28 times • NOVEMBER 12, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com FoR BREaKING NEws VIsIT www.qns.com 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS Thomas DowD President star Friends oF the ridgewood LibrAry OF PERSONAl BACkgROUNd: queens Thomas Dowd’s roots in Ridgewood, Queens, trace back to his grandfather’s immigration here in 1890. He was raised in Ridgewood where he attended St. Matthias School. In 1979, he returned to Ridgewood and bought a one-family home with his wife around the corner from his childhood home. PROFESSiONAl BACkgROUNd In the 1960’s, Dowd attended NYU, where he majored in journalism. Soon after he was hired to write for the New London Day. Dowd decided to join the Peace Corps, where he served as an agricultural marketing organizer, stationed in Columbia for two years. He went back to school to earn his master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh, where he met his current wife of 44 years and interned with the United Nations. He gained an association with the Earth Society Foundation and worked on the original Earth Days for two years. He returned to New York, where he spent the rest of his career working on Wall Street with computer systems relating to telecommunications with companies such as Merill Lynch. He also worked as a project manager for IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. After retirement he shifted his focus to civics work, often being called a “civic activist.” He is currently the president of the Friends of the Ridgewood Library. He is also on the board of directors at the Onderdonk House, serves as chairman of Boy Scout Troop 327, works with the Earth Society Foundation, and is a member of Community Board 5 and its Parks Committee. His main practice consists of working to reserve the Ridgewood Reservoir, a natural phenomenon formed by a glacier ages ago. gREATEST AChiEvEmENT Other than his two children, Dowd’s greatest achievement has been getting all local elected officials to agree with his point of view of preserving the reservoir. The Ridgewood Reservoir was made into an environmental center seven years ago. Dowd and his team have since been fighting to preserve the reservoir and stopping the plan to fill it with 100,000 truck loads of dirt from Jamaica Bay. This would destroy the endangered wetland plants that live in the reservoir as well as disturb the Atlantic Flyway, the bird and insect migration route that cuts across the reservoir. The area has led to the breeding of more than 150 different species of birds. BiggEST ChAllENgE Dowd and the community board underwent a seven-year struggle to contest brought to you by SCOTT BARON & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 CUTLER’S REPAIRS LAMP SHADE SALE 12 years this be saving 10%ANY With Coupon.Limit Excludes CUTLER’S 516-Photo courtesy of Phil Andrews the Parks Department’s plan to fill the reservoir out of fear of a possible flooding hazard. They were able to reach a level of cooperation that included repairing the dam of the reservoir so as to not disturb the wildlife. mOTivATiON TO CONTRiBUTE TO ThE COmmUNiTy Dowd has been a lifelong Ridgewood resident, which fuels his motivation to help this community. His experience with the eagle scouts and the Peace Corps as a community organizer also has influenced his desire to be active in Ridgewood. As president of the Friends of the Ridgewood library, he recently worked with his wife and the library to raise $12,000 for new library books. In recent years Dowd has noticed a new wave of immigrants as well as talent in Ridgewood, many of whom frequently visit the library. He is working to “integrate the newly arrived art community into the work of the library.” He believes “the new artists have a lot to contribute to the community so the merge has to happen.” He is hoping that people can pull together to serve new community members. Many of them visit the library for their collection of six language programs. “The library is a hub of cultural integration and I’m really happy to be part of that.” Looking forward, Dowd is hoping to host a pilgrimage around the reservoir while discussing climate change as an ethical and moral issue. BY BROOKE SMITH dining out A century of ice cream View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com What is the only thing better than an ice cream sundae? A century-old ice cream parlor that has been serving homemade ice cream, malts, sundaes, sodas and egg creams since they opened the doors in 1909. At Eddie’s Sweet Shop, you can saddle up on a vintage bar stool, peruse a laminated menu boasting the nearly 20 classic fl avors all made in-house, and then blanket it all with a selection of homemade toppings and syrups. Banana splits arrive loaded to the max, marshmallow lusciously drips from an old-school stemmed dish, and homemade sodas arrive in classic nickel silver holders. Of course you can always enjoy an icy treat served in a simple, classic cone. For a real all-American frozen dessert, this is the only place you will need to stop. So grab a scoop, and then plop down to admire the colorful cast of characters certain to be seated around you. A lazy afternoon doesn’t get much better than this. Photos by Bradley Hawks EDDIE’S SWEET SHOP 105-29 Metropolitan Avenue #1 Forest Hills, NY 11375 718-520-8514
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