Get Ready For Spring 2011

It's hard to believe but spring is just around the corner!

Norwood Neighborhood Association is planning ahead and hoping to have another successful Spring Clean up on Saturday, April 30th, 2011. So please mark your calendars (rain day May 1, 2011). Let's show we can do it again**, come on out and help make our neighborhood look beautiful.

In an effort to do more in spring 2011, NNA has applied for a Love Your Block award to provide funds for basic materials: Steel fencing for 39 tree pits - to keep doggies off the newly planted trees provided by the city this past spring - as sadly not every pet owner picks up; 5 flats of 50 ivy plants for tree pits that have enough dirt for planting - plants help absorb excess water run off from heavy rains as well as provide greenery; non- latex gloves for our volunteers and lastly "Pick Up After Your Dog" signs for our community to encourage awareness and cleaning up with local pet owners. NYC Parks Department will provide mulch, sanitation will provide cleaning supplies and trash removal, and there's even the possibility the the city can provide graffiti removal to our crews.

Have a well maintained block will help encourage those visiting our community to respect our streets and not leave behind so much careless trash. A cared for street also encourages those who are not picking up after their pets to be more conscientious. Creating a more beautiful neighborhood will encourage others to help us sustain a more cared for and livable community.


So, keep your fingers crossed and send some magic, body English and let's hope NNA will be awarded a Love Your Block Award, because "We Love Our Blocks!"

** See last Year's (2010) successful clean up!

Dear Neighbors,

Identity theft can be the cause of major problems and a nightmare to fix. Document shredding is a headache too. Who has the time to sit and shred piles of sensitive papers? There are document shredding services but they usually start at about $80.

Costa Constantinides and Anne Marie Anzalone of the Powhatan Democratic Club and ProShred Security have generously invited the community to a free paper shredding and recycling event this weekend. Their invite with date, times and place are below.
This is a great opportunity to finally get rid of those mountains of documents you're too afraid to throw in the regular trash.

____________________________________________________

Free Community Shredding This Weekend!

Saturday November 6
10 AM - 1PM
Powhatan Democratic Club
41-05 Newtown Road
Astoria, 11103

Join Democratic District Leaders Costa Constantinides and AnneMarie Anzalone along with the Powhatan Regular Democratic Club and Proshred Security for a FREE community shredding and recycling event to help combat identity theft and increase paper recycling.

Sponsored by Democratic District Leaders Costa Constantinides and AnneMarie Anzalone and Powhatan Democratic Club

The federal trade commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Almost 70 percent of those cases are from paper documents getting into the wrong hands.

Keeping important documents that contain personal information such as social security numbers, bank statements, and other financial forms may put you at risk of identity theft. Shredding your personal papers is an easy way to make sure you are not victimized and recycle this paper.

This provides you with a safe, environmental sound way to dispose of these papers.

For more information call 917-716-4540 or powhatan01@gmail.com

___________________________________________________________


Go Green!

Demapping 36th Street @ 35th Avenue

Astoria residents are very unhappy with the city's plan to close (demap) 36th Street between 34th Avenue and 35th Avenue for the benefit of private enterprise: Kaufman Astoria Studios. Loss of street parking and removing a main thoroughfare will cause additional problems for residents as well as for students attending nearby schools; congestion and more congestion. Then there's inconvenience and the certain quality of life impact on residents resulting from an even bigger, more active studio.

Bringing big business to Astoria is positive and optimistically will provide services benefiting the residents and community at large. As long the studio is a good neighbor and realizes people live near the studio and that late night spots for crews working around the clock and noise from production units would be unwelcome.

If NYC is leasing the street and sidewalks - essentially public easements - for an undisclosed amount until 2049, for the exclusive use and benefit of private enterprise then some of the revenue the city makes should benefit the residents of Astoria by giving back in ways that will improve quality of life. If public areas are taken away a beautiful public space could be provided.
If 40 street parking spots are removed perhaps above ground parking facility will help in a heavily congested area. How about studio tours for families? Currently Kaufman Astoria is not open to the public.

If the demapping is approved, residents hope the studio will be a considerate neighbor.

