Free Community Shredding TODAY Saturday November 5th.

Costa Constantinides invites residents to a free community shredding event where you can shred you bulk sensitive documents at one time!

Plus help kick off the fall season -same place & time - by donating to the Canned Food Drive. Event info here: Shredding & Food Drive

Sean's Place: Like Us For Help!

Sean's Place Park Needs Help: check out post on facebook

NNA Sean's Place Clean UP #6 on CB1 FY2013 Funds List

Great News!

NNA's recommendations submitted to Community Board 1 Queens for FY2013 Capital Budget Expenditures to spruce up Sean's Place Park (38th Street near 31st Avenue) made #6 on CB1's list of 30 as deserving of improvement funds!

NNA interviewed parents and youths who use the park for input. Number one request was for better lighting and supervision. All those interviewed said they would like to see a general cleaning up of this heavily used recreation area: painting worn playground equipment, removing the ugly trash pile behind basketball fence, new attractive park trash receptacles, replacing dead tree stumps with new trees, nets for the basketball hoops, addressing the big dirt area that is currently used as both a play area and bathroom and repainting the lines on the basketball court.



One idea for dirt area replanting and beautification: use simple, raised wood garden beds along the fence and a few scattered raised wood containers with plants in the dirt area. Add benches for seating.

Check back for updates!

The photo below is of our sad park in need of help.

SMART PHONE THEFT ALERT

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS WHEN USING SMART PHONE

A Norwood Gardens resident wanted to alert neighbors of daytime cell theft: While walking past Sean's Place on 38th Street near 31st Avenue last week, reading messages on their phone, a biker sped by and swiped the cell from their hands.

The incident was reported to the 114 Precinct. The police said this is the 2nd incident of cell theft near Sean's place in recent weeks.

Take care and be aware of your surroundings when using your smart phone.

Enclosed photos were submitted to CB1 Queens Capital Improvement recommendation for 30th Avenue. Trees are important resources and need help to stay healthy. Many trees are in spaces they've over grown years ago. These pits need to be enlarged. Fences around pits along with plantings not only add beauty to our neighborhood, but help protect trees from damage, dog leave behinds and litter. We hope these photos will help build awareness and encourage respect for the trees we are lucky to have.

Racoon Alert 31st Avenue and 36th Street

A HUGE racoon was spotted running under a car and into an alley on the north side 31st Avenue near 36th Street this evening. Take care to secure trash and garbage as racoons are huge scavengers. This is a population to discourage as they can be dangerous.

Screen Shot From BBC World Challenge Site

History is being made, right here in our neighborhood!

Brooklyn Grange is an amazing new urban farming model. This one acre urban roof farm is located at 37-18 Northern Boulevard at 38th Street in Astoria / Long Island City.

Brooklyn Grange is one of 11 finalists in the BBC's World Challenge reward of $10,000 - $20,000. Check out the site and vote to support this new, amazing urban farming model.

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/finalists/7/Vertigo-Farming

If you are an urban beekeeper or are considering becoming one, check out this exciting event hosted by NYC Beekeepers Association featuring Michael Leung, Founder and Creative Director of HK Honey - Hong Kong. Michael will be sharing urban beekeeping stories and experiences along with a multimedia photo and video presentation.

Michael Leung visiting Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm in Astoria, Queens

New York City Beekeepers Association Meeting Time & Place

Seafarers & International House
Tuesday, October 4th
7pm-9pm
123 East 15th Street

Here's a little experiment NNA tried out on 36th Street! A planted tree pit gets more respect in this neighborhood. Try a minimal investment of wire fence from Home Depot plus a few hardy perennial plants and see what happens (or doesn't !) One little neighborhood pit was transformed from sad, dirtly and depressing to happy and planted with much less litter and less doggie leave behinds. We can make our streets more beautiful. Try this experiment on your street and send us a photo and report to post.

Capital Improvements in Astoria: Road!

