8 The Courier sun • MARCH 21, 2013 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Community Boards split on USTA St. Helen’s CYO champs On Saturday, March 16, St. Helen’s 3rd grade team won the CYO Brooklyn Queens Tournament championship game 28-15 against Bayside’s Sacred Heart. The tournament started with a pool of 24 4th grade teams, and this 3rd grade team played against older competition and came out on top. It wasn’t an easy game though, and Sacred Heart came out shooting strong from the start, and by halftime St. Helen’s was down by one point. St. Helen got nervous, but that’s when the defense stepped it up and only gave up 3 points in the entire second half, highlighted by two spectacular diving out of bound saves by Alex Loprinzi and Joey Frazzetta. The offense was perfectly orchestrated by the terrific guard play and scoring by John McCabe, the shot blocking and rebounding of Marco Jannis, and the very timely 3 pointers by Anthony Russo. I’m sure you are going to hear more about this team for many years to come. St. Helen’s 3rd grade CYO Brooklyn Queens Tournament champs: Top row: Coach: Nick LoPrinzi, Brian Weigand, Matthew Bodziony, John McCabe, Marco Jannis, Alexander Michael, James Fleming, Anthony Gurino, Coach John McCabe. Bottom row: Nico Parrinello, Joey Frazzetta, Alex LoPrinzi, David Leibman, Anthony Russo, Michael DeRicco. Not pictured are Brandon Kreitsch and John Rodriguez Photo Courtesy Paul Parrinello BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] The votes are in on the muchdebated expansions to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and the results are mixed. Half of the six voting Community Boards are in favor of the US Tennis Association (USTA) moving 0.68 acres out of its current property — so long as the organization meets certain conditions set by each board. Board 6 voted 21-6 and Board 8 26-8 in favor on Wednesday, March 13; Communty Board 3 voted 33-1 against the next night. The six advisory decisions will now go to Borough President Helen Marshall, who has 60 days to decide on the expansions. Marshall’s decision then goes to the City Council and the City Planning Commission. Marshall will hold a forum on the plan April 4 at Borough Hall. The Borough Board, led by Marshall, will vote on the plan April 8. Two boards voted against the proposal last week, one of which could switch to yes if USTA meets nine regulations — similar to those set by other boards — including setting up a conservancy for the park. Community Board 7 voted yes, but with eight conditions, on March 11. Each board has recommended USTA discount court prices for seniors and children, and invest in the park’s crumbling facilities. “Community Board review was the first step in a multi-layered governmental review process that also includes the borough president, City Planning, City Council and State Legislature,” said Tennis Center Chief Operating Officer Danny Zausner. “We look forward to continuing our dialogue as we move through the different phases.” Parkland advocates against the plan, however, say they’re going to continue informing residents of the downside of the plans. “I think the community boards’ vote will have no impact whatsoever on the BP’s vote or the City Council members,” said NYC Park Advocates president Geoffrey Croft. “They seem perfectly willing to give away additional parkland to this private business for concessions.” Renderings courtesy of USTA If approved, the expansions at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center would include a new stadium and the removal of 0.68 acres of parkland. New board for CB 9 BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] Community Board 9 elected new members at its March meeting. Public Safety committee chair Jim Coccovillo was unanimously named new board chair. Ivan Mrakovcic moved up a spot from second vice chair to become first vice chair, succeeding Rabbi Daniel Pollack. Mrakovcic’s spot was taken by Andrea Crawford, who has led the board for the last three years. Raghbir Singh was voted executive secretary to replace Clark Whitsett. “I think that we have a really good board. This board is known throughout Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn,” Crawford said at the onset of elections. “I’d like to thank you for the support that you’ve given me over the last three years.” New board members will officially take over at the April meeting.
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