for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com april 25, 2013 • The queens Courier 25 ALOBAR PETITIONS FOR OUTDOOR DINING Neighborhood restaurant seeks to seat outdoors BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] With summer just around the corner, Alobar in Hunters Point is seeking permission to serve patrons outdoors. The popular restaurant at 46-42 Vernon Boulevard is not allowed to offer its customers backyard seating as a stipulation of its liquor license. Alobar’s owner Jeff Blath said when customers see his outdoor seating area, they often request a table there, but he has to turn them down. According to him, the business loses thousands of dollars when the weather is nice. “I have to tell them no, and customers will usually respond with, ‘We’ll go somewhere else’,” he said. Community Board 2 granted Alobar its liquor license. CB 2 Chair Joseph Conley said the board has previously had to deal with establishments whose backyard seating caused disturbances to neighbors and the community. He cited Lounge 47 as an example. After years of neighbors’ complaints about excessive noise during late hours, the establishmen closed. It was located at 47-10 Vernon Boulevard. “By and large, from past experience, people do not want them because they are a negative impact to the way of life,” said Conley. “It is very clear the community has spoken about this. Residents that live there are opposed to it.” However, Blath maintains Alobar has been a good neighbor and will stay that way. His petition has gained 438 signatures from neighbors and customers. “Now that I’ve been around, I’ve proven myself to be a good neighbor. I welcome speaking to neighbors and hearing from them,” Blath said. “I want to be able to go to the community board with a good number of people to show it’s what people want.” Blath plans to make the case that Alobar is a quiet restaurant. There will be no speakers to play music, he has built 11-foot-high walls and set up an awning to muffle noise. If CB 2 approves use of Alobar’s backyard space, the restaurant will stay open until 10:30 p.m. Blath considers that a reasonable time compared to some other establishments, which stay open past midnight. “I’m asking for less than everyone else,” he said. The next board meeting is on May 2. Conley said he welcomes Blath to come and bring his proposal. “Based on the facts, there could be something unique,” Conley said. “Each case is looked at individually.” Board: No booze for bikini bar BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] If Racks, a new restaurant and bar, wants to open up, waitresses will likely have to cover up. Community Board 1 (CB 1) voted not to recommend a liquor license for Racks on grounds its female servers will be wearing bikinis as uniforms. At the April 16 meeting, board members voted 17 to 15 against the recommendation, even though the Community Board’s Consumer Affairs Committee supported the restaurant’s bid. In a letter written to CB 1, Assemblymember Aravella Simotas urged the body to vote against the license because the bar is close to residences and a school playground. “Our children do not need to learn what a ‘bikini bar’ is on their way to little league,” Simotas wrote. Community members and local elected officials voiced their opposition along with the assemblymember. During the board meeting, Racks’ lawyer Kerry Katsorhis said the bar, at 19-26 Steinway Street, is on an almost completely commercial block. She argued that children will not have to pass by Racks to reach the playground. “Though personally, I feel morally that this kind of entertainment is demeaning to women, this is not the forum for a lifestyle discussion. This is the forum for a small-business discussion,” said board member Frances Luhmann-McDonald, who voted in favor of the recommending the liquor license. Although CB 1 did not give its recommendation, the State Liquor Authority will ultimately decide whether to grant the license or not. BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Those who knew Rory Staunton say it would be a fitting tribute. The newly-acquired Parks Department property at the Garden School athletic field in Jackson Heights may soon bear his name. The 12-year-old lost his life last April due to sepsis poisoning after falling while playing basketball in his school’s gym. What doctors believed to be a minor wound later became infected and led to his death. Rory was a student at the Garden School. Although he lived in Sunnyside with his father Ciaran, mother Orlaith and sister Kathleen, he loved to help out in the Jackson Heights community. He enjoyed working side by side with his dad, a board member of the Garden School. Ciaran Staunton was one of the main individuals who pushed for the field to be used as a park instead of developing it into a 10-story apartment building. After hearing from the Jackson Heights Green Alliance, the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, Councilmember Daniel Dromm and other elected officials, Community Board 3 on April 18 voted unanimously to have the field renamed after Rory. The proposal was inspired by the hard work the boy and his father did to help save the park for future generations. “We as a group felt it was fitting to name it after Rory,” said Dudley Stewart, president of the Jackson Heights Green Alliance. “The community board vote was a huge relief. It was great to recognize that the community stands behind this proposal. We felt really gratified and very happy.” Ciaran Staunton said his son helped draw up the plans for the park before he passed away. The father added that Rory was “very green” and always tried to do what was right. “Our family is very honored,” he said. “It’s a comforting feeling they children will be playing in Rory Staunton field for their whole lives.” Ciaran Staunton recalled an invitation to the White House for St. Patrick’s Day last year. He took his son, who was inspired by the trip to the president’s home. “He was eyeing the office for himself,” Staunton said. Since the boy’s passing, the Staunton family has worked hard to raise awareness of sepsis. Governor Andrew Cuomo dubbed legislation to fight sepsis Rory’s Regulations. Even with all the support they have received for renaming the park, the Stauntons still have to wait for the Parks Department to give official approval. “It would be fit to honor him in such a way,” said Dromm. “He was only 12 years old but had a tremendous impact on the community.” The Parks Department did not respond to calls as of press time. Bid to rename park for beloved student Photo Courtesy of Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton
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