for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com may 2, 2013 • The CourieR SUN 3 s sandy aftermath BOUNCING BACK Petco, other shops overcome Sandy setbacks BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] As the days and months since Sandy tick by, businesses Free camp offered to Sandy victims BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] After a long season of hardship for young victims of Hurricane Sandy, one organization is working to give them a bright summer. The American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey is offering summer camp scholarships to children of families greatly impacted by the storm through its Heal the Children program. “Representing a community that was devastated by Sandy, I know firsthand the suffering New Yorkers endured, particularly our children,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who helped announce the free summer camp program. “By providing free camp time, the association is giving children something wonderful to which they can look forward, and giving their parents the freedom to focus on recovering and rebuilding.” The American Camp Association established its Heal the Children program to help young people affected by the 9/11 attacks. The organization concluded that children who endured Sandy could similarly benefit from the program. “In the aftermath of Sandy, we once again saw children in our communities suffering great loss, and once again the summer camp community responded by giving these children a safe and wonderful summer at camp, allowing them to leave their troubles behind, even if just for a short time,” said Scott Ralls, American Camp Association president. For more information, contact the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey at 212-391- 5208. in south Queens are rising from the rubble and returning to normalcy. There was “paws” for applause on Saturday, April 27 as the Howard Beach Petco reopened. It had closed six months ago due to damage from Sandy. Animals both big and small—all the way down to crickets— were evacuated before the storm, according to general manager Victor Aponte. He regularly communicated with his corporate affiliates. They decided to move the animals and their habitats to other locations in Queens and Brooklyn. By the time flood waters from Sandy had ebbed back into Jamaica Bay, Petco and many other Cross Bay Boulevard businesses were considerably damaged. Aponte said floors had to be ripped up and the whole shop was inspected for mold. Before the storm, there were 15 staffers at Petco, many of them living in the community. They were not only worried about damage to their homes and properties. They also had concerns about their jobs. However, staffers were relocated to other stores in Utica and College Point. Now that the store has reopened, staff and community members couldn’t be happier, Aponte said. Shoppers and their four-legged friends came to the store all day Saturday, making use of special bonuses and grabbing giveaways. Rich Naimoli of Ozone Park said he had been shopping at another pet store on Cross Bay Boulevard, but it did not compare to the variety and help at Petco. He added that he and his wife, who own three dogs, were thrilled the Howard Beach pet shop was up and running again. “I’m just happy they’re back,” Naimoli said. Aponte said while Petco was part of a corporate chain, he and the staff have tried to make it a community place where residents can get one-on-one help. There are now 17 staff members in all. The reopening, he said, was another step toward normalcy half a year after Sandy devastated the area. “It’s just exciting to get the neighborhood back to where we were before the hurricane,” Aponte said. “We really feel we’re a neighborhood store.” According to State Senator Joseph Addabbo’s office, eight businesses are still closed on Cross Bay Boulevard. Some were able to bounce back just weeks after floodwater caused thousands of dollars worth of damage. For others, it’s been a major struggle. It remains to be seen whether 7-Eleven and Jennifer Convertibles will reopen. However, Cross Bay Diner is slated to come back. Joe DeCandia, owner of Lenny’s Clam Bar, was back in business less than a month after the storm. He worked practically around the clock on repairs. Now, he said, the popular eatery along with most of the boulevard is in good shape. “We’re doing pretty good,” he said. “We’re up and running. We’re doing okay, thank God.” Charity aims to gives Sandy victims a boxful of comfort BY ANTHO NY O’REI LLY [email protected] A native New Yorker is helping people displaced by Sandy feel more at home. Pam Koner, executive director and founder of the Family-to-Family charity, has begun a program in which donors can buy boxes filled with food items and send them to Sandy victims. The “Comforts of Home” boxes, which cost $62 each, come with ingredients and staples such as beans and pasta. After the storm, Koner said she wanted to find a way for people to help the community rebuild. “It’s linking a family or an individual who has more with a family or individual who has less,” Koner explained. Alison Kase of Broad Channel received assistance from Family-to-Family. She said the program helped her get past the grief of losing everything. “It helped you through the point of hopelessness,” she recounted. “It made you feel like there is someone out there who wants to help.” The Family-to-Family program started about 10 years ago as a nationwide hunger relief program. Koner and her organization have visited disaster zones including New Orleans after Katrina and Joplin, Mississippi following the 2011 tornado. The inspiration for creating the Comforts of Home boxes came when Koner and other Familyto Family employees determined what they would miss if they were displaced from their homes. “It would be the aromas and taste of home,” Koner said. “So, I started thinking about how I could help another family feel like they had their home.” The boxes help recipient families keep up their sense of dignity, Koner said. “Here, people have been so dependent on volunteers,” Koner said. “Now people are having these things delivered to them and there’s such dignity around that. We’re trying to make them feel great, and they are so grateful.” The Comforts of Home boxes are available at www.family-to-family.org. THE COURIER/Photo by Terence M. Cullen Arthur and Sabrina Hall with their dog, Piper. Garden Center • Landscaping • Irrigation • Seasonal Decor 125 Crossbay Blvd. • Broad Channel • 718.869.3176 at the root of all your garden needs.
SC05022013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above