18 The QUENS Courier • may 21, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com JACKSON HEIGHTS RESIDENTS CALL NATIONAL GRID A ‘BAD NEIGHBOR’ BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 Residents on one Jackson Heights street are calling on National Grid to be a good neighbor and take care of “dangerous” holes left unattended for weeks after digging was started last month to work on gas pipe updates. Councilman Daniel Dromm and residents on 80th Street gathered on the block Tuesday morning to speak out against holes created by the utility company that were left ignored for weeks. The holes, which measure about 13 feet by 3 feet and go as deep as three to six feet, were dug by National Grid in April to start renovations on underground gas lines. However, residents said that in the beginning of May work just stopped and the holes were left uncovered and surrounded by barriers and cones, most of which fell into the holes. “The damage they have done to this street makes you understand that National Grid is a bad neighbor. You don’t come into communities, dig up streets, leave piles of dirt and then leave the exposed pipes open to all types of foul play, to children falling into them, and then not respond to the community,” Residents on 80th Street in Jackson Heights are calling on National Grid to fix “dangerous holes” left unattended. Dromm said. “We are here today to demand that National Grid minimally put plates over this, fix this work, and ensure the safety of the community is taken care of here.” Dromm added that his office communicated with National Grid several times, but no fixes have been made. The councilman said he even left his personal number and never received a call back. Some residents expressed concerns that they have seen children playing in the holes, and others said the exposed gas lines have been letting out gaseous odors. A Courier reporter on the scene also smelled gas odors coming out of one of the holes. “The unfinished repair work initiated by National Grid on April 17, 2015, has not only resulted in a trip and fall hazard to pedestrians but has made us nervous because we were told originally the construction was to remedy a gas leak,” said Ricky Castro, co-op board vice president. “Despite many complaints we have received no answers about why we smell THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano gas and if it’s safe.” Castro added that last weekend when it rained, water filled the holes and caused the basement of one of the apartment buildings, which has storage units belonging to residents, to flood. According to residents, National Grid workers showed up on the morning of May 19 but no work was being done. They also added that they have called the FDNY, Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection and were told National Grid is responsible for the holes. A spokeswoman for National Grid said the company is committed to ensuring the safety of the public. She added the company is using industry-approved methods to secure the work site and have the appropriate work permits. Also, National Grid is conducting daily surveys of the area to maintain safety until the repairs are completed. “We apologize for the inconvenience but the work is necessary to ensure a safe and reliable gas system for the community,” the spokeswoman said. “Last month during an investigation we detected a gas leak and made arrangements to schedule the repairs, working around parking restrictions on the block.” She added the gas lines had been replaced on the street and now each home in three buildings has to be transferred to the new service lines. The company is working to notify everyone in the buildings. Crews are expected to be on site starting May 20 through the end of the week to complete the work and have the holes filled. Residents are urged to call 911 or National Grid’s Gas emergency number, 718-643- Jackson Heights elementary school plants Peace Poles BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 Students at P.S. 212 in Jackson Heights are looking to spread peace throughout their community. Danielle Mahoney, a literacy coach at the elementary school located at 34-25 82nd St., has been teaching students about practicing mindfulness and gratitude for the past year. While attending a weeklong training conference on mindfulness for kids and adolescents in California, Mahoney noticed a “Peace Pole” in a field and wanted to bring the concept back home. Peace Poles, which have been planted throughout the world, are handcrafted structures that have the message and prayer “May peace prevail on Earth” on each of its four to six sides. Mahoney decided to work with one of the third-grade classes she instructs, Jennifer Bayer’s 3-317 class, to have two poles erected on either side of the main entrance of P.S. 212 and allow the students to share with the community what they have been learning throughout the year. “Having these Peace Poles is having to share in the community that regardless of the differences, we can live together and share all the wonderful things about our culture and embrace things and live in a peaceful way,” Mahoney said. The 7-foot poles from The Peace Pole Project company feature the message “May peace prevail on Earth” in English, Urdu, Bengali, Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic. They also include two other messages in English: “May peace be in our communities” and “May peace be in our schools.” “Words are very powerful and as a literacy coach this is not so far away from our core work,” Mahoney said. “When you read it, hopefully the next step is to have action with your words and thoughts will be in a positive way.” During the May 13 ceremony, the 8- and 9-year-old students explained to parents and faculty what the Peace Poles are, why they were being planted and what mindfulness is. “We hope that when people pass they will take a moment to send kind thoughts to all beings on this planet, and focus on the good and peaceful parts of life,” Mahoney said. Mahoney added that mindfulness has helped students pay attention to the present moment and relax more, often using breathing as a tool to cope with difficult times. Some students have even tried teaching their parents how taking the time to relax and breathe will help them move forward in their days, according to Mahoney. “Mindfulness allows us to take the time to respond to situations,” one student said. “We learn not to react to everything that happens. You notice what happens, respond to it and let it go.” Mahoney also hopes that more schools will consider planting Peace Poles and she even is looking to find a way to plant a pole in Astoria, a community she has called home all her life. Photo courtesy of Danielle Mahoney
QC05212015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above