7
QUEENS WEEKLY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Forest Park sludge dump causes big stink in Glendale
BY MARK HALLUM
The city Parks
Department was
seemingly caught redhanded
on Aug. 29
dumping waste in a
dormant corner of Forest
Park, but the agency
claims the smelly sludge
was not hazardous.
The location is
the same section of
Forest Park where the
agency plans to create
a new entrance where
parkgoers from nearby
Glendale can enter from
Myrtle Avenue to other
sections that will also
soon be revamped.
To witnesses, the
scene reeked of a
potentially hazardous
sewage dump. However,
a Parks Department
spokeswoman confirmed
to QNS it was in fact
sediment and other
matter pulled from catch
basins after a reader
provided footage of trucks
doing the dumping.
“This is not hazardous
waste. These trucks
were used to clear soil
and sediment from our
clogged catch basins
and spray shower drains
to prevent puddling.
Fresh water from the
holding tanks is used
to flush the sediment,”
spokeswoman Meghan
Lalor said. “Any large
debris will be addressed
this evening and then
we will follow up by
raking the sediment with
machinery to address
anything remaining.”
The dumping occurred
near the northeast
corner of the park where
people are able to enter
from Myrtle Avenue.
The Parks Department
has been looking to
revamp the area, which
mostly serves as a
route for motorists get
on the Jackie
Robinson Parkway.
But the scene was
alarming for multiple
people in videos captured
as the smell was bad,
according to those in
the video, and garbage
such as water bottles and
wrappers could be seen.
“The smell of the
discharge was abhorrent.
There were gallons and
gallons of muck, mud,
debris and heavens know
what else,” said Frank
Schorn, who captured
the videos. “The liquid
f lowed into a sewer
entrance some dozens
of yards away. The
sewer grate is nearly
completely blocked
with debris from prior
discharges of waste.”
Meanwhile, local
Councilman Robert
Holden turned to
Twitter to deem the
practice of dumping
what he called “sewage”
as “irresponsible,” and
something he would
work to prevent in
the future.
Reach reporter
Mark Hallum by
email at mhallum@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4564.
A truck dumped smelly sludge on Aug. 29 near an entrance way to Forest Park in Glendale.
Photo via Google Maps/Inset via video courtesy of Frank Schorn
It Pays to Check with Us
Flushing Bank rewards new
Complete Checking accounts with a
$10 Starbucks® gift card and up to $100.
$10
Open a new Flushing Bank Complete Checking account and you will be eligible to receive a $10 Starbucks gift card1 and up to $100.2,3
Plus, all new Complete Checking accounts can get a CASH BONUS up to $200.2,4
For more information, visit your local Flushing Bank branch (locations in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and on Long Island), speak with a
Flushing Bank representative at 800.581.2889 (855.540.2274 TTY/TDD), or go to www.FlushingBank.Bank.com.
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
Effective August 2, 2019. 1) Limit one (1) Starbucks gift card per new Complete Checking account, minimum opening balance of $1,000 or more required. Starbucks is not a sponsor or participant of this promotion.
2) New Complete Checking account with new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new checking account is defined as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures
in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months.
New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. 3) The Cash Bonus is limited to one (1) account credit per new Complete Checking account. To qualify for the Cash Bonus, a new Complete
Checking account must be opened with a minimum opening balance of $1,000 or more. The Cash Bonus credit will be based on the monthly average account balance of the first three (3) full months after account opening.
The monthly average account balance tiers and respective account credits are as follows: Tier 1: $1,000 - $4,999 a $10 account credit, Tier 2: $5,000 - $9,999 a $50 account credit, Tier 3: $10,000+ a $100 account credit.
The Cash Bonus credit will be posted to the account on or about the end of the subsequent month following the account’s three (3) month anniversary. A 1099 will be issued in the amount of the account credit. The new
Complete Checking account must remain open, active and in good standing for six months. If the account is closed prior to six months or prior to receiving the credit, the account credit will be forfeited. Other fees and
restrictions may apply. Notwithstanding the Cash Bonus offer, a minimum deposit of $25 is required to open the Complete Checking account. 4) This offer is limited to one Complete Checking account per household.
Minimum deposit required to open a new Complete Checking account is $25. No minimum balance required to be eligible for the Bonus. Direct Deposit– You will receive $100 for signing up for and receiving a recurring
direct deposit. Each direct deposit must be $250 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 90 days after the account is opened. Debit Card Purchases –
You will receive $50 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking bill payments – You will receive $50 for completing 5 online banking bill payments via
Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal. Each online bill pay must be $25 or more. Debit Card Purchases and Online Banking bill payments must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened.
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $200. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about the end of the month following the completion of the above
qualifying transactions within the required time after account opening. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. The promotion and offer are
subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
/www.FlushingBank.Bank.com
/schnepsmedia.com
/www.FlushingBank.Bank.com
