16 JULY 11, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Supermarket to replace shuttered Sizzler
BY MAX PARROTT
MPARROTT@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
When the Forest Hills Sizzler,
the last in the northeast,
closed down in 2015, it left
more than just an absence of buff etstyle
home-cooking and chargrilled
steak. Residents said it lowered the
quality of life in the neighborhood.
Now after being empty for almost
four years, the former steakhouse
at 100-27 Metropolitan Ave. will be
replaced by a supermarket.
New Department of Buildings
filings, approved on May 30, outlined
renovations to the existing building,
with new finishes, partitions and a
new certificate of occupancy, but do
not include any major changes to the
building itself.
The property’s current commercial
zoning typically grocery stores,
restaurants and beauty parlors, so
the property owner will be able to
make the changes as-of-right. It also
indicates that the new supermarket
will have 22 designated parking
spaces.
Neighbors have complained that
The former Sizzler restaurant on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills. Photo: Robert Pozarycki/QNS
the closure of Sizzler in 2015 led to a
decrease in their quality of life as the
result of homeless people camping
out in the parking lot, according to
district manager Frank Gulluscio.
“We’re happy it’s getting cleaned
up and happy that there’s something
in there we’ll hopefully like,” said
Gulluscio.
As to what that grocery store will
actually be, “that’s the question of
the day,” Gulluscio said, noting that
the building owner has not had to
go through the community board to
make the proposed changes.
“At the end of the day, I hope they
do reach out to us as a good neighbor,”
he said.
While the developer on the DOB
filing Peter Bivona declined to
identify the kind of grocery store that
would be moving, the application lists
the business’s name as Metropolitan
Food Court.
St. John’s Prep appoints two new leaders
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
Two longtime teachers at St.
John’s Preparatory School in
Astoria have been appointed
to key leadership positions.
The St. John’s Prep board of
trustees named Nuala Martinez as
its new president and Maria Johnson
as the school’s new principal.
Martinez has served 32 years
as a math teacher, mathematics
department chairperson and
assistant principal for administrative
affairs. Johnson, meanwhile, has
served 34 years as a social studies
teacher, social studies department
chairperson and assistant principal
of student life.
Both women are passionately
committed to continuing and
promoting the Vincentian Mission
as they prepare to celebrate the 15th
anniversary of St. John’s Prep, which
was founded in 1870.
Martinez and Johnson have
followed his teachings and have
dedicated their lives to embracing
and to affirming the dignity of
their students. Their goals are clear
in preparing students to be leaders
not only in academic excellence but
also, and more importantly in faith,
values, integrity, and service.
Martinez said that she “intends to
establish new sources of revenue, to
create and encourage vibrant alumni
participation, to develop strong
lasting partnerships and to seek
opportunities for future academic
advancement and growth.”
Martinez and Johnson will work as
a team to develop new and engaging
programs in areas of technology,
science, mathematics and research.
The have already begun plans
for expanding STEAM programs,
enriching present curricula and
creating effective and supportive
ways of meeting individual student
needs.
“The legacy of a St. John’s Prep
education is the development of
a deep and abiding sense of faith,
the creation of school culture
that is welcoming and supportive
of all students and serves as the
inspiration for a life-long journey
of learning,” Johnson said.
St. John’s Prep in Astoria announces that Nualla Martinez has been
appointed president and Maria Johnson is named principal of the Astoria
school. Courtesy of St. John’s Prep
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