6 FEBRUARY 2, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM Katz touts Queens’ growth in State of the Borough City budget tops next CB 5 meeting in Middle Village The public can get a chance to speak out on what the next city budget should fund at a special hearing Community Board 5 (CB 5) will hold this Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Middle Village. As announced by District Manager Gary Giordano, the session takes place beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. The hearing on the preliminary budget for the city’s 2018 fi scal year will precede the board’s regular monthly meeting. During the hearing, residents will have the opportunity to make remarks about the budget; they will each have up to 3 minutes to speak. The Department of Finance will also be on hand to conduct a presentation on residential real estate taxes. Thereafter, the board will hold its regular meeting agenda, which includes the public forum; a report on liquor licenses and demolition notices; reports by District Manager Giordano and CB 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri; and committee reports. The board’s Executive Committee will also make its recommendations regarding six street fair applications this year. For more information or to register to speak in advance, call the CB 5 office at 718-366-1834. Community helps Ridgewood teacher give school a new sound BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT One music teacher from an elementary school in Ridgewood reached out to the community to help get her students a brand-new sound system in the auditorium for their various musical performances, and the community responded, helping to reach the goal in less than a day since this article was posted. Alicia Brosky has a deep passion for teaching music to the students at P.S. 81. She takes pride in nurturing her students’ creativity and helping them create something beautiful and meaningful through the art of music. “I love my job more than I can convey,” she said. “I look forward to going to work every day to work with my bright, talented students, by teaching them the techniques and mechanics of music as well as the joy and passion that goes along with performing.” However, the many wonderful performances the kids put on throughout the year are plagued by an old sound system that does not project their true talents to the audience. Brosky is looking to change all that. In an effort to raise donations to purchase a new sound system for the school, Brosky created a page on Donors Choose — a nonprofi t organization — where the community can help bring the gift of sound to not only the performers, but the school as a whole. In addition, Brosky says that the sound system will aide students in the classroom as well. Brosky was asking for $291 in donations to purchase the sound system with a Freeboss FB-V04 4 Headset Lavalier Vhf Wireless Microphone, packs of rechargeable batteries, and an instrument cable so a guitar can be plugged into the new system. As of Feb. 1 -- less a day since this article was originally published -- the community pitched in the fi nal $191 Brosky needed to purchase the sound system, thanks to donations from community members, former P.S. 81 students, and the 104th Precinct Community Council. “I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our community,” Brosky said on the Donors Choose page. “My students and I are so thankful for your donations toward a sound system for our school. We can’t wait until our next production to see how good we sound!!! This is surely going to enhance our performances! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!” BY ANGELA MATUA AMATUA@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @ANGELAMATUA Anyone who keeps up with the news in the “World’s Borough” knows that Queens has become a hot spot for tourism and is a popular destination for people and families looking for a more aff ordable option. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz spoke about the borough’s recent popularity and more in her State of the Borough address on Jan. 27 at York College in Jamaica. During her speech she listed a number of changes in Queens including the transformation of the skyline along the East River, the improvements to the New York State Pavilion, Arthur Ashe Stadium and the investments in Jamaica through the Jamaica Now Action Plan and LaGuardia and JFK Airports. She also highlighted the 5 percent increase in jobs since 2013, 34 planned hotels in the borough and $60 billion in economic activity from both airports. LaGuardia Airport is currently going through a $4 billion construction project, the fi rst complete rebuild of any airport nationwide in more than 20 years. In addition to LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport will receive a $10 billion overhaul. “It’s a new day for infrastructure in Queens, and we’re all on our way to creating best-in-class entry portals befi tting of the international capital in the world,” Katz said. Since the theme of the speech was “The Borough of Growth, The Borough of Families,” Katz also touted a number of programs implemented to aid families in Queens. She highlighted the state of public schools. Katz pointed out challenges – Queens still has the highest overcrowding rate, as elementary schools are at 119 percent capacity and high schools are at 111 percent capacity. Since 2013, 11 new schools were created and six existing schools have been expanded. A 461 percent increase in pre-K seats has resulted in 20,000 seats for toddlers and 43 classroom trailers have been removed. Transportation options have also grown in the last few years, with Citywide Ferry Service being expanded through Long Island City, Astoria and the Rockaways. A new LIRR station will run through Elmhurst and the Main Street LIRR stop in Flushing has been renovated. But she called on the Department of Transportation to come up with a borough-wide plan to make it easier for residents to travel on bicycle, train, bus and ferry. She requested a “comprehensive plan with a macro view, a citywide, coordinated transportation agenda for tomorrow that also addresses the unique challenges of each borough.” Lastly, she called for leaders to “be unafraid to think bigger, bolder and more comprehensively” in terms of expanding Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Willets Point. Photo by Angela Matua/QNS Queens Borough President Melinda Katz gave her State of the Borough Speech at York College on Jan. 27.
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