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RPOCA Talks Historic Home Repair Loans & Toilet Replacement Upon receiving an application from a property owner, she stated, the conservancy will inspect the property to determine if it meets qualifications. Homeowners approved to receive loans would be required to provide a commitment fee of 1 percent of the loan amount. Thereafter, Walsh stated, the conservancy will arrange for architects and experts to plan the scope of work and “vet and qualify” workers for the project. Once the work is completed to the satisfaction of the conservancy, it will release the loan proceeds to the homeowner, who then pays the contractors. For more information, visit www.nylandmarks.org or call 1-212- 995-5260. Flushing away bad toilets In the years ahead, homeowners across the city will be paid to replace their inefficient toilets, according to Vlada Kenniff, director of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Water Demand Management division. Kenniff explained the DEP’s Toilet Replacement Program, which is part of the agency’s “Water for the Future” initiative, aimed at reducing the city’s daily water consumption of 1 billion gallons. The initiative was launched in advance of the impending closure of the Delaware Aqueduct, one of the city’s main tunnels bringing in water from upstate reservoirs, for repairs. The aqueduct is currently leaking between 15 and 30 million gallons of water each day, according to Kenniff, and it will be closed for several years to complete the repairs. With the city’s water capacity scheduled to be reduced, she noted, theWater for the Future program was created to boost water conservation citywide. The Toilet Replacement Program is modeled after a successful campaign conducted by the DEP in the 1990s that reduced stress on the city’s water treatment plants, Kenniff stated. Homeowners would be offered vouchers of up to $125 to purchase high efficiency toilets using 1.6 gallons or less of water per flush. Kenniff stated the first phase of the program will focus on properties with four or more units, while the second half would apply to owners of smaller dwellings. When finished, the city hopes to reduce water consumption by as much as 30 million gallons per day. Property owners can obtain the vouchers through their “My DEP” online accounts at www.nyc.gov/dep. Once obtained, owners must use the vouchers within 90 days to purchase high-efficiency toilets from one of five approved vendors citywide. After installing the new toilets, the old devices must be brought back to the vendor for recycling and the property owner must send the city a notarized form indicating completion of the work, Kenniff said. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dep or call 311. Membership appeal Charles Ober, RPOCA president, encouraged members to assist the civic group in its membership drive, offering two incentives for their participation. Ober stated the civic group would provide a free, one-year membership to any RPOCA member in good standing who recruits three new members. That member would also be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new iPad. The civic president stressed the importance of broadening its base, noting that its membership has aged and declined in recent years. An influx of new members, he indicated, would help boost its ability to advocate in the neighborhood’s best interests. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, who stopped by last Thursday’s meeting, echoed those sentiments, adding that civic activism on a personal basis remains important even as technological advances tend to keep people apart from one another. “It’s so important to get out to interact with your neighbors, not just during the warm weather days, but certainly at civic meetings,” he said. “It’s a way that you get to interact with your elected officials. It’s a way to find out that a problem you may be having on your block is shared by your neighbors, and how we can address that issue together.” “We’re losing that social interaction, and it’s a shame,” the senator added. “So grab your neighbor, get out ... and maybe learn something. It’s good for a person to be social, to get out there and say hello to your neighbors.” Other news Kerzner advised the civic group is negotiating a bulk deal with Kidde to purchase photoelectric, combined smoke/carbon monoxide detectors at a discount to members. The devices, which run on a 10-year battery, retail for about $42, but Kerzner indicated Kidde was willing to offer them to RPOCA members for between $25 and $28. Once the final detector price is set, the civic group will purchase 1,000 devices “off the press” and resell them to RPOCA members, Kerzner stated. Further details will be published as they are made available. Jamie Taratoot of Linden Street distributed to members plastic signs she created advising advertising distributors not to leave circulars or junk mail on their property. She created the signs after being inundated with unwanted fliers and the distributors ignored her calls to stop.U nder state law, advertisers cannot distribute circulars to homes which post signage indicating they do not want to receive such fliers. Companies that ignore the signs face financial penalties from the state. Addabbo announced the senior citizen job fair he held in Kew Gardens brought over 700 individuals looking for work, a sure sign of a pressing need in the community. As a result, he committed to holding additional job fairs for seniors in the years to come. The legislative session in Albany is drawing to a close, and while Addabbo indicated things appear quiet in the homestretch, the legislature may take up a bill to authorize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. “We hear from doctors that if we regulate it correctly, it’s not about making money, it’s about making someone’s life easier when they are terminally ill and in pain,” he said. The senator also announced he is co-sponsoring with Assemblyman Mike Miller a safety and health fair on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forest Park Bandshell parking lot, located off Forest Park Drive nearWoodhaven Boulevard. Addabbo is also holding a small business seminar featuring various city and state agencies on Wednesday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Emanuel Church of Christ, located at the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and 91st Street inWoodhaven. The Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association will not meet in July and August. Their next meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. at a location to be announced. