Tuesday, September 29, 2009

SIAdvance, Alzheimer's and Dining

I hope you had a chance to catch the article in last Sunday’s SI Advance about Anne Finnerty, her late husband Bill and her bus driver friend. Ann is currently a member of Community Board #2 and the former President of the New Dorp Central Civic Association. Make sure you check it out.

There will be an Alzheimer’s Walk this weekend on Sunday October 4 at Pouch Camp at 1465 Manor Road at 0930 am (the rain date is Oct 11). For more information call the Alzheimer Foundation at 718-667-7110.

We have set up our next Dining Through New Dorp event. As you recall, we started this program over fifteen years ago in May 1994 as a way of supporting the restaurants in our neighborhood while providing our members and their family and friends an opportunity to get together socially for food and good conversation. Over those years we have purchased over 1300 meals and spent over $32 thousand on our restaurants. So plan now on joining us.

We will be eating at Restaurant On the Plaza at 50 New Dorp Plaza on Wednesday November 11 at 7pm. What will we be eating?
• assorted hot appetizers
• antipasto salad
• an assortment of pizzas
• soda, coffee, tea and desert…
• all for $23 per person.
Mark your calendars and plan now on joining us. Call Linda at 718-351-3714 to make your reservation.

Heard anything new? Give us a call at 718-979-6011 or drop us a line at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com

See you around the neighborhood.

> Joe Markowski

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Alas! Summer Moves On!

Then summer came to an end. Maybe not technically ended – that will happen on the 22nd. But we all know that once school resumes in September the end of summer cannot be far behind. And a strange summer it was - filled with rain at the start and nice days at the end.

As we begin our 33rd year as a Civic Association there is much to ponder.

What has been happening in our neighborhood? I can remember when I was associated with the 122 Pct Community Council. I said that I would welcome the day when we had a meeting and no one came because there were no issues to discuss.

Can the same thing be said about a neighborhood? Perhaps not because good things can also be happening in a neighborhood and a neighborhood such as ours is in a constant state of change.

• Shall we talk about the PS41 schoolyard?
• Or the new Sports Bar on New Dorp Lane across from Miller Field?
• Or the new car service also on New Dorp Lane across from Miller Field?
• Perhaps you noticed the new tennis courts being installed at S.I. Technical High School?
• Or the closing of Ocean3 and its new paint job? And a new restaurant?
• Could you be thinking about New Dorp Beach and the nice spread in the SI Advance about the history of that area… something that we experienced firsthand at our May meeting?
• Or the recent story (also in the SI Advance) about Cedar Grove and its unique status in Staten Island?
• And then there was the return of Pathmark.
• And a comedy club coming to the old Lane Theatre.

A lot is happening in our neighborhood – even in the best of times

Then there is the whole issue of membership in an organization such as ours. We face enormous challenges. We need to find better ways of spreading the word and involving our citizens.

• How do we reach the parents of our schoolkids who have such a large vested interest in our community?
• How do we squeeze ourselves into their busy schedule? They are already involved in their kids’ sports programs and music programs and who knows what else.
• How do we ask them to give us a night a month when there are no extra nights? How do we reach them?
• As our membership ages, how do we get those younger community members involved? That is a major challenge of this and every organization.
• Whenever a major challenge or threat surfaces, everyone comes out of their house to protest and fight the beast! But once the beast is met, everyone returns to their regular life. Can that behavior be changed?
• How do we involve everyone in the neighborhood when there is no common information source for the neighborhood? Newspapers once filled that role but we have seen their use decline.
• How much can we depend on the new electronic outlets? Websites? Blogs (such as ours)? And what will come next? How do we link all these people together and support the needs of this neighborhood?

I am going to ask you for three things:
1. Renew your membership in our organization. At $18 per year that is a little less than 5 cents per day.
2. Let me know what you think. What ideas do you have for this organization? Leave a voicemail at 718-979-6011… or send a note to… NDCCA, PO Box 060245, SI, NY 10306… or send an email to newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com. Speak up! Share your thoughts and suggestions.
3. Pass the enclosed membership application to someone in the New Dorp area and encourage them to join.

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, June 30, 2009

Mrs. Rosemary

We mourn the passing of a wonderful lady who made our neighborhood a better place and enriched the lives of thousands of dancers. Our condolences to her family.

> Joe Markowski

Monday, June 8, 2009

The Beach and Other Things

What a glorious weekend we just had. The weather was such a treat after days of clouds, drizzle and rain.

I journeyed down to New Dorp Beach Park and walked some of the paths down to the waters edge. Then I strolled along the beach looking for signs of hotels and hospitals like the ones Josh Jakob had spoken of at our meeting. I tried to imagine the enormous structures that stood at those locations. I let my eyes follow the pilings out into the water, imagining the piers used by the hotels and hospitals. It was fascinating.

I felt I stood atop large concrete slabs that once held the St.John's Guild Hospital in place. Was I right in that imagining? And long lengths of pipe that once channeled water into the ocean.

Now the beach can surely use help. Oodles of bottles and other plastic junk marred the shoreline. But I look at the beach as a disheveled friend, cherished but one that could use just a little cleaning up.

