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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.co MARCH 3, 2016 • TIMES 17 Community proposes to build a third Canarsie Tube to ease the L train shutdown BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport The fate of the L train — part of which runs through Ridgewood — is still off track, and riders are demanding answers from the MTA. On Feb. 24, the L Train Coalition, a group of community stakeholders including residents, business owners and community organizations, held a town hall meeting at the Swinging Sixties Senior Center in Brooklyn to bring everyone up to speed on the current situation with the pending L train shutdown. Much to the dismay of those in attendance, there was no representative from the MTA at this town hall meeting to answer pertinent questions from the community. However, the MTA has “made a commitment to have a back-and-forth with the community,” said Felice Kirby, the former owner of Teddy’s Bar and Grill and member of the L Train Coalition. “They want feedback on transportation options on how to lessen service disruptions.” Elected officials held a closed-door meeting with members of the MTA to discuss repair options for the Canarsie Tube. Mina Elias, chief of staff for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, was present at that meeting. “The MTA told us that they have not yet decided on what they are planning to do. They are looking at a variety of options,” Elias explained. “They are looking at whether to close the tube entirely, and that would allow them to do the repairs more quickly … they’re looking at closing one tube, keeping the rest of the system working. That would reduce L train service by 75 percent which means you may have dangerous overcrowding … or they may do nights and weekends which would cause this project to go out as long as seven years. So there are options on the table, none of them are good.” One option raised by community members was building a third tube for the L train so the MTA can then close one tube and keep service running as normal. Elias said that a project of this magnitude would cost nearly $4.5 billion, and that type of funding would be difficult to procure. The L Train Coalition is currently looking to expand and create a united front along the entire L line to fight for answers and a response that will cause the least amount of problems for all those affected by this potential shutdown. “We feel that we should build a movement across the L line, from Manhattan to Canarsie, of civic leadership asking for the MTA to publicly debrief us and share with us the status reports,” Kirby said. “Our movement should ask for the MTA to accept some oversight, some input, from a third-party neutral engineering MTA expert … we’d like to push the MTA to get together with us by the end of March.” Anyone interested in joining the L Train Coalition can send an email to ltraincoalition@ gmail.com to find out more information. Photo via Wikimedia Commons The L Train Coalition held a town hall meeting on Feb. 24 to update the community on the possible L train shutdown. Maspeth students ‘shine’ BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Martin Luther School (MLS), located at 60-02 Maspeth Ave. in Maspeth, is focused on highlighting its hardworking students and staff as well as their programs for current and prospective students alike. Recently, MLS announced the school’s Shining Stars of the month for January, including five students and one staff member. The winners are Kayla Felix, grade 12, from Ozone Park; Betsy (Minyan) Mo, grade 11, from China/Maspeth; David-Paul Schulze, grade 10, from Brooklyn; Natalie Caussin, grade 9, from Jackson Heights; Isabel Vera, in middle school, from Woodside; and Glenn Schuman, school staff, from Valley Stream. “The purpose of this program is to recognize members of the MLS family who work to the best of their ability,” said Ann Boyle, assistant principal at MLS. “To be chosen, students and staff members must display school pride and distinguish themselves in the areas of academics, leadership, athletics and/or community service. We’re very proud of the six individuals chosen this month.” In order to show prospective students what a day at MLS is like, the school will host a Buddy Day for fifth- through ninth-graders interested in either the middle school or high school admission for the 2016-2017 school year on Tuesday, March 15. Interested students will be paired with a current MLS student and will have the opportunity to experience a day in middle or high school. They will follow the schedule of their “buddy,” from English to math, gym to music. Lunch is provided as well. “This is a great way for students to get a feel for our school, to meet our faculty and staff, and to make some new friends with our current students,” said Donna Younghese, assistant principal. “Students who have participated in previous Buddy Days have enjoyed the chance to see firsthand all Martin Luther has to offer.” On Saturday, March 19, MLS will host an Academic Challenge for students in grades three through eight. The competition will consist of a number of challenges in a wide range of subjects including a spelling bee, Bible challenge, mathematics challenge, science challenge and geography challenge. Photo courtesy Martin Luther School Pictured from left to right are Martin Luther School’s Shining Stars of the Month: Natalie Caussin, ninth grade; Betsy (Minyan) Mo, 11th grade; David-Paul Schulze, 10th grade; Glenn Schuman, faculty and staff; Kayla Felix, 12th grade; Isabel Vera, middle school.


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