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Busy Burglar Lands In Handcuffs -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- stealing personal and valuable items.” According to the criminal complaints, Garcia broke into five Queens homes between May 6 and June 6 and stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and other items. Reportedly, police officers assigned to the NYPD Burglary Larceny Apprehension Surveillance Team (BLAST) were investigating a pattern of residential burglaries last Friday, June 6, when Garcia was observed entering a rear yard on 117th Street in South Ozone Park, prying open a window and entering the residence. After a short period of time, Garcia was allegedly observed leaving the rear yard with a bag he had not been carrying when he entered the dwelling. It is alleged that, as BLAST officers approached Garcia, he dropped the bag and fled on foot. Law enforcement sources said Garcia was apprehended a block away, where he allegedly resisted arrest by flailing his arms and legs in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed and placed under arrest. It is additionally alleged that in retrieving the bag that Garcia dropped, police discovered it contained a Sony PlayStation, controllers and other accessories. Police also allegedly recovered a bracelet and a chain that Garcia had on his person. The four additional burglaries allegedly occurred on May 6 on 109th Street in South Ozone Park; on May 13 on 135th Avenue in South Ozone Park; on May 23 on 83rd Street in Ozone Park; and on May 30 on 113th Street in Ozone Park. The investigation was conducted by P.O. Kevin Stewart of the NYPD Grand Larceny Division and others under the supervision of Lt. Rohan Griffith and the overall supervision of Inspector Kevin Harrington, commander of the Grand Larceny Division, and Chief of Detectives Robert K. Boyce; and by members of the 106th Precinct Detective Squad. SeniorAssistant DistrictAttorney Marnie Lobel of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District AttorneysAnthonyM. Communiello, bureau chief, and Oscar W. Ruiz, deputy bureau chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney Linda M. Cantoni. It was noted that criminal charges are merely accusations and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. HAVEYOU READABOOK WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY? TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 • 52 MVPORA Leadership Looks To Keep Group Alive -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- civic will endure. The meeting tomorrow will be with “potential new officers,” and remaining board members, with the purpose “to reenergize the property owners and continue the good work we’ve done for 75 years, Candela said. He remains committed to MVPORA, and wants “the organization to come back stronger than ever in September,” when if all goes to plan the next meting will be held. Addabbo updates civic At the MVPORA meeting Monday, June 9, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo came to address the civic association on his work in Albany, and talked about some legislation that might come to the floor in the last days of the session before the summer break. There were just eight session days left, Addabbo said Monday night. “I don’t foresee any craziness up there,” he said. But there are some items that could come to the floor in the last week, including a medical marijuana legalization item the Assembly has already passed, that “could go to the Senate,” he said. “It would be for medical purposes only,” he told MVPORA. Addabbo told the civic he wants to see the details, examine the fine print, but if it’s regulated properly, he will support it. He believes terminally-ill patients can benefit from marijuana. Addabbo said he thinks medicinal marijuana can help people, and he will support the bill if it remains controlled, out of the hands of illegal users. He then fielded some questions from the group about age requirements for medicinal marijuana. “I believe it’s above minors,” Addabbo said. “I have to take another look at the exact language. It is a step.” In-between the questions and Addabbo’s response, Candela interjected to relate the story of a girl in Colorado that suffered chronic seizures; her parents wanted to explore marijuana as medication, but were told she could not have it prescribed because she wasn’t of age. She eventually did begin taking it medicinally and, “she now has less than one seizure a month,” Candela said. While Addabbo is wary of abuse, he questioned the rationale for excluding minors if they can benefit from the medicine. “Why exclude children is a good point,” he said. He also addressed the Department of Sanitation of New York’s (DSNY) Organics Collection pilot program. He told the group his office is organizing a town hall to discuss the pilot compost program in Queens, because many of his constituents have expressed confusion, are looking for answers and are concerned about attracting racoons, possums or rodents after leaving food scraps on the sidewalk. The pilot program was initiated in 2012 in parts of Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island. Its continued and been expanded under the new sanitation commissioner, Kathryn Garcia. “She’s very environmental,” Addabbo said. Addabbo expressed concern that the special bags for collection are too expensive, should be distributed free, or at lower cost and that the weight of trash bags full of discarded organics might be too heavy for seniors to drag out to the curb. “I think the kinks need to be worked out, but remember it’s a pilot program. You are not required to participate,” he said. “I’m not that crazy about it at this point,” he added. “In the next weeks a town hall might be appropriate.” In slightly touching on the discontinuation issue, Addabbo thanked all the board members and everyone that attends,. “To Sal, to all the board members, thank you for your hard work and dedication trying to make sure Middle Village is a great place,” he said. The next meeting of the Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Margaret Parish Hall, 66-05 79th Pl. Shop Locally! Support Your Area Merchants


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