Oh Deer... Literally !!

I wanted to share an incredible story that I was told tonight at the Community Board meeting. Last Thursday morning, a colleague was waiting for the 15X express bus at Amboy Road and First Street when he was suddenly confronted by a large male deer. Yep, a full-antlered, multi-point buck. There was a brief moment of indecision for my friend as he was confronted with this relative of sweet Bambi. What do you do? The animal is significantly larger than you are. And there is no place to hide. Fortunately he was rescued by the approaching express bus which provided the necessary shelter.

This same person said that a few days earlier his wife had seen a large male deer at the top of New Dorp Lane by the gas station. Was that deer also waiting for the bus? Do we need to supply our deer population with Metrocards? Or will we need to provide shelters at the bus stops to protect our citizens? Perhaps the merchants are planning on gracing the Lane with live reindeer this holiday season instead of the traditional streetlights. Wow.

You have to love this neighborhood!

> Joe Markowski

Meeting Notice (Its Tomorrow Oct 15)) and other Comments

So here comes the second newsletter of the new year and we are already feeling the first touches of Autumn. It is dark in the morning when we rise and the sun sets so much earlier than it did just a few short weeks ago. I don’t know what it is about sunlight but its absence makes everything seem not quite as full of life.

The newsletter last month was a little different from the usual fare. It was more of a call for some dialogue or a quest for suggestions than anything else. And in all candor it did not elicit a great outpouring of comments or suggestions.

I ended my remarks last month by asking for three things. Well, our membership renewal envelopes have been mailed so I hope you will take out a few minutes and renew your commitment to this community. I then asked that you let me know what you think. Hey, don’t be bashful. Let me have it! What ideas do you have? And lastly I asked each of you to pass along the enclosed membership form to a neighbor and ask them to join. Remember? Let me refresh your memory.

I am going to ask you for three things:
Renew your membership in our organization. At $18 per year that is a little less than 5 cents per day.
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.
Pass the enclosed membership application to someone in the New Dorp area and encourage them to join.

Our guest speaker this month will be David Shear from LifeWorks. What is LifeWorks? It is a Wellness Arts Center providing holistic healthcare for body, mind, heart, and spirit. What does all that mean and how does it pertain to you? Come join us and find out. Thursday. October 15. 8pm at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post at 2750 Amboy Road.

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 Thursday November 12 – not Wednesday November 11 as originally mentioned - 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.

An article in October 7th’s NYTimes talks about declining involvement in our civic life. Specifically it talks about the poor turnout for the runoff in the Democratic primary. In a number of polling districts not a single voter showed up. Zero. None. Let’s make sure we do not suffer the same fate here in our community.

I sometimes worry about these appeals. Isn’t it like preaching to the choir? Well, 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

*************************************************************************************************************
Our next meeting is Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Kells-Grennie American Legion Post, 2750 Amboy Rd at 8pm.

More Movie Info

Speaking of entertainment and films, there is some equipment temporarily being placed on the former Frank's/A&P/Waldbaum's property on NDLane that is being used by Columbia Pictures. They are filming a movie - starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg (?) - at various locations throughout Staten Island and they needed a spot to locate some of their equipment for a short period of time. Thought you might like to know.

> Joe

Excitement in New Dorp: Movies and Parades

And for those of you who do not feel there is enough excitement in our neighborhood, how about the movie they are filming on Sterling Avenue by Clawson? It’s for a Feature Film Production entitled “The Other Guys”. Current plans call for them to be taking everything down on Friday.

Sunday is the 19th Annual Columbus Day Parade up New Dorp Lane sponsored by Borough President Jim Molinaro. Plan now on watching this wonderful event which starts at 1pm at New Dorp High School. The Grand Marshall this year is the Honorable Thomas D’Addone , Mayor of Crespina, Italy. Make sure we line the streets of the Lane as we welcome this wonderful event.

Lastly, our dues envelopes are in the mail. Please renew your membership and invite a neighbor to join. This is a terrific community and we need to remain strong and protect it.

Have news to share? Need a membership application? Leave a message at 718-979-6011 or email us at newdorpcentralcivic@yahoo.com.

> Joe Markowski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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