BY BEN VERDE
Windsor Terrace elementary
schoolers broke ground
on a student-led playground
improvement project
on Thursday — bringing
smooth, safe grounds to a
schoolyard that was previously
riddled with cracks
and bumps, according to
councilman Brad Lander
(D—Windsor Terrace), who
funded the project through
his participatory budgeting
process.
“The first grader-lead
redesign of PS 130’s schoolyard
is one of the most inclusive
and inspiring community
design processes
I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen
a lot of them,” said Lander.
The PS 130 PTA worked
last year to win funding
through Lander’s participatory
budgeting program,
which allows average citizens
to vote on how to spend
their city council district
funds.
The project also received
funding through Assemblyman
COURIER L 16 IFE, FEBRUARY 7-13, 2020
Bobby Carroll’s office
and the Trust for Public
Land.
After months of campaigning,
the Parent Teacher’s
Alliance got their playground
proposal on the
ballot — where it successfully
secured them $600,00
for the reconstruction project.
In addition to the playground
improvement efforts,
Lander’s funds also
include money to build new
playground equipment, basketball
hoops, soccer goals,
and a synthetic turf field.
The students began planning
the project when they
were in first grade, and
construction is expected to
wrap up by summer of 2020
— when the pint-sized architects
will be heading into
third grade, according to a
spokeswoman from Lander’s
office.
Kids broke ground on a new playground at PS 130 (top), which was funded by Councilman Brad Lander (bottom
right) and Assembylman Bobby Carroll (bottom left). Photos by Caroline Ourso
Playing with dirt
Kids break ground on new studentdesigned
playground at W’terrace school
By Camille Sperrazza
That’s why customers from all over
the tri-state area bring their cars to T.J.’s
Automotive in Bensonhurst.
A lifetime ago, mechanic and shop owner
Tony Jacono (T.J.), was a race car driver,
written about in trade publications. He still
owns a ‘65 Corvette. A perfectionist who
doesn’t let a car leave his shop until it meets
his high standards, he has been working on
vehicles since he was 17 years old.
Jacono briefly attended Brooklyn’s
Automotive High School, but was told
he was “too advanced” for the basic car
skills that were being taught there. Other
students may have been learning to put
keys into the ignitions, but Jacono was
already taking motors apart, and putting
them back together again. So he decided
to go to work, and he toiled for other
shops, before going into business for
himself 34 years ago.
While a good deal of the work he does
involves standard automobile repairs, he
also specializes in repairing and restoring
classic cars, as he happens to own a few
of those, too.
The seasoned car veteran says he has
worked on all types of cars, including
various versions of the Batmobile, the
Monkee Mobile, (as in “Hey, Hey, we’re the
Monkees), and 007 vehicles. He says that
George Barris, the American car designer
and builder of many famous Hollywood
custom cars, “couldn’t believe it,” when
he saw his recreation of the Batmobile.
These vehicles remain in demand, as they
are often requested for comic shows and
conventions, says Jacono.
He likes to call himself, “old school,” and
says there’s really not too much mystery
when it comes to auto repairs: “Cars
run on gas and spark.” He doesn’t have
a website. Instead, he has a reputation.
“People in the industry, know us,” he says.
Car collectors from all over bring their
“muscle cars,” hot rods, and classic
vehicles to his auto repair shop for
restorations. At press time, among the
cars he was working on included a ‘66
convertible.
“We do whatever is needed,” says
Jacono. “All the mechanical work and
the computer work.” Every car is treated
with loving care, the same way he treats
his own vehicles.
There are three other mechanics at
the shop, and Jacono makes sure he
personally oversees everything so that his
standard of excellence will be maintained.
It has to be perfect for his clients so that
his reputation remains intact. After all,
the shop bears his name.
Jacono invites the owners of classic
cars to come in for a look around. “They
are welcome to check us out before
spending their money,” he says. They’ll
talk shop, maybe reminisce a little, and
all expectations will be put in writing to
make sure everyone is on the same road.
T.J.’s Automotive 1602 McDonald
Ave., off Ave. N in Bensonhurst, (718) 376-
2929. Open Mondays through Fridays, 6
am – 4 pm. (The shop sometimes closes
earlier on Fridays, so call ahead).
T.J.’sAutomotive
An HONEST and TALENTED Mechanic is NOT EASY to FIND
Tony Jacono, Owner