30 The Queens Courier • august 1, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Residents to property owner: LEAF OUR GARDEN ALONE BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Residents and volunteers are asking the city not to squash their community garden. Until last year, the vacant lot at Kneeland Avenue and Manilla Street in Elmhurst was growing weeds as tall as the average resident, attracting illegal dumping and unwanted vermin. After taking a look at the site, Young Governors, a teen community organizing program, got together and turned the lot into a community garden that is verdant with fruits and vegetables today. But the garden the teens created side-by-side with residents is at risk of becoming a multi-family house since the property’s owner put it up for sale. “This lot made our neighborhood look bad, and after all these years we finally took charge and took our neighborhood back,” said Jennifer Chu, president of the Elmhurst Community Garden. “It has been two years in the making, but now we have a community garden.” On July 26, Chu, along with other residents, members of Young Governors and local officials gathered at the garden to call on authorities to delay the private property’s sale. “What we need here in Elmhurst is a garden, not another high rise development,” said Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. “We need a place for children to play. We need gardens where people can till and nourish and eventually eat the produce.” The community hopes to get the opportunity to save the garden — or relocate it another area — with the help of the city. “These volunteers literally have turned what has been an eyesore in Elmhurst into a project that is productive, into an area that is not only beautiful and prevents it from being a blight on our society, but has literally turned into a productive project that feeds people,” said Councilmember Grace Meng. Volunteers go week after week to care for the crops. They have donated fruits and vegetables from the garden to the New Life Community Development Corporation, a local organization that helps people in need in the community. “At this garden, I see people get together while watering their vegetables and then they end up sitting on the benches to chat,” said Chu. “Queens, as the largest borough, could use a few more community gardens.” Stavisky said the next step they will take is to speak with city officials and the property’s owner to see what can be done for the garden. The Courier was unable to reach the owner as of press time. “We don’t have a lot of green space here, so it would be nice to have a garden,” said Barbara Ang, vice-president of the Elmhurst Community Garden. “I love having green space here and having somewhere to relax and enjoy.” THE COURIER/ Photo by Angy Altamirano Residents and volunteers are calling for officials to delay sale of the site of the Elmhurst Community Garden. THE COURIER/ Photo by Benjamin Fang This past weekend, 77th Street and Broadway in Elmhurst was co-named Guillermo Vasquez Corner after the Latino LGBT activist. Name Elmhurst street for AIDS activist BY BENJAMIN FANG editorial@queenscourier.com The name of a Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activist will live on in the community where the advocate educated people about HIV/AIDS. On Saturday, July 27, elected officials and community members unveiled the Guillermo Vasquez Corner on 77th Street and Broadway in Elmhurst. “He was a role model to all of us,” said Councilmember Daniel Dromm during a conaming ceremony at the Elmhurst Hospital Auditorium, where attendees shared memories of Vasquez’s leadership and commitment to improve his community. Vasquez founded a number of Latino advocacy organizations including the Latino American Cultural Center of Queens, the Queens Hispanic Coalition and the Colombian American National Coalition. He was also at the forefront of the LGBT movement and took a lead role in educating the public about HIV/AIDS. Vasquez was active in the U.S. Colombian SIDA/ AIDS Foundation, the Latino Commission on AIDS, Queens Gays and Lesbians United and other organizations. “He fought for the rights of many, even when it wasn’t so easy,” said Congressmember Grace Meng. Vasquez died in 1996 due to complications from AIDS. State Senators Jose Peralta and Toby Ann Stavisky linked Vasquez’s activism in the LGBT community to the passage of marriage equality by the New York State legislature in June 2011. “It was pioneers like Guillermo who planted the seeds,” said Peralta. “It was that fight that led to that special day.” Dromm picked 77th Street and Broadway because Vasquez often frequented a bar called The Love Boat near that intersection. It was one of the sites where he spread knowledge about HIV/AIDS. “This was a long time coming and very well deserved,” said Dromm. WOODSIDE STREET CO-NAMED FOR LOU RISPOLI BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Louis Rispoli will always be remembered as a great husband, friend, mentor and important member of the Woodside community. Rispoli, who was attacked in October 2012 in Sunnyside and died at Elmhurst Hospital Center days later, was honored and celebrated on July 27 during a ceremony to co-name 51st Street and 43rd Avenue “Louis Rispoli Way.” “It’s so important to continuously recognize people who were special, people who were very important to our neighborhood, even if they weren’t famous,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, a friend of Rispoli and his husband. “Lou meant so much to 51st Street. Lou meant so much to Woodside.” Family, friends and local officials gathered at John Downing Square, one of Rispoli’s favorite spots, located in front of the home he shared with his husband of 32 years, Danyal Lawson. “Everyone knew him and they loved him,” said Lawson. “He loved it here and I know he would be so proud to see his name on the street. In some ways, since Lou moved to Queens, this has always been Louis Rispoli Way, but now everyone knows it.” Rispoli was known for making everyone laugh and bringing joy to the lives of those close to him. He met Van Bramer at a house party several years ago and later volunteered with Van Bramer’s 2009 campaign for City Council. He also enjoyed frequenting many local restaurants and stores including Nunziato’s Florist, whose owner knew both Rispoli and his husband for over 25 years. There have been no arrests in connection with Rispoli’s death and the investigation is ongoing. “This shows to Lou, who is up there, but also to the world, that we’ll never forget him,” said Van Bramer. “We’ll never rest, we’ll never stop fighting for justice for Louis Rispoli.”
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