I then crossed the street and looked up at the structure designed as the latest Elmtree light. And I looked at the structure which I was lead to believe was used to look out for German submarines during WWII. The timing was amazing, it being the weekend we remembered the invasion of Normandy. The structure looks very WWII. And it still stands guard to this day.

As for NDBeach Park, many of the colorful flowers we looked at last year are missing. Hopefully the Parks Department will find some to grace the spray area.

Tomorrow morning I'm hoping to witness the ribbon-cutting of the new playground for PS41. Have you seen it lately? It looks terrific!

And lastly, Alberta Brescia will be at our next meeting on June 18... talking to us about "kicking the smoking habit" as well as other cancer-related concerns.

But for now, I'm remembering the wonderful view of the ocean, the breeze, the solitude and the wonder that is our beach.

Stay in touch.

> Joe Markowski

Thursday, June 4, 2009

POSTPONED !!!!! Boardwalk Bash Health and Fun Fair - Friday, June 5, 2009

I wanted to share this email we received from CB#2:

The 6th Annual Boardwalk Bash, a health and fun fair, is scheduled for Friday, June 5 from 10 am to 1 pm in Midland Beach near the Turtle Fountain, Jefferson Avenue and Fr. Capodanno Blvd. The annual health and information forum gives senior citizens and their families the opportunity to learn about a wide range of programs and services that can benefit them.

The event is sponsored by Assemblywoman Janelle Hyer-Spencer and is produced in cooperation with North Shore SIUH, Health Plus, the city Parks Department, the FDNY and the NYPD.
Debra A. Derrico
District Manager, Community Board Two

Monday, June 1, 2009

What a Meeting !!!

Our meeting focusing on things related to New Dorp Beach was a terrific night and a wonderful experience for everyone who was there... and the hall was full! We chatted about the sports bar at 702 and Dom Griffo the owner answered everyone's questions about what he intended to run there. We talked about the car service moving into 658 NDLane and we were treated to an amazing presentation by Josh Jakob who walked us through the history of NDBeach in word and photo. I think we all learned a few new things about New Dorp Beach.

We are pursuing additional information on the second phase of the New Dorp Beach Park plan which involves bike paths along the waterway. We are also checking on the athletic field proposed in honor of John D'Amato.

As they used to say... stay tuned.

> Joe Markowski

Monday, May 18, 2009

Meeting Thursday Night - New Dorp Beach Month !!!

Greetings. Well, I don’t know about you, but the rain and lousy weather of late have made me long for the summer time. And when I think of the summer I think of the beach. So what better time than now to have our salute to New Dorp Beach.

Founded in 1976, our Association’s charter runs from Grant City to Oakwood, and from Egbertville to the Atlantic Ocean. It includes New Dorp Beach and we will celebrate that fact with New Dorp Beach Month !!!

This month we will have a special guest – Joshua Jakob - who will provide us with a “History of New Dorp Beach”. He will be bringing his research and knowledge and photos of the beach area. So mark your calendar now, call your friends from the beach area and plan to be at our meeting so you can hear his presentation, share your knowledge and experiences and get your questions answered.

We will also be visited by Dominick Griffo who will be opening a sports bar at 702 New Dorp Lane, across from Field #4 at Miller Field. Mr. Griffo already successfully manages the Broadwalk Bar on Hylan Blvd. So come hear what he has in mind and let him answer your questions first hand.

We can also talk about the car service that will be returning to New Dorp and will work out of 658 New Dorp Lane.

Or maybe you will want to talk about New Dorp Beach Park… or the second phase of that project… or the proposed football field.

Yep, there is quite a bit of activity happening in New Dorp Beach and we will be talking about all of that at our next meeting.

We will meet on the third Thursday of this month. Our meeting is Thursday, May 21, 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!!!... especially one who lives in New Dorp Beach!!!

And… remember to check us on-line at http://www.ndcca.blogspot.com.

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


Joe Markowski

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

More on 658 New Dorp Lane

The owner of New Richmond Car Service will be bringing a fleet of ten cars to the 658 location. Those vehicles currently operate out of Bay Street. He formerly operated in New Dorp but moved out about three years ago when the building he was operating out of was sold. Now he wants to return to this community.

The building at 658 contains King Deli as well as a small office to the right which he will be occupying. His vehicles will have use of the side parking lot when they are not on the road. Many of the vehicles are driven to their home at the end of each shift so there should not be a parking problem. No servicing or washing of the vehicles will happen on the premises.

We expressed concern about the temptation his drivers will have to go down Finley to enter the parking lot. (Finley is a one-way street emptying into NDL.) The parking lot is surrounded by a six foot high solid wooden fence and provides no visibility from Finley to NDL or vice versa. We are concerned that someone will be trying to exit Finley and will meet a car entering Finley to access the lot... and they will meet head-on. That would be a painful experience for both his driver and our resident.

This issue will be taken up with the owner of the building. There is a very definite safety issue here and we expect this issue to be addressed before we can feel comfortable with this move.

