is all about,” Rozic said.

Rozic visited the site with Queens DOT Commissioner Nicole Garcia and requested that the placement of the signs be expedited. The sign will also ease bus flow and traffic issues, Rozic said.

 

Bill to make St. Patrick’s Day a school holiday moves forward

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Legislation proposed by State Senator Tony Avella to make St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, an official New York City school holiday passed the Senate on Tuesday.

Avella introduced the bill after the Irish community expressed disappointment that parent-teacher conferences were scheduled on the same day. The schedule conflict happened in 2011, during the 250th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“With establishing Saint Patrick’s Day as a school holiday in New York City schools, the Senate is proudly honoring this holiday and recognizing the historic contributions of the Irish community,” Avella said in a statement. “St Patrick’s Day is an important day of cultural and religious celebration for the millions of Irish American citizens of New York City.”

Avella and members of the Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC) recently met with Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, to discuss issues important to the Archdiocese. Dolan was happy to learn about the passage of Avella’s bill, according to Avella’s office.

 

Ideas competition looks at the future of the New York State Pavilion

1024px-Nysp2010 2Do you have a great idea for the future of the New York State Pavilion? The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion want to hear it.

The two groups, in conjunction with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, announced on Wednesday, a new international ideas competition aimed at soliciting “imaginative and creative input,” for how the pavilion can become a focal point of community life in Queens and New York City, according to a release.

The ideas competition website is open for entries now until Friday, July 1. The competition’s objectives, requirements, and resources to assist applicants can be found here.

Queens-based organizations RPGA Studio and Hibridos Collective are holding various events over the new few months to draw attention to the creative project.

RPGA Studio is implementing a series of events at the nearby Queens Museum which will utilize virtual technology to allow those participating in the program to get a first-hand experience of exploring the pavilion. Those events will be:

• Sunday, March 13 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• Sunday, April 10 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• Sunday, May 8 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• Sunday, June 12 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. (The location for this session is still to be determined)

Hibridos Collective is creating a pop-up that will pay homage to the pavilion. Participants can learn about the significance and history of it though both educational and archival materials. The public will subsequently be invited to create drawings, doodles, sketches or other creative forms that represent their visions for the structure, utilizing an art educator for assistance. The pop-up will be:

• Sunday, March 20, 12-4 p.m., Queens Theatre in the Park, 14 United Nations Ave South

• Sunday, April 24, 12-4 p.m., Queens Public Library at Flushing, 41-17 Main Street

• Saturday, May 28, 12-4 p.m., 78th Street Plaza, 78th Street between 34th Avenue and Northern Boulevard

• Saturday, June 25, 12-4 p.m., Corona Plaza, Roosevelt Avenue Service Road between National and 104th Streets

The competition will ultimately be judged by the public for a fan favorite – on July 18 – and a panel of local leaders and architecture experts, who will determine a first, second and third-place winner – which will be announced at a special event at the Queens Museum on Aug. 4.

Cash prizes for the winners include: $3,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place and $500 for the fan favorite.

 

Vallone honors two Whitestone residents at City Hall

Councilman Paul Vallone, center, stands with George Isaakidis, left, and Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anognostopoulos, right, at City Hall.

Councilman Paul Vallone, center, stands with George Isaakidis, left, and Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anognostopoulos, right, at City Hall.

Councilman Paul Vallone joined Councilmen Costa Constantinides and Vincent Gentile to celebrate the 195th anniversary of Greek Independence at City Hall.

At the celebration of Greek history and culture, Vallone presented proclamations to the Greek Orthodox Council of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3 and two Whitestone residents, George Isaakidis and Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos.

Isaakidis owns Harpell Chemists, a pharmacy that has been in Whitestone since 1906. He is also an active member of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.

Rev. Anagnostopoulos serves as the presiding priest of the church.

“The Greek-American community continues to be one of the most culturally proud and vibrant in our City, especially in my district with the parishes of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Whitestone,” Vallone said. “This year I was proud to recognize George Isaakidis and Father Dionysios, two pillars of the Whitestone community.”

Assemblywoman meets with CUNY student in Albany

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Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, left, with Hunter College student Daphne Ko, right.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic met with CUNY Hunter College student Daphne Ko, who is also a constituent, while in Albany.

Ko participated in the University Faculty Senate Poster Day. Her work was displayed as part of a presentation called “Exploration & Observation: Undergraduate Student Research & Creative activities.

Quebec band De Temps Antan to perform in Flushing

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On Saturday, March 5th, Flushing Town Hall will introduce the lively band De Temps Antan to the community.

The Canadian band, founded in 2004, performs traditional Quebecois music featuring instruments such as fiddles, accordions, harmonicas and the bouzouki. The band has previously performed in Pakersburg, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Prior to their performance, there will be a dance lesson starting at 7 p.m. A favorite activity to do before performances, the dance workshop will engage audience members in dancing to Quebecois music.

Tickets are $16 and $10 for members and students. You can purchase tickets at FlushingTownHall.org.

NYC DOT starts camera enforcement on Q44 SBS route

brt-flushing-jamaica-map-smMotorists driving or standing in bus lanes on the Q44 Bronx-Flushing-Jamaica Select Bus Service (SBS) during designated hours will now be fined $115, according to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).

For the past 60 days, the DOT has been issuing warnings to motorists based on the cameras. The corridors, according to the DOT, have signage indicating the specific hours in which the cameras will be in enforcement.

Camera enforcement already exists on:

· Bx12, along the Fordham Road SBS corridor

· M15, along the First Avenue and Second Avenue SBS corridors

· M34, along the 34th Street SBS corridor

· M60, along the 125th Street SBS corridor

· B44, along the Nostrand Avenue and Rogers Avenue SBS corridor

· S79, along the Hylan Boulevard-Richmond Avenue SBS corridor

According to state law, the City bus lanes camera program is allowed to be expanded to 16 total routes.