4 The Queens Courier • september 25, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Woodside street to be renamed after man behind Alfred Hitchcock film BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com/@aaltamirano28 The story of one man, who influenced an Alfred Hitchcock film, will live on in the neighborhood his family called home. This Saturday, the corner of 73rd Street and 41st Avenue in Woodside will be co-named after Christopher Emmanuel “Manny” Balestrero as “Manny ‘The Wrong Man’ Balestrero Way.” In 1953 Balestrero was arrested outside of his home after three witnesses identified him as the person who robbed a Prudential Insurance Company office, according 1-800-382-HOME(4663) to Councilman Daniel Dromm’s office. Balestrero was later charged with two armed robberies and taken to trial. After another man confessed to the crimes, he was exonerated. “Manny Balestrero’s story is one example how we must continue to reexamine our criminal justice system,” said Dromm, who together with Community Board 4 helped get the street renamed after Balestrero. In 1956 Alfred Hitchcock directed and produced the docudrama film “The Wrong Man,” starring Henry Fonda, which followed Balestrero’s real-life story and had scenes shot on the streets of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Woodside. “Street co-namings can also serve as an educational tool,” Dromm said. “I hope that when people see the ‘Manny ‘The Wrong Man’ Balestrero Way’ sign they will be compelled to delve into this history and in doing so they will learn a little about their community, about cinematic history and continue to think critically about how our justice system works.” The Sept. 27 co-naming ceremony will take place from noon to 2 p.m. for Housing www.sonyma.org THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano The corner of 73rd Street and 41st Avenue in Woodside will be co-named “Manny ‘The Wrong Man’ Balestrero Way.” Parks Department closes Oakland Lake Park for one year BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ @ericjankiewicz ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com The Parks Department closed Oakland Lake Park in Bayside last week to begin a huge one-year construction project. The project will include the installation of stone swales (similar to bioswales), cleaning the drainage system and planting new native wetland plants, according to the Parks Department. The $2.5 million project’s aim is to improve water quality by reducing the amount of sewage water seeping into the lake during rainstorms, but some park-goers believe that closing the whole section of the park is a drastic move and it will leave many in the community at a loss for recreational activities. Eugene Harris, a professor at Queensborough Community College, is skeptical about how necessary the changes are. Harris maintains a Queensborough nature blog devoted to the flora and fauna of the park. The lake, which is part of the larger Alley Pond Park, borders the college and Harris said that many students and faculty visited the lake to escape the stress of academics. But since the city fenced off the 46-acre area until next fall, the public is restricted from using any part of it. “It’s crazy that they’re caging in the entire lake,” Harris said. “I can’t see why they couldn’t do it in portions so that the public can at least enjoy part of it.” A Parks Department spokeswoman said it is necessary to keep the park closed for public safety and so that contractors can work unhindered. The spokeswoman noted that closing a park for major construction like this is typical procedure. The Parks Department announced the project in 2011. Photos courtesy of Eugene Harris Locals are skeptical about the importance of closing a Bayside park for renovations.
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