We expect to hear what action, if any, will be taken to resolve this problem within the next few weeks. The owner of the car service is looking for support from Community Board 2 before the end of the month when the Taxi and Limousine Commission will be meeting. Our civic association cannot endorse this action without some resolution to this traffic concern.

> Joe Markowski

Monday, May 4, 2009

When It Rains... It Pours !!!

First there was mention of the carnival in April... then talk of a Sports Bar at 702 New Dorp Lane... then comes a Comedy Club in the old Lane Theatre... followed by rumors of possible new stores in the Hylan Blvd area... while burglers are scowering the Grant City and New Dorp area... then comes the closing of the Ocean3 Restaurant (?)... and that leads us to where?

Now a car service will move into 658 New Dorp Lane (a former New Dorp business looking to return) ... to be followed by another carnival in the Frank's property from May 15 to May 25... as the Flea Market returns...

For so long quiet... now things are bursting out all over.

Ah... be careful what you wish for.

Our next meeting is May 21 with many of the topics focused on New Dorp Beach, such as, the History of New Dorp Beach presentation, discussion about 702 New Dorp Lane and now 658 New Dorp Lane.

Plan on attending our meeting. Bring a neighbor.

> Joe Markowski

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Updates on the Comedy Club, Sports Bar and Safe Streets for Seniors

At our meeting last Thursday we heard from Dino Ibelli who is now working in the Lane Theatre preparing to make it "Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club". He gave us an overview of his hopes for the theatre and provided an overview of what he will be offering there - Comedy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Fundraisers on Sunday. Movies in 3D in Monday. He will have security at the venue and expects most shows to be over and the theatre vacated by 2am-ish.

Want to know more about this comedy club? Check out..

http://www.unclevinniescomedyclub.com/

At our next meeting we will hear from Dominick Griffo who currently runs the bar "Under the Boardwalk" on Hylan Blvd. He will be opening a sports bar at 702 New Dorp Lane across from field 4 in Miller Field. Dominick hopes to be open for business by late summer. He will have wide screen televisions and a juke box. No live music.

Last night and throughout today on NY1 you saw the new project – Safe Streets for Seniors - by the Staten Island DOT. Borough Commissioner Tom Cocola presented the project at Community Board #2 last night. The designs will work to provide safer crossings of Hylan Blvd. for seniors and students. You can see all the details of the project at the DOT website. You can key the following to find additional details:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/safeseniors_hylan_newdorp_si.pdf

It would have been nice if the Aging Committee of CB2 had been given a heads-up on this project. They discussed safety for seniors on Hylan Blvd at length over the past few years focusing much of their discussion on getting the buses to alter their routes so that seniors would not have to cross Hylan Blvd to get to the shopping plazas. And it would have been nice if our Association had been contacted prior to the announcement. Indeed.

And remember, Joshua Jakob will be our guest speaker at our May meeting – May 21 – to talk about the History of New Dorp Beach. Yep, May 21 will focus mainly on New Dorp Beach.

Mark your calendars. Bring your neighbors.

> Joe Markowski

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

702 New Dorp Lane Update

Tonight at the Area 2 Committee meeting of Community Board 2 we heard from the man who is planning on opening a sports bar at 702 New Dorp Lane. His name is Dominick Griffo and he is the current owner of Boardwalk Pub at 1719 Hylan Blvd.

We have checked with both CB2 and the 122 Precinct and Mr.Griffo has run a very reputable operation at 1719 Hylan.

His current plan is to purchase the building at 702 NDL along with his brother. He will be living there in one of the two apartments on the second floor. He expects the establishment to hold between 100 and 110 people although no formal floor plans have been drafted.

He can set up the establishment at 702 "as of right".

... and he has offered to attend our May meeting and explain his proposal to our Association.

Would you be interested in having him at our meeting?

We are already scheduled to have Joshua Jakob speak on the history of New Dorp Beach... so May 21 will be New Dorp Beach night at the Civic Association.

Mark your calendars. Plan on attending the meeting with your concerns and interests.

Let me know what you think.

> Joe Markowski

Monday, April 13, 2009

Its April and Our Meeting Is Thursday

Greetings… well they say that April showers bring mayflowers… (and we all know what mayflowers bring… ) So enough already. Bring on the warmer weather!

This month we will hear from someone who is interested in opening a Comedy Club in the Lane Theatre – Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club. Dino Ibelli and his brother already operate two clubs/restaurants in New Jersey and are looking to open a location here on Staten Island. Plan on attending and bring your neighbors and friends. It is a chance for you to get answers to your questions and make your views known.

In May we will have a special guest – Joshua Jakob - who will provide us with a history of the New Dorp Beach area. So mark your calendar now and plan to be at our meetings so you can hear these presentations and get your questions answered.

I have asked… What will you do to strengthen this organization and make its voice more robust? Share your ideas and thoughts with us. Send an email to newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or leave a voicemail at
718-979-6011.

Lastly, we continued our Dining Through New Dorp program March 24 with a visit to King’s Chef. It was our 46th meal in support of our neighborhood restaurants and good conversation. See chitchat for details.

We meet monthly on the third Thursday of each month. Our meeting this month is Thursday, April 16, 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