Happy New Year! I hope you had an enjoyable holiday season. I know I had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.
As we move into 2010 I want to remind you that we will not have a meeting in January. We will be putting out a newsletter and our first meeting for 2010 will be on Thursday, February 18, 2010. Mark your calendars and plan on attending and bringing a neighbor. Can’t you give two hours a month to your community? Think about it.
So what’s been happening? Councilman Oddo relocated to South Avenue, Uncle Vinnies Comedy Club continues bringing laughter to our neighborhood, the new cafes on New Dorp Plaza – Andrew’s and Domenick’s – are offering fine foods, Ocean3 has been replaced by Francesca’s Steak House, winter has delivered us some very cold weather, and there are a host of programs being offered for our entertainment and to expand our knowledge.
Over the next few days we will be talking about those and other topics. What should you do if you see a deer in our neighborhood? Has Gene’s Deli really closed? Have the changes on Hylan Blvd made that road safer to cross? What will become of Cedar Grove?
And did you notice the interview with Theresa Myrhol on the NYPL’s web page? Remember Theresa? She managed our branch library on New Dorp Lane for years and is now the Seward Park Library Network Manager. Theresa makes an interesting observation when she states: “One has to think beyond the traditional four walls of the library. Embracing the opportunities that social networking brings is essential. It is a vehicle that fosters new relationships with users while strengthening existing partnerships. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook and video will continue to shape and expand ways to share the wealth of information The New York Public Library has to offer.” We too need to look beyond the “traditional walls” that define our association. Meetings and newsletters remain a vibrant part of our outreach. However as this blog recognizes, there are new ways that we must reach out if we are to remain relevant in our community.
An important part of this dynamic is your feedback and participation. We need your comments, your concerns, your suggestions, your complaints. It is your neighborhood. What is on your mind?
Let us know at 718-979-6011, newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com or comment here on the blog.
See you around the neighborhood.
> Joe Markowski
Showing posts with label Cedar Grove. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cedar Grove. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Rose, Cedar and Our Meeting
Just a few quick things...
The speed bump requested for Rose Avenue by the residents of that block was approved by Community Board 2 last night. The concern centers around New Dorp Baptist School and the children who enter and leave that facility. The request will now be forwarded to the Department of Transportation who will conduct their study on the feasability and need for that item.
The letter to Commissioner Benepe of the NYC Department of Parks by our elected officials has not yet been responded to.
And we will be having our monthly meeting Thursday night at 8pm in the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road. During that meeting we will be celebrating the holidays following our conduct of business.
If I don't see you (and even if I do) have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!
> Joe Markowski
The speed bump requested for Rose Avenue by the residents of that block was approved by Community Board 2 last night. The concern centers around New Dorp Baptist School and the children who enter and leave that facility. The request will now be forwarded to the Department of Transportation who will conduct their study on the feasability and need for that item.
The letter to Commissioner Benepe of the NYC Department of Parks by our elected officials has not yet been responded to.
And we will be having our monthly meeting Thursday night at 8pm in the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road. During that meeting we will be celebrating the holidays following our conduct of business.
If I don't see you (and even if I do) have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!
> Joe Markowski
Friday, December 11, 2009
Our Electeds Challenge the Commish
The ball now appears to be in the court of the Commissioner of Parks. Our elected officials – Congressman McMahon with Councilmen Jim Oddo, Vin Ignizio and Ken Mitchell – have sent a letter to Commissioner Benepe asking him to delay the eviction order for a minimum of a year.
I wanted to share their request with you. As you can see in the following letter our electeds are in vehement disagreement with this action. Here is their letter:
December 9, 2009
Mr. Adrian Benepe, Commissioner
NYC Parks Department
Central Park – The Arsenal
830 Fifth Avenue
New York , NY 10065
RE: Cedar Grove Beach Club
Dear Commissioner Benepe:
We would like to take this opportunity to address the termination of the license agreements for our constituents in the Cedar Grove Beach Club. As you may or may not remember, we had written you on August 11th requesting a five year extension for the inhabitants. We received your written response on September 18th in which you stated that “once you received a briefing from your legal department you will be able to more fully address this situation”.
Apparently, that briefing has taken place because our constituents received certified letters dated December 1st from Staten Island Parks Borough Commissioner Thomas Paulo informing them that their license agreements have been terminated effective December 31st, 2009. Additionally, New York City Parks is mandating that they remove all of their personal belongings no later than the end of this month.
While we vehemently disagree with your decision to terminate these agreements at this time, it is even more outrageous that the Parks Department is essentially evicting these families with less than one months notice. It is patently unfair to demand that they be expected to remove their personal items during the holiday season. Our constituent Edith Holtermann summed it up perfectly in today’s edition of the Staten Island Advance:
“They are Scrooges to do this at this time of year, when we are so busy and it's so cold there. To go and try and get everything out at this time is so difficult," said Edith Holtermann, who has spent all her 72 summers at Cedar Grove Beach .
As you well know, this community has existed for over 100 years and many of these homes have passed down from generation to generation. You just cannot expect them to pack up all of that history without ample notice. Additionally, we would like to know what exactly NYC Parks has planned for this site. These property owners have maintained these grounds impeccably at their own expense. NYC Parks has been maintaining the adjacent properties ( New Dorp & Oakwood Beach ). We encourage you to go take a look and see who has done a better job. In the same article I referenced above in the Staten Island Advance; a NYC Parks spokesperson stated, “The plans are not ready to release. I do not have the details”.
Therefore, we would like to request that you rescind your termination of these license agreements. The residents should be granted an extension at a minimum of one year with the understanding that NYC Parks is planning to open this property up to the general public in the future. NYC Parks simply needs to communicate with our offices and these residents in a much more open fashion regarding the future of this property. The families that have invested so much to that community deserve a certain level of communication and honesty in return.
