Monday, September 17, 2012

Meeting Thursday Night - September 20

Neighbors ... friends ... we meet this Thursday evening at 8pm at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2760 Amboy Road. After this, our next meeting will be in November.
Come to the meeting and help us set our agenda for this year.
Bring your issues and concerns. Work with us for a better neighborhood.
You know how good New Dorp is.
Help us make it better.
See you at the meeting.
> Joe Markowski

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Meeting Thursday June 21

Our next meeting is Thursday night June 21 at at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at
2750 Amboy Road
.

At this last meeting before the summer break we will recap the information shared with us throughout the year by our various speakers: Frank DiTommaso (DiTommaso Realty), Jay Anderson (SI EDC), Len Garcia-Duran (SI City Planning), Bob Englert (Office of the Borough President) and Timothy G. Boylan and Pablo Vengoechea (Architecture Urban Planning, LLP). All these knowledgeable and concerned speakers shared their insights about our community as part of our look at our community as part of the New Dorp 2020/25 Project. We asked: what could New Dorp look like? what will New Dorp look like? Our challenge now is what do we do with that information.

Remember our new format for the upcoming year. Starting in September 2012 we will alternate between having a meeting and publishing a newsletter. We will have meetings in September, November, March and May. We will publish an expanded newsletter in October, January/February, April and June. December will be spent celebrating the holidays.

Does that limit the information you will get or limit your ability to bring up an issue effecting this neighborhood? Not at all. There will be constant access to us through our Post Office mailbox, our email box, our telephone, our blog and our Facebook page. If you want to reach us with a question or share some information or an opinion, there are numerous avenues available to each of you. Check the listing elsewhere in this newsletter. What avenues?

Mail … Post Office
Box 060245, Staten Island, New York 10306
Blog … ndcca.blogspot.com
Facebook … New Dorp Central Civic Association
Telephone … 718-979-6011
Twitter … @joefromnewdorp

Hope to see you.

> Joe Markowski

Monday, May 14, 2012

Meeting Thursday - May 17

Greetings.

Last month Bob Englert, the Director of Land Use from the Office of the Staten Island Borough President gave us an extensive look at our community – yesterday, today and some of the possibilities for tomorrow. He provided us with an incredible amount of information and analysis – a lot of food for thought – items that we will continue to discuss over the upcoming months.

Continuing with a look into the future, our guest speakers this month will be Timothy G. Boylan and Pablo Vengoechea from the firm Architecture Urban Planning, LLP. Tim and Pablo worked on the Growth Management Task Force and continue to be actively involved in our Island. They will talk about planning strategies for New Dorp from the architect’s perspective. They are here as part of our look at our community as part of the New Dorp 2020/25 Project. What could New Dorp look like? What will New Dorp look like?

Come to our meeting Thursday night at 8pm at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road... share your thoughts and ideas ... and bring a neighbor!
 
> Joe Markowski

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

New Dorp Beach Clean Up Saturday April 28

The residents of the New Dorp Beach community will be hosting a beach clean-up on Saturday, April 28th at 9a.m. I am informed that our Congressman Micheal Grimm will also be in attendance assisting in our beach maintenance. Please feel free to forward this effort on and hope to see many more in attendance.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

What a Meeting !

Tonight Bob Englert from the Borough President's Office gave an incredible presentation to us that has my head spinning.

Combining a thoughtful analysis with a concise Powerpoint presentation, Mr. Englert provided us with food for thought ... a feast of ideas and suggestions and insights that spoke to our look at New Dorp and its future ... as part of our New Dorp 2020/25 Project.

Over the upcoming days I hope to share some of his insights and challenges for our consideration.

You may have missed a terrific meeting but I need you to be part of our review.

Let's use his contribution to our efforts to further our examination. Let's use his contribution to spur on our efforts.

I want to thank Bob and the Borough President for their thoughtful and rich contribution to our Project.

