FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com march 6, 2014 • The queens Courier 17 SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS star OF queens MARY PARISEN CO-FOUNDER CIVICS UNITED FOR RAILROAD ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS (CURES) COMMUNITY SERVICE: Mary Parisen is the co-founder of Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions (CURES), a coalition of some of the largest civic associations in western Queens, that came together to improve railroad infrastructure, public health and safety. BACKGROUND: Parisen, who works full-time as a school librarian, lives in Glendale, near the Fresh Pond Road freight. She was bothered by the noise, smell and pollution of the trains in the area. So in 2004 she spoke at a community board meeting about the concerns many people in the neighborhood had with the trains, and what came out of that was a green streets project. “This was to try to abate the noise and make everything look nicer, but it still didn’t change the noise or the air pollution,” she said. When Mary Arnold, Parisen’s neighbor and co founder of CURES, moved in, they both worked together to solve this problem. The women formed a group that focused on small but successful beautification projects, and at a meeting when the issue resurfaced, Parisen said, someone suggested a group of civics be formed to tackle the problem, and that is how CURES was born. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Together with the other civic groups, CURES has been able to get the rail lines to use better technology and equipment. GOALS: CURES’ mission is to work with federal, state and local agencies, elected officials and the railroads, to ensure that they are proactively keeping the neighborhoods clean by having the trains use better and quieter technology. “The increase in rail traffic caused an environmental burden in our neighborhood,” brought to you by SCOTT BARON & ASSOCICATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 said Parisen. Parisen and the group would like to see the repowering and upgrading of all locomotives in the Fresh Pond Rail terminal. “I’m going to have a granddaughter soon, and I don’t want to have to feel nervous to take her out of my house because of the air pollution in my area,” said Parisen. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: According to Parisen, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council has said that rail is going to increase by 50 percent by 2040. “This increase in rail traffic should not come at the expense of the people who live in the community,” said Parisen. She added her organization is not opposed to the use of rail, but she believes that this increase should be thought with mitigation with the community. Ask Th e Experts Real Estate Seminar Need-to-Know Information for Today’s Buyers & Sellers! Looking to Buy, Sell, Trade Up, Size Down or Build Wealth rough Investing In Real Estate Ross Keit Licensed R.E. Associate Broker Helen Keit Licensed R.E. Broker st of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place Saturday March 22, 2014 There Refreshments, will be 10AM - 12PM Giveaways Raffl & es! Our Panel of Experts Will Update You On e Latest Industry Changes/Guidelines and Answer Your Questions! Richard Nailes, James McQuade & Joe Barrette Mortgage Loan Originators Jason Walters Title Lou Andreani Professional Engineer Joeseph Taglia Credit Advisor RSVP to the seminar by calling 718•475•2877 e Seminar will be held at Keller Williams Realty Landmark Ryan Walsh Attorney 32-55 Francis Lewis Blvd. Flushing, NY 11358
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