4 The QUENS Courier • FEBRUARY 12, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Queens Courier acquires Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Jankiewicz Rusty trailers to be removed from overcrowded Corona elementary school BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 The largest elementary school in the city is getting much-needed room for students to grow and learn. P.S. 19, located at 98-2 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona, is known for its overcrowded hallways and for students attending classes in trailers, also called Temporary Classroom Units. The school is the largest elementary school in the city by student enrollment and one of the most overcrowded in Queens. For years, parents and local leaders have fought to remove the trailers, five of which were placed at the school in 1994 and a larger one that was placed on site in 1987, and bring their children back into the school. On Feb. 6, parents and city officials gathered in front of one of the six trailers at the school to announce that the “decadesold, rusty” transportables would be removed and that a new addition is expected to be constructed for the Corona school. The removal of the trailers and construction of the new building are funded through the Smart Schools Bond Act. “For too long, P.S. 19 has been inadvertently punished for its own success. What’s remarkable about P.S. 19 is in spite of bursting at the seams from chronic capacity issues and trailers breaking down, the school’s learning environment remains strong and the school performs consistently well,” Borough President Melinda Katz said. The five smaller trailers at P.S. 19 accommodate 250 students into seven kindergarten and three first-grade classrooms. The larger trailer fits 250 more students into 11 classrooms from grades one through five. Problems faced in the trailers included frequent breaking down of heating and air conditioning. “When my son was in kindergarten he was always upset about going to school,” said Rafaela Vivalo, a mother of a second-grader at the school. “He had to learn in a trailer and was always cold and wet during the winter — his feet never had time to dry, since they had to go inside and outside multiple times a day to the main building.” In spring 2016 the design process for P.S. 19’s new building will be completed and by that summer all the trailers are expected to be removed. During the construction of the new building, 500 incoming students will be temporarily relocated to P.S. 315’s new building on 43rd Avenue, but will still be considered part of P.S. 19. “It is unacceptable that some of our children are playing musical chairs in the schools within the bounds of the greatest city of the world,” state Senator Jose Peralta said. “I urge swift action on the welcomed addition and look forward to supporting P.S. 19 throughout the process.” Construction is expected to be completed by the 2018-2019 school year and the relocated students will return to P.S. 19. “We have worked long and hard to end overcrowding in Corona, and the expansion of P.S. 19 is a milestone in our progress,” said Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, who attended the elementary school. “We’re giving our kids a quality space to learn and thrive.” THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano Parents and city officials gather in front of trailers to announce school’s new addition. BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF editorial@queenscourier.com @QueensCourier Schneps Communications, publisher of The Queens Courier group, Brooklyn Spectator, Home Reporter, El Correo and 16 other newspapers and magazines, has acquired the 107-year-old Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly. “We are thrilled to be able to carry on and grow the legacy of the most valued, trusted and respected news organization serving Ridgewood, Bushwick, Middle Village, Glendale and Maspeth,” said Victoria Schneps-Yunis and Joshua Schneps, co-publishers of Schneps Communications. “This acquisition helps us grow our stable of award-winning publications, digital platforms and offers clients the most effective way of reaching residents in one of the fastest growing parts of Queens and Brooklyn.” Schneps Communications expressed its commitment to not only continue the papers’ mission to readers, but also introduce an updated print format and an enhanced digital presence. “From one family to another, I am happy to pass the torch onto Victoria and Joshua, as I know they are best positioned to grow the papers,” added Maureen Walthers, publisher, editor and owner of the Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly since 1986. “I am confident they will continue to provide our loyal and dedicated readers and advertisers with the great local coverage they’ve come to expect for more than a century.” Maureen Walthers will be staying on through a transition period at the company. Sold on newsstands and mailed to subscribers, the newspapers are published every Thursday. The Times Newsweekly and Ridgewood Times are the papers of record for the Greater Ridgewood area, covering civic meetings, community issues, school functions, policing and other events around town. Additionally, the paper profiles notable persons and groups in the neighborhood and showcases community history in its “Old Timer” column. The papers’ offices are located at 60-71 Woodbine St. in Ridgewood and have an online presence on their website at www.timesnewsweekly. com. For Flushing High School student, football is ticket to college BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com @EricJankiewicz Abel Joseph is going to college, a destination that wouldn’t have been possible a year ago. This September, the Flushing High School student will be attending LIU Post with a full football scholarship. But as recently as last year, Joseph’s prospects of going to college were low. “When I first visited LIU Post I saw the tuition and I was like, ‘Hell no, I can’t afford this,’” he said. “But the opportunity to play football and work endlessly on it paid off.” At 250 pounds and 6 foot 1 inch tall, Joseph served as the foundation of the Red Devils’ defensive line. When he joins his new college team, the Pioneers, he will hold the same position, but he plans to add on another 30 pounds and hopes to grow a few more inches. “I’m never comfortable with just being average,” Joseph said. “I want to make myself the best I can be.” He said that his ultimate goal is to join the NFL, like his role model Jay Bromley, who plays for the NY Giants and also played for the Red Devils when he attended Flushing High School. “He serves as a big inspiration to me,” Joseph said, looking at the number 96 Giants jersey which hangs on the wall of the athletics office. “It’s just so helpful to see someone who is under the same circumstances as you become so successful.” Like Bromley, Joseph is from Jamaica and was raised in a low-income home. Football was a way for Joseph to do something more with his life. Without the scholarship, he doesn’t know how his single mom would’ve been able to help him pay for college. “Seeing the way my mom struggles and her perseverance drives me,” he said. “I get most of my attitude from her.” And now, all he has to worry about is staying in shape until he joins the ranks of the Pioneers. Abel Joseph
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