President’s Message
BY FRED CHERNOW
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
By now you’ve undoubtedly
heard of President Bob
Ricken’s brief hospital
stay. I’m happy to report that he
is already in rehab and making
progress. Of course his wife Susan
is a tremendous asset and he looks
forward to getting back to NST.
On January 14 we held a
Celebration of a Life to honor
recent Board member Felice
Hannah who passed away on
December 28. Details of this emotional
event can be found in this
paper.
Some highlights of the January
16 monthly Board meeting include
these summaries by the respective
committee Chairpersons:
Mario Carmiciano – Capital
Improvements:
Two proposals requiring funding
are emergency rescue devices for
our elevators, which in the event
of a power failure would enable the
elevators to return to the nearest
floor, open the doors and release
anyone who may be inside. Also,
we are adding additional battery
powered emergency exit signage
on all floors of all buildings.
Steve Kirschner – House and
Grounds:
We are evaluating the current
parking situation to determine if
we can provide more spaces by
reconfiguring the road and also the
unassigned spots. In addition, subcommittees
have been formed to
provide ideas regarding the exterior
and interior décor of the complex.
Martin Schwartzman – Treasurer
A year-end review of financial
operations yielded a very favorable
result for shareholders. We came in
under budget and reduced operational
costs. For 2020, we continue
to monitor very closely our expenses
and are carefully forecasting
our capital improvement needs to
strengthen our infrastructure and to
maintain the high level standard of
living at NST.
Ed Phelan – Country Club
Good news concerning increased
members in tennis, pickle-ball,
and golf. The 12th hole on the golf
course was completed along with
trap work on holes 14 and 16,
all within budget. We increased
equipment that included three
treadmills ordered this year and
one additional PreCor machine, a
new inclined bench and curl bar.
And an emphasis on cardio for all
our shareholders.
Stanley Goldsmith - Public
Affairs Committee
I took over the Political Action
committee that had been so ably
led by the late Felice Hannah. It
has been renamed the Public Affairs
Committee. Organizing visits by
politicians will be the responsibility
of Debra Markell-Kleinert.
We are reviewing the scope of
our committee and will continue
to provide information dealing
with health, Medicare and Social
Security issues.
Debra Markell-Kleinert –
Political Affairs/Marketing
& Media
We are mobilizing a multipronged
campaign to retain the
QM-6 bus routes for our shareholders.
We are working with all
of our elected and MTA officials
to host a workshop here at NST
in March. We now have a subcommittee
working on creating and
circulating a petition aimed at the
MTA to preserve our full service to
and from Manhattan.
We are also hosting a Meet
the Queens Borough President
Fred Chernow
Candidates forum in the movie
theater on Thursday, February 13,
at 7:00 PM.
The Beaumont Lounge construction
is progressing with lighting,
new ceiling, painting, etc. A subcommittee
will be set up to work
on programming for events.
Fred Chernow – Cultural Affairs
On January 13 we had large
turnouts at both the 4:30 and
7:30 PM 92Y programs in the VIP
Room. Our streaming guest was
Ruth Bader Ginsburg who had
appeared just six weeks before live
in Manhattan. The residents who
attended were unanimous in their
positive comments.
Bob’s shoes are exceedingly large
to fill and I am awaiting his full and
speedy recovery.
NORTH SHORE TOWERS CARES FOR THE NEEDY
BY BEVERLY BORD
Happy New Year 2020 to
our friends and neighbors
in North Shore Towers.
In looking back at 2019, Arlene
Greenwood and I, co-chairpersons
of North Shore Towers Cares for the
Needy, will always remember 2019
as the year we were introduced to
the joy of collecting essential daily
items for the needy.
Our introduction to collecting
took place exactly a year ago in
January 2019, a time when we as
a nation were feeling the effects of a lengthy
and trying government shutdown. As shown on
television, government employees and others
affected by the shutdown stood on long lines
anxiously waiting to receive a brown paper bag
filled with food with which to feed themselves
and their families.
Seeing the long lines of needy persons reminded
me of the Great Depression of 1929. I considered
that perhaps something could be done
by the residents of North Shore Towers for the
needy in the Queens community. I proceeded
to contact Felice Hannah, North Shore Towers
Board of Directors member and leader of the
PAC and the community outreach program. I
remembered Felice for her great fondness, for
her caring and dedication to people. I inquired
if there was some way in which NST could help
during the ongoing shutdown. Felice emphatically
told me that she could never say “No” to
the request for helping those in need.
By the following week, Felice
introduced Arlene and me to the
joy of collecting for and donating
to the needy. Felice, Arlene and
I made our way to the Central
Queens Y in Forest Hills, now
part of Commonpoint Queens, to
visit their food pantry and we were
hooked. And so, 2019 has been an
exciting and successful year for filling
the brown bin in each building’s
mailbox room. Much thanks to the
residents of North Shore Towers.
But most of all, thanks to Felice Hannah and
her devotion to helping those in need.
The following are collections for February,
March and April:
FEBRUARY: New dental hygiene supplies
(toothbrushes, toothpaste. floss, mouthwash)
MARCH: New cleaning supplies (sponges,
spray cleaners, wipes)
APRIL: New bath hygiene supplies(soap,
shampoo, shaving cream, razors)
February 2020 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3