Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Feb 19 Meeting Followup - Crime Prevention

As promised, here is some more information from our meeting. Trish Curulli from the 122's Crime Prevention Unit offered us these suggestions for safeguarding your house:
1. Make sure your doors and door frames are solid.
2. Your locks should be a dead bolt with a highly pick resistant cylinder. You should protect the cylinder with a guard plate and use a licensed locksmith.
3. Make sure the locks on your windows work... and that you use them.
4. Motion-sensitive lighting around the perimeter of your house is very effective.
5. Use timers in the house with variable times.
6. Shrubbery should not obstruct your view from inside or outside.
7. Air conditioners should be secured to the window opening so they cannot be pulled out or pushed in.
8. If your garage is attached to your house, treat it just as securely.
9. Alarms can be helpful... but only if they are activated.

You can also get your valuable possessions, such as, televisions and laptops, etched so they are identifiable as yours. Call 718-667-2266 to make arrangements.

And you can have a survey done of your house to identify potential security risks.

Lastly, as we have said many, many times, if you see something, say something. Call the 122 Precinct desk at 718-667-2241 to report your concern.

> Joe Markowski

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Feb 19 Meeting Followup - Medicare

As promised, here is some more information from Eric Hausman, our speaker from the Dept of the Aging who spoke on Medicare.

First of all, he said if you ever have a question about medicare and its coverage call 311 and ask for "medicare". There are different "parts" to medicare covering different aspects of health care. There also exists coverage for the gap between what medicare covers and the deductible.

There is also coverage for drugs. Unfortunately there are 51 different plans in NY state and that can be quite confusing. Yet if you call 311 and ask for "medicare" there are counselors who can work with you to identify the most appropriate plan for the medication you need. You can also call 1-800-medicare or check it out on-line at http://www.medicare.gov.

And there is also help for people on a low income.

If you have questions... call... and ask.

Our next meeting update will be about some upcoming programs at the New Dorp Branch Library... to be followed by info from a 122Precinct Crime Prevention officer... to be followed by an update about the activities of "Where to Turn".

So keep checking in regularly for information important to our neighborhood!

> Joe Markowski

Monday, February 23, 2009

WARNING - BAD GUYS in the Neighborhood

Neighbors... if you haven't heard on CBS radio or read in the SI Advance there are some bad people operating in our neighborhood.

You can help by reporting any unusual or suspicious activities on our streets to 911 or the 122 Precinct at 718-667-2241.

Tell your neighbors. We all need to be on the lookout.

Here is the article that appeared in today's Advance:

Heartless thieves steal priceless memories
Burglars have hit New Dorp homes at least 8 times since December, twice making off with wedding bands

Monday, February 23, 2009

By PHIL HELSEL
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A pair of burglars who have struck homes all over New Dorp aren't just making off with televisions, jewelry and cash -- at least twice, they swiped wedding bands, victims said.

"That was heartbreaking to me," said a Locust Avenue widow whose husband of 42 years died in 2004. "They took things I never expected to lose, things I can't replace".

The burglars have broken into at least eight homes in New Dorp since Dec. 3, and most recently on Feb. 10. Usually they use a garbage pail or some other low-rent tactic to reach a rear window, police said.

Frank Frascati's Otis Avenue home was broken into just a few weeks ago, when what are believed to be the same pair got in through a rear window, and they stole his wedding band from a 20-year marriage.

"I was upset, but what are you gonna do?" he said.

Some of the break-ins happened in the middle of the day while others, like the Feb. 10 burglary that led to a security camera taking the thieves' pictures, occurred at night, police said.

The burglars have struck three homes on Bancroft Avenue; twice on Otis Avenue, and once each on Bryant, Bache and Locust avenues over the last two months, police said. At their last job on Bancroft, a home surveillance camera caught the duo on video.

The string of burglaries around New Dorp is at least the fourth ongoing burglary pattern on Staten Island.

Police are trying to crack groups of related burglaries in the Todt Hill and Emerson Hill area, West Brighton and on the South Shore.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS; they can also log on to the Web site at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text their tips to 274637 (crimes) then enter TIP577.
Phil Helsel is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at helsel@siadvance.com.

If you see something, say something.

> Joe Markowski

Friday, February 20, 2009

Meeting Highlights and Surprises

Its early Friday morning... coming up on 5am... and I just wanted to get a few quick comments out there to update you on our meeting last night. It turned out to be a session full of speakers ( one planned and three wonderful surprises ) and I want to start getting some of their information and comments out there before we get into the heart of today.

We heard from Eric Hausman from the NYC Department of Aging who spoke to us about Medicare, its various "parts" and the alternatives that a person has in providing themselves with coverage. More about that later. We heard from Dennis McKeon who is the Executive Director of "Where to Turn" who spoke about the various projects and efforts his organization is involved in. More on that later. We heard from Yolanda Gleason of the New Dorp Branch Library who spoke to us about upcoming Albany Day and the many various programs at the New Dorp branch for people of all ages - from toddlers to seniors. More about them later. And we heard from Trish Curulli from the 122 Precinct's Crime Prevention Unit who spoke to us about keeping our houses safe especially in light of the recent burglaries in our neighborhood. More of her tips on keeping our property safe later. Wow... a lot of info to share and we will be putting it out here for you in our upcoming blog entries.

We also talked about the various things in the neighborhood that we will be following up on and exploring this year - from the outbreak of outdoor dining to the Frank's Nursery property to the effect of Ocean3 on its neighbors to flooding in New Dorp Beach to the new playground at PS41 to Congressman McMahon opening an office on New Dorp Lane to the intersection of New Dorp Lane and Hylan Blvd which has already had 38 accidents since January 1st.

Yep... a lot to talk about. So keep checking in regularly over the upcoming days as we share that information with you.

Lastly... and it remains very true today... if you see something, say something. See some suspicious activity on your block? Call the NYPD. See something in our neighborhood that you are curious about or doesn't look right? Call us at 718-979-6011 or email us at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or ndcca@excite.com or leave a comment here.

Together we can protect and enhance our community... but it will take all of us. Be part of the solution.

> Joe Markowski

Thursday, February 12, 2009

February Meeting Coming Up

Greetings… we begin our meetings this winter with wildly varying temperatures and an economy that is hurting… effecting the businesses in our neighborhood and our neighbors… for they too are hurting. It is a time to look out for one another, care for one another and be supportive of our community for these are difficult times. Remember last year? We saw wild temperature swings and stock market swings of hundreds of points daily and thousands of points over the course of the year. And the madness continues!

Our guest speaker this month will be from the NYC Department of the Aging. The focus will be on long term care and Medicare. Come and get educated.

What do you want your Association to get involved in this year? You will find a number of things listed inside… but don’t be bashful. Reach out to us and share your concerns and let us work with you to find answers. You can find our most current updates on the blog. Check it regularly. And remember to reach out to us if you have information that is important to the community.

What will you do to strengthen this organization and make its voice more robust? Share your ideas and thoughts with us. Email us at ndcca@excite.com or newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or comment here.

We will resume our Dining Through New Dorp program next month with a visit to King’s Chef. It will be our 46th meal in support of our neighborhood restaurants and good conversation. Look inside for details.

This is our first meeting for 2009. We will meet monthly on the third Thursday of each month. Our meeting this month is Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road. We will begin promptly at 8 p.m. Come. Join us. And… bring a neighbor!

See you around the neighborhood, stay safe and enjoy each day!

Joe Markowski