FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com JUNE 11, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 3 CB 10 says no to juvenile justice program BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua The construction of a Close to Home juvenile justice program in South Ozone Park was the hot topic during the Community Board 10 (CB 10) meeting on June 4. The proposed facility in South Ozone Park has angered residents, who say that the city has already opened a number of social service programs in the community, including an adult men’s shelter and a Close to Home non-secure facility. The Close to Home juvenile justice program would be a limited secure facility featuring a perimeter fence with lighting, gated windows, locked doors and surveillance cameras. The facility is planned for 133-23 127 St., one block away from the non-secure facility and close to Skyway Men’s Shelter. Board 10 sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 23 to discuss the Fair Share Assessment, a mandate “to further the fair distribution of the burdens and benefits associated with city facilities,” according to nyc.gov