There was big action on 30th Avenue at 7:30 AM. Impressive road crews had all the heavy machinery out tearing up the old, cracked asphalt and shooting it into one of many ready to haul away dump trucks. The newly scraped road is prep for capital improvement by way of fresh asphalt. Astoria will look great!

First Annual Honey Festival! Here's an exciting fall festival for everyone! Get you bee costumes out (for kids of all ages!) and head out to Rockaway! Astoria's Brooklyn Grange announces the first Annual Honey Festival hosted by Rockaway Beach Club. There will be something for all ages: costumes, prizes, tastings, music. Check it out and save the date: September 17th.

If you haven't had a chance to check out Astoria's very own farm, market day is every Wednesday 2 - 6. You can't find fresher veggies than here - exotic ones too!

Rally, MONDAY August 1st - Don't Close Grand Ave Post Office

Community organizer Costa Constantinides has called out to Astoria residents to join together tomorrow to try and keep open the Grand Station Post office. The rally is tomorrow, Monday @ 6:30. For anyone who uses the Grand Ave or Broadway Branches you know how crowded and under served residents are here in Astoria.

Yoga in Socrates Park Saturdays & Astoria Pool!

Get in shape with yoga and Pilates at Socrates Park: right around the corner on the East River!


Astoria Pool is getting in shape as well. Workers are fixing, repairing and painting our deco pool so it will be ready for summer fun. Free!

Stand up for your library!

Your local branch needs your help and support. Take a few seconds and sign this online petition here. Pass it around. Our free libraries are a treasure and need our help.

We Heart HourChildren Vintage Store in Astoria

This evening we met Pat Gallo, Thrift Store coordinator for the Not-For-Profit Hour Children "Love Makes A Difference" Thrift shops. The store is an amazing shop chock-a-block full of every kind of magic and inspiration: exotic fabrics, chests full of vintage fine china, a 1940's Japanese tea set, fine crystal, antiques, yarns, vintage clothing, beautiful childrens' books and so much more! One could spend hours browsing. Best of all, proceeds benefit the children of women in prison.

The 36th Avenue shop, one of three Hour Children thrift stores, is located at 25-09 36th Avenue and definitely worth checking out.

Queensboro Art Studios' (QAS) artists are getting ready for Open Studios weekend. Open Studios is the culminating event of a week long, Long Island City Arts Festival.

This year LICAO has expanded to include not only Open Studios, but music, theater and culinary arts as well! May 14th - 22nd promises to be an exciting week in LIC!

The two maps below are to help you find Queensboro Art Studios:

1) A close-up map of the QAS neighborhood
2) A bigger map for those coming from out of town

The Queensboro Art Studios loft building is located 2 blocks north the Queensboro Bridge on 21st Street in Long Island City (LIC) and a 5 minute drive from the Triboro Bridge.
Street parking is plentiful.

QAS is also close to all NYC public transportation; buses, subways and the Queensboro Bridge bike path!!! So ride on over.

For additional Long Island City Open 2011 Arts festival Information click here

We look forward to seeing you!

Gray Zone Parking Complaint to DOT

Great News!!! NNA has had tremendous success over the past three months in reaching out to local businesses to help solve illegal parking in community easements. With the exception of one business there has been 99% cooperation and the community drive is now nearly 100% free and clear.

The "Gray Zone" parking is NNA's next challenge. NNA contacted The Department of Transportation requesting the installation of 4 new signs and painting "Gray zones" next to the community drives yellow. Parked cars jutting into the drives restrict view of oncoming traffic as many residents have reported (see photo above) causing a dangerous situation.

All suggestions welcome.

Robert De Niro on 30th Avenue

Lights, camera, action! Movie magic came to 30th Avenue Astoria this evening.

As crowds gathered around The First Capital Savings Bank a cherry picker outfitted with a megawatt movie light shined right on De Niro seen wearing a trench coat and brown hat as a crew filmed him making out a deposit slip. All day long 18 wheelers arrived and catering trucks parked along the side streets all getting ready for filming "Another Night". Hollywood East Astoria residents had fun and enjoyed the excitement of big time picture making.