We would like to thank you for your re-consideration of this matter and would welcome the opportunity to speak with you regarding the future of this property in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Michael E. McMahon Vincent Ignizio
Congressman, NY-13 Councilman, 51st District
James S. Oddo Kenneth C. Mitchell
Councilman, 50th District Councilman, 49th District
CC: SI Borough Commissioner Thomas A. Paulo
*************************
How will the commissioner respond?
Share your comments with us.
Comment on this blog, call us at 718-979-6011 and leave a voicemail or email us at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com.
> Joe Markowski
I wanted to share their request with you. As you can see in the following letter our electeds are in vehement disagreement with this action. Here is their letter:
December 9, 2009
Mr. Adrian Benepe, Commissioner
NYC Parks Department
Central Park – The Arsenal
830 Fifth Avenue
New York , NY 10065
RE: Cedar Grove Beach Club
Dear Commissioner Benepe:
We would like to take this opportunity to address the termination of the license agreements for our constituents in the Cedar Grove Beach Club. As you may or may not remember, we had written you on August 11th requesting a five year extension for the inhabitants. We received your written response on September 18th in which you stated that “once you received a briefing from your legal department you will be able to more fully address this situation”.
Apparently, that briefing has taken place because our constituents received certified letters dated December 1st from Staten Island Parks Borough Commissioner Thomas Paulo informing them that their license agreements have been terminated effective December 31st, 2009. Additionally, New York City Parks is mandating that they remove all of their personal belongings no later than the end of this month.
While we vehemently disagree with your decision to terminate these agreements at this time, it is even more outrageous that the Parks Department is essentially evicting these families with less than one months notice. It is patently unfair to demand that they be expected to remove their personal items during the holiday season. Our constituent Edith Holtermann summed it up perfectly in today’s edition of the Staten Island Advance:
“They are Scrooges to do this at this time of year, when we are so busy and it's so cold there. To go and try and get everything out at this time is so difficult," said Edith Holtermann, who has spent all her 72 summers at Cedar Grove Beach .
As you well know, this community has existed for over 100 years and many of these homes have passed down from generation to generation. You just cannot expect them to pack up all of that history without ample notice. Additionally, we would like to know what exactly NYC Parks has planned for this site. These property owners have maintained these grounds impeccably at their own expense. NYC Parks has been maintaining the adjacent properties ( New Dorp & Oakwood Beach ). We encourage you to go take a look and see who has done a better job. In the same article I referenced above in the Staten Island Advance; a NYC Parks spokesperson stated, “The plans are not ready to release. I do not have the details”.
Therefore, we would like to request that you rescind your termination of these license agreements. The residents should be granted an extension at a minimum of one year with the understanding that NYC Parks is planning to open this property up to the general public in the future. NYC Parks simply needs to communicate with our offices and these residents in a much more open fashion regarding the future of this property. The families that have invested so much to that community deserve a certain level of communication and honesty in return.
We would like to thank you for your re-consideration of this matter and would welcome the opportunity to speak with you regarding the future of this property in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Michael E. McMahon Vincent Ignizio
Congressman, NY-13 Councilman, 51st District
James S. Oddo Kenneth C. Mitchell
Councilman, 50th District Councilman, 49th District
CC: SI Borough Commissioner Thomas A. Paulo
*************************
How will the commissioner respond?
Share your comments with us.
Comment on this blog, call us at 718-979-6011 and leave a voicemail or email us at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com.
> Joe Markowski
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Bullets and Cedar Grove
It seems that news in New Dorp runs in cycles and we are now amidst one of those cycles.
You could talk about bullets being shot through the front windows of two stores across from Miller Field. During the early morning hours. Sure seems strange. Fortunately no one was hurt. But it still seems strange. And there was no cause? No message being sent? It was motiveless?
And then there was the news about the Cedar Grove Beach property and the city’s intention to oust the current tenants and make changes.
My first question is… to what purpose? And other questions come to mind… Why end the leases now? What is the plan for the property? And was it really necessary to give them only 30 days notice to vacate? What are the plans for the property? If this is something that they have been considering for a while then they must have a number of options in mind. Why the secrecy? Telling me that they want to link Oakwood and Midland Beaches tells me little. That is the view from 30,000 feet. But how does that look at the street level? What exactly will happen? What will we see? And how soon? Was it necessary to evict the tenants to achieve those goals? And where will the money come from? Parks did not have enough money to plant a wide variety of flowers in New Dorp Beach Park as they did the first year and they will now be undertaking this?
Yep… still too many questions.
That’s what I think. What do you think?
> Joe Markowski
You could talk about bullets being shot through the front windows of two stores across from Miller Field. During the early morning hours. Sure seems strange. Fortunately no one was hurt. But it still seems strange. And there was no cause? No message being sent? It was motiveless?
And then there was the news about the Cedar Grove Beach property and the city’s intention to oust the current tenants and make changes.
My first question is… to what purpose? And other questions come to mind… Why end the leases now? What is the plan for the property? And was it really necessary to give them only 30 days notice to vacate? What are the plans for the property? If this is something that they have been considering for a while then they must have a number of options in mind. Why the secrecy? Telling me that they want to link Oakwood and Midland Beaches tells me little. That is the view from 30,000 feet. But how does that look at the street level? What exactly will happen? What will we see? And how soon? Was it necessary to evict the tenants to achieve those goals? And where will the money come from? Parks did not have enough money to plant a wide variety of flowers in New Dorp Beach Park as they did the first year and they will now be undertaking this?
Yep… still too many questions.
That’s what I think. What do you think?
> Joe Markowski
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