> Joe Markowski, President

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Meeting Thursday April 19

Friends ... neighbors ... we meet Thursday night April 19 at 8pm at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road.

Our guest speaker will be Robert Englert who will give us Borough Hall's perspective on New Dorp 2020/25 ... our ongoing look at what our community may / should / could look like at that time.

Come share your views ... ask questions ... and bring a neighbor.

> Joe

Monday, March 12, 2012

Meeting Thursday March 15 at 8pm

Greetings ... Ok, you win. I am not going to allude to Winter any more because it looks like we will not be having one this year. I cannot remember ever experiencing a Winter this gentle. No complaints mind you. But it just doesn’t feel right. … But so it goes.

This month we will resume our look at the future of New Dorp and what it should / could look like. We will welcome Len Garcia-Duran the Director of the Staten Island Office of City Planning. He will share with us the possibilities for our neighborhood based on what is allowable by our zoning.

Then in April we will be joined by Robert Englert from the Borough President’s office who will share with us the insights and expectations from Borough Hall.

Last month we recapped and reviewed various issues in our neighborhood – Kohl’s, the CVS on Hylan Blvd., the new ball field at the foot of New Dorp Lane, Cedar Grove Beach, the NYPD Police cameras by the train station, the impact of the muni-meters on the Lane and Plaza, slow zone streets and other issues.

As part of our New Dorp 2020/25 Project, we had a visit from Frank DiTommaso of DiTomasso Realty who spoke to us about New Dorp today ... that our neighborhood remains a desirable location. Then we had a visit from Jay Anderson, Director of Projects for the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, who shared the insight of the SIEDC into Staten Island and the future. We heard him talk of the possibilities that exist in the retail and service industries for our community.

Next to visit with us will be some architects and builders for their views of where we are, where we are going and where we need to be going. So look for those over the upcoming months.

To repeat, I am not saying that we need to go in any specific direction. I am saying that we need to start thinking about these things and talking about these things and inviting speakers in who will help us understand the pluses and minuses of the various options we have.

Lastly, as I’ve mentioned and will continue to mention, I need you to sing aloud the need for civic involvement and invite your neighbors to join. The more voices the smoother and richer the sound. Thank you for your interest in our neighborhood. You live here. You know why it is a respected and desirable community. Be proud of it. See you around the neighborhood.

- Joe Markowski

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Meeting Thursday February 16 at 8pm

We meet Thursday night at 8pm at the Kells-Grennie ASmerican Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road ... and ...

Greetings ... Ok … I know its Winter and you know its Winter but … wow … what a gentle Winter it has been. Not that I am complaining. It’s wonderful … unless you like shoveling snow, selling rocksalt and turning up the thermostat. We have another 6 weeks to go … but we already have 6 weeks behind us. So let’s be thankful for the weather up until now.

This month we will recap and review the various issues in our neighborhood – Kohl’s, the CVS on Hylan Blvd., the new ballfield at the foot of New Dorp Lane, Cedar Grove Beach, the NYPD Police cameras by the train station, the impact of the muni-meters on the Lane and Plaza, slow zone streets … and any other issues you might have. Let’s get an up-to-date status on these items and identify our next actions if any.

What should New Dorp look like in 2020? Or 2025? What should the Lane look like? We call it the New Dorp 2020/25 Project. We started this process with a visit from Frank DiTommaso of DiTomasso Realty who spoke to us about New Dorp today ... that our neighborhood remains a desirable location. Then we had a visit from Jay Anderson, Director of Projects for the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, who shared the insight of the SIEDC into Staten Island and the future. We heard him talk of the possibilities that exist in the retail and service industries for our community.

Next month we will resume our look at the future of New Dorp and what it should / could look like. In March we will welcome Len Garcia-Duran the Director of the Staten Island Office of City Planning. He will share with us the possibilities for our neighborhood based on what is allowable by our zoning. In April we will be joined by Robert Englert from the Borough President’s office who will share with us the insights and expectations from Borough Hall.