Gasland Screening in Astoria, Queens at MOMI

James F. Gennaro, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas,
President United Community Civic Association, Rose Marie Poveromo

This evening's screening of Gasland at The Museum Moving Image in Astoria, Queens was very well attended. The movie raises serious questions and concerns about whether our government is moving too quickly and not being responsible regarding a potential environmental disaster right here, close to home.

Every resident needs to be aware of the big energy issues and risks involved with natural gas extraction through fracking. What laws and safeguards should be in place to protect the drinking water of over 8,000,000 residents of New York City? Which of our elected officials are opposed to fracking or pro fracking?

How has natural gas extraction affected cities and residents across the United States to date? Does New York want a wild west grab-all run by gas corporations responsible for protecting our waterways and drinking water?

These critical issues must not slip by as the consequences could be dire. Corporations need to be environmentally and ethically responsible. Residents need to stand up for their rights.

Write Governor Cuomo to ban fracking in the Marcellus Shale or place a moratorium on fracking until more conclusive information is forthcoming.

Gasland: Grave Health Concerns & Fracking CALL TO ACTION

" The industry is currently exempt from Clean Water Act standards, and companies are not even required to disclose exactly what their fracking fluids contain."



NYC residents need to know about the hydraulic fracturing plan for the Catskills and the grave consequences fracking risks with NYC's drinking water.



GASLAND (a documentary) will be shown at Museum of the Moving Image, Thursday, 3/24 @ 6 PM, free! This is a critical issue for all New York City residents.

PBS - Poll (Vote Yes, No, Don't Know)

See you there!



Wiki

NPR

Mother Jones

Vanity Fair on Fracking's Dirty Secret

Queensboro Bridge rename? NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Norwood Neighborhood Association residents in Astoria, Queens say NO!!

The Queensboro Bridge (also known as The 59th Street Bridge) appears in films, literature and songs. The connection and identification with the Borough of Queens is strong. Why, Why WHY would the Mayor even consider renaming it the Ed Koch Bridge? His contributions toward saving NYC's bridges is extremely laudable but perhaps Former Mayor Koch would be happy with recognition in a more modest and less controversial idea.

Would the city think for even a milli-second of renaming the Brooklyn Bridge the Ed Koch Bridge? NO Chance! The Queensboro Bridge is the gateway to our borough and cultural symbol beloved by Queens residents.

Renaming the Triboro Bridge cost about $4 million dollars. Though the city plans to raise funds from private sources, wouldn't you think a city in fiscal crisis might have a better way to spend a few million dollars? How about on schools, parks, transit?

Mayor Bloomberg, you don't want to be remembered by the people of New York City's largest borough as the Mayor who took away our bridge, do you?

Norwood Neighborhood Association says NO to renaming the Queensboro Bridge.

Parking Frustration among Residents

3/20/11 Update: Good news!! The parking situation is much improved with nearly 99% cooperation. "Cars towed at owner's expense" signs were recently ordered and will be installed soon. Once in place, any cars parked in the easement will be immediately towed by Spanky's Asset Recovery.

Norwood Neighborhood Association has contacted DOT to install a NO PARKING sign to STOP cars from parking in 35th, 36th and 37th Street gray zones: one gray zone is next to Frank's Bakery, between the last parking meter and before the community drive exit. The other gray zone is on the opposite side of the street at the exit near Astoria Lock as well as similar locations on 35th and 37th Streets.

Cars parked in the gray zones create dangerous situations by drastically decreasing visibility of oncoming traffic when exiting the community drive.

Cars parked in the gray zones also jut out into the drives make turning into and out of the community easement exits difficult. This situation is extremely annoying and has caused a lot of frustration among residents as the drives are heavily used every day.

The short bit of curb in front of the last parking meters right before the drives do not have enough space for a car to park comfortably. Therefore, fronts of the cars jut out into the exit areas often blocking as much as 30 - 40% (see photos) and sometimes the whole exit.

Frequently, the cars parked in the gray zone are near-by business owners' vehicles or patrons of local 36th Street and 30th Avenue shops.

