16 The Queens Courier • JUNE 13, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com st of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place DRAMATIC RESCUE Pull man from trench BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com The FDNY rescued a construction worker Board votes down outdoor dining at Alobar BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Alobar customers will now have to spend the summer indoors after a final vote from Community Board 2 (CB2) denied the restaurant the use of its backyard space. The popular restaurant at 46-42 Vernon Boulevard in Hunters Point must adhere to a stipulation of its liquor license prohibiting outdoor seating. Owner Jeff Blath met with CB2’s City Service and Public Safety Committee on June 12 to discuss opening his backyard space to customers. He said the board told him it could not make an exception for his restaurant without setting a precedent for other establishments. “They were really clear that Alobar is an excellent addition to the neighborhood,” said Blath. “The reason was that if they say yes to Alobar, they have to say yes to everyone.” Blath said he finds the decision “disappointing.” He previously noted the effect on his business, saying he loses dozens of customers who ask for the outdoor seating. “It’s thousands of dollars a month and it’s enough to put people out of business,” said Bath. “It’s enough to make people lose their jobs.” CB 2 Chair Joseph Conley previously told The Courier the board has had to deal with establishments whose backyard seating caused disturbances to neighbors and the community. He added that residents in the area have voiced their opposition to the plan. However, Blath said he gathered nearly 500 signatures for a petition and has spoken with his neighbors that say otherwise. Before the meeting, Blath built 11-foot-high walls to block out noise and had a sound engineer suggest other changes to make the seating area quieter. He was also trying to work with the board to cut back hours at the backyard from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. “I was willing to bend over backwards to make this happen,” said Blath. “When you see another place just a block away from you go out of business, it scares you. My heart is in this business. I can’t help but think what’s going to happen.” Blath is looking to appeal the board’s decision with the State Liquor Authority. CB2 did not respond to calls as of press time. after he became trapped in a collapsed Kew Gardens trench. He was partially buried in the trench, which was 25 feet below the surface. Fire officials had to secure an unstable crane at the site before they could free the worker, an FDNY spokesperson said. The collapse occurred around 4:30 p.m. at 83rd Avenue near Abingdon Road on Tuesday, June 18. About two hours later, the FDNY freed the man. Con Edison also used a backhoe to assist in the rescue. The worker was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition, said the FDNY. According to reports, construction work was underway at the site during Tuesday’s accident even though a stop-work order was in effect. The Department of Buildings is investigating. Photo courtesy of FDNY FDNY officials at the scene of a trench collapse in Kew Gardens on June 18.
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