After that we will welcome some architects and builders for their views of where we are, where we are going and where we need to be going. So look for those over the upcoming months.

To repeat, I am not saying that we need to go in any specific direction. I am saying that we need to start thinking about these things and talking about these things and inviting speakers in who will help us understand the pluses and minuses of the various options we have.

Meanwhile … as I’ve said in the past, we rely on your support to keep the Association going and involved in this community. We have sent out our membership renewals and hope you will take a few moments out to renew your commitment to our community and this organization. (An asterisk after your name means we have received your renewal.) Your support is vital both through your dues, donations and participation. The support of various merchants and entrepreneurs could help to finance our newsletter. Let us know if you are aware of a business in our community that would like to be represented in our newsletter.

Lastly, as I’ve mentioned and will continue to mention, I need you to sing aloud the need for civic involvement and invite your neighbors to join. The more voices the smoother and richer the sound. Thank you for your interest in our neighborhood. You live here. You know why it is a respected and desirable community. Be proud of it. See you around the neighborhood.

Joe Markowski, President

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Meeting Thursday December 15

Friends ... neighbors ... we meet this Thursday evening for a brief review of area topics followed by the raffling of our two holiday baskets and then some good cheer and conversation with friends.

Join the festivities.

Note: There will be no meeting in January ... newsletter yes ... meeting no.

Remember ... if you see something ... say something ... share the info with us.

... and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

> Joe Markowski

Monday, November 28, 2011

November Meeting Recap

OK … now that the Thanksgiving holiday is beyond us and we are all busy preparing for Christmas … let me share a few remarks from our last meeting.

Jay Anderson from the Staten Island EDC spoke to us about the outlook for Staten Island and New Dorp over the upcoming years as part of our New Dorp 2020/25 Project.

Most of the heavy industrial development will occur on the north shore particularly along the waterway. That is where the businesses are and that is where the zoning will permit that type of growth. It is an opportunity that exists but must be cultivated.

What type of economic opportunity are we most likely to see in New Dorp? Our neighborhood is most likely to benefit from service industries and retail growth. The Lane, Plaza and Hylan Blvd are suitable zones that can support and nourish those opportunities.

So the outlook is good for our neighborhood. It can remain a desirable location for living and working.

Our December meeting will have an update on the issues in the neighborhood followed by some merriment … and the raffling off of our two holiday baskets. (Call 718-979-6011 to buy tickets.)

Instead of a holiday grab bag we ask that you bring some items for our troops as part of our ongoing “Support Our Troops” initiative.

January we stay inside and try and keep warm … and then in February we will resume our review of our neighborhood and its future as we invite in the City Planning Team from Staten Island to talk about the zoning in our community and what it will permit.

Remember … we need your support.

Renew your membership.

Not a member? Call 718-979-6011 and join … only $18 per year … that’s a nickel a day.

And don’t be afraid to invite a neighbor to join.

Thanks for your continuing support …

> Joe Markowski

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Meeting Thursday Nov 17 - Be there !

We meet Thursday night Nov 17 at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road at 8pm. Our guest speaker will be Jay Anderson from the SIEDC. He will be telling us about the SIEDC's view of the future of Staten Island over the upcoming years as part of our New Dorp 2020/25 Project. Plan on coming and bring a neighbor.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

You Missed a Good One!

At our meeting tonight Frank DiTomasso of DiTomasso Realty shared a wealth of information about the current state of our community from a real estate perspective. And it made us feel good to get an objective view of the neighborhood and its pluses and minuses. I will be sharing some of his insights with you over the upcoming days.

A nice crowd got to hear his overview.

We also heard about the numerous programs available at our local library from Jan Klucevsek of the New Dorp Branch ...

... as well as an update on our neighborhood from Community Affairs Police Office Kevin Medefendt.

Not to mention "Ann's Joke of the Month".

Yep ... you missed a good one.

> Joe Markowski