Norwood Neighborhood Association has reached out to local business owners re the gray zone parking as well as parking behind stores in the easements as well. The good news is the the community and NNA has had 99% cooperation from all but one business owner who refused to park legally.

Seven Prancing horses on 36th Street

Seven sidestepping, prancing horses stopped traffic on 36th Street and drew onlookers as the horses and riders made their way up 31st Avenue.

"Hey, who are you guys?" we yelled out, thinking there was a rodeo somewhere. "Just a family out riding".

Only in New York!

CB1 March 15 - Sidewalk Permit Application 37-11 30th Ave

March 15, 2011 CB1 agenda

MexiQ a bar / restaurant is applying to CB1 for seating of 37 seats / 11 tables in front of MexiQ at 37-11 30th Avenue. Lounges and nightspots have had a huge impact for residents in the community. CB1 will hold a hearing March 15th @ 7PM Astoria Manor.

Please submit comments to norwood.astoria@gmail.com - it is important to know how the community feels about additional outdoor seating, liquor licenses and their impact on the community.

NNA will have 3 representatives at CB1 commenting on behalf of Norwood Gardens residents.

The public is welcome to attend CB1 and share their comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection said due to a serious water main break at 30-86 36th Street in Norwood Gardens, the water main will be shut off so repairs can be made. Predictions are the water will be off starting around 12:30 PM for 1 - 2 hours. A patch will be placed over the break.

Spring Registration for Astoria CSA - Community Supported Agriculture

Today, more than ever, New York City residents have many opportunities and choices for eating locally grown produce. Interest in locally sourced and sustainable agriculture has grown: please read here and here for information.

here are many benefits to buying local and Astoria / Long Island City has a number of CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) available to residents. Now is the time to register. Google "Astoria CSA" for a CSA close to you or click on the link below for Astoria CSA. Registration is this week.

Astoria CSA registration takes place March 10, 2011, so check it out.Astoria CSA

Water Lead Test Kit Request

Living in older buildings there is often a worry about lead in drinking water.
New York City offers free lead test kits to residents concerned about lead
in their drinking water. Kits can be ordered through New York City online 311 here

Steven Holls Comes to Queens!

One of the gutsiest architects is building in Queens right around the corner in neighboring Hunts Point. New York TImes article can be read here

Museum Of The Moving Image: Exciting!

The MOMI upgrade is dazzling: beautiful, futuristic architecture including TWO screening rooms. Not only is there new space for incoming exhibits, but the old is fresh. Don't forget to check out the Star Wars memorabilia!!!

Petiton TO 30th Avenue Business Owners: Blocked Communal Easement

A CALL TO ACTION !
_____________________________________

Communal road access is being compromised
Residents want to stop cars from parking in community drives

Norwood Gardens homes share two communal thoroughfares, sometimes referred to as easements, right-of-ways, community drives or service alleys. These drives run between 35th - 36th and 36th - 37th Streets from 30th to 31st Avenues. The Norwood easements were built and intended as access roads for residents, Emergency Service Vehicles and sanitation trucks.

When built, the 30th Avenue business properties had garages in back of the buildings. Business owners could use their garages for personal parking. The majority of the buildings on the south side of 30th Avenue, between 35 and 36th Street, no longer have garages. The property owners maximized their usable space and converted garages into business space.

With out a garage for parking, one or two business owners began using communal drives as personal parking spots despite resident protest.

Not only were those parking in the drives causing inconvenience to many people on a daily basis but more critically, the parked cars are blocking Emergency Service Vehicles from entering the drives. Unfortunately the protests,concerns and inconvenience expressed by residents fell on deaf ears.

With the recent accumulations of ice and snow, getting past the parked cars became a huge problem for many people so Norwood residents have put out a CALL TO ACTION and are Petitioning to Stop Cars from Parking in Communal Drives.

Please help support your neighbors and the Norwood community by adding your name to the petition, please include your name and address. In 1 day 30 signatures have been collected. To add your name e-mail us:

norwood.astoria@gmail.com

Thank you!