FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com APRIL 11, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 51 ‘DREAM COME TRUE’ NYFAC opens center after Sandy setback BY LIAM LA GUERRE Richard Henry moved to New York City two months ago in search of a new autism facility for his daughter. Fortunately, he won’t have to look any further. After a six-month delay following Sandy, about 200 parents, children, staff members and politicians attended the grand opening of the $5.9 million New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) center in Howard Beach on April 7. Henry, an Ozone Park resident, is only 10 minutes away from the center by car. “My daughter will be really happy coming to a place like this, because she doesn’t have to travel a long distance,” Henry, 62, said. Last October, Sandy fl ooded the fi rst fl oor of the facility, destroying walls, furniture and electrical equipment. The center was forced to close its doors about two weeks before it was even set to open. The post-storm renovation cost a little more than $200,000, mostly to repair damages, but also to replace appliances, according to NYFAC president Andrew Baumann. Baum ann was able to pay for the damages by borrowing money from New York Community Bank. The building now has fl ood insurance, he said, which it did not before Sandy. “It’s defi nitely a dream come true,” Baumann said. “It’s been a long, hard road.” Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder secured $100,000 in the state budget to help cover the cost of rebuilding the center. He believes the facility represents the community’s rebuilding as a whole. “We’re not done here, there is a lot of work to do,” Goldfeder said. “But it’s just a tremendous symbol for the community of strength, unity, stability and that we’re going to come back.” The entire building is self-suffi - cient and environmentally friendly, running only on energy from giant solar panels on the roof. On the fi rst fl oor, there are meeting rooms, video and board games, showers, an instrumentfi lled music room, a fully-loaded kitchen and more. The second fl oor houses administrative offi ces, a 16-seat conference room, a training room, an evaluation room and a television studio, so the center can create its own programs. “This is going to be a wonderful resource for the families affected by autism,” said Councilmember Eric Ulrich. “It’s going to be a one-stop shop for people to get support, to get the services they need … and to get help.” The next step for the center is to build a gym above the parking lot. The $2 million project will include fi tness machines, a basketball court and a volleyball court on the roof, Baumann said. But for now, the center is focused on providing services to people with autism. “It was important they opened their doors to those children and families in need of assistance,” said Senator Joseph Addabbo. “It was never a question of if it was going to open, it was when.” THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Among the new center’s amenities is an instrument-fi lled music room. A fun and flexible summer program for children entering grades Pre-K to 6! Summer at Kew-Forest! July 1 - August 16 Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Come to our Open House! Saturday, April 13th 11:00 am-1:00 pm After April 13th, call us to to schedule a tour. FREE PARKING! Get a headstart on September when you register for Morning Academics or Combo Camp! Featuring: Academic and Recreational Options Full-Day and Half-Day Programs; Before and After-Camp Care (7:30 am- 6 pm) Registration by the day, week, or for the full 7 WEEKS! Available Classes: Drama, Hands-on Science, Sports, Martial Arts, Cooking, Arts and Crafts, Computer Lab, Swimming, Field Trips and More! The Kew-Forest School, 119-17 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills, NY 11375 Phone: (718) 268-4667 ext. 108 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kewforest.org
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