The Demapping & Closing of 36th Street

Tonight CB1 held a public hearing re the demapping of 36th Street between 34th Avenue and 35th Avenue as Kaufman Astoria Studios hopes to expand. This is a very controversial move and has upset residents who are worried about how closing a major street (36th street) will affect parking, traffic and congestion in Astoria.

The public was invited to share their thoughts at CB1 this evening on how the closing of 36th Street will impact residents and the community at large. CB1 will vote and make their recommendation.

Water Main Break 36th Street

For months Norwood residents have been very concerned with the sound of gushing water heard underground on 36th Street near 31st Avenue. It started about 5 months ago and sounded like a giant open tap, gushing 100's of gallons of water per second.

Worried about a broken main and taxpayer money "going down the drain" numerous calls were made to 311 to get the situation evaluated and repaired. The upshot was, no complaint could be taken (said 311 supervisors!) as water was not visible on the street. Even though residents insisted that this was a new sound, and probably due to damage from construction sites near by, 311 would not put in an order for repair.

For those concerned about the endless sound of rushing water, the DEP finally arrived today. Crews have been working all day, into the night to fix what they called a water main break. Water will be shut off for a few hours Tuesday October 19th in order to make the repair. Hopefully the disturbing sound of gushing water will now be water under the bridge.

Astoria Free Tree Gave Away October 2, 2010

Happy Trees Make a Healthier And More Beautiful World

NYC Anti Crime Tree Giveaway is in Astoria this weekend. For time and place click here.

Here are a few tips to help your new tree survive in the city.

Welcome Home: Give your new tree a good home. A hole that is two to three times wider but no deeper than the tree's root ball is a great start. Be sure to plant your new tree right away so the roots won’t dry out.

Good Dirt Pays: Soil that is hard and compact means roots can’t breath. Before planting your new tree, loosen the soil with a shovel or gardening tool. Add mulch, peat moss or other organic material to help soil breath, keep in moisture and slow soil compaction.

Quench: Water is critical for young trees, especially newly transplanted trees. Take extra care watering especially during dry spells.

Unwelcome Deposits: Leave behinds by our furry friends add unhealthy elements that hurt not only our young trees, but add bacteria to groundwater as well. Try and keep your tree's home (the tree pit) litter free.

Tree Vitamins: Fertilizing during a young tree’s first year is critical. Fertilizers help young trees become strong and establish themselves. Time released fertilizing sticks (and other fertilizing choices) are available in nurseries and suppliers such as Home Depot.

A Trim: Pruning helps trees stay healthy and beautiful. www.tcia.org has the Tree Care Industry’s standards for pruning and tree care available online.

Location is Critical: Visualize the amount of space your new tree will needs as it grows tall. Think of power lines, driveways and structures that might make a particular location inappropriate. Ask what sunlight requirements your tree selection will need.

Easy on Herbicides: Applied at the right time and in the right amount – pesticides used properly can help tree fight pests. Improperly used, herbicides can damage your tree, cause unhealthy runoff into groundwater, and affect pet and human health. Be sure to carefully review the label warnings and follow the instructions for application carefully.

Accidents Can Happen: Debris, cars, storms and even lawnmowers can cause bark damage and wound a trees. One can avoid tree wounding by planting them in sheltered locations or by providing a barrier. Check for bark damage and treat it promptly.

Trees clean our city air, cool our summers on a hot day, provide lovely shade, help control water runoff in a big storm, homes for birds as well as ever changing beauty throughout the seasons. Treat your tree with care and it it will give back 10 fold.

CB1 Unanimous against R6 Development in Norwood Gardens

Norwood Neighborhood Association thanks Council Member Vallone and LICA for supporting the residents of Norwood Gardens at the Community Board meeting this evening. CB1 stood up for the residents of this community and unanimously voted against continuation of an R6 development under Norwood Gardens's new R5B and R4B zoning.

A few quotes from residents:


"This is an opportunity to prove that the people of Astoria matter"
resident 37th Street

"An R6 construction in Norwood Gardens goes against the will of this community"
resident of 36th Street

"Stand up for what is legal and right in Norwood Gardens"
resident of 36th Street

And the signatures of 90 Norwood Gardens' residents were on the NNA letter opposing the application to complete the foundation and continue to develop and R6 project.

"The developer has known for a long time that the new zoning designation was coming and had plenty of time to get his foundation work done before May 25th"
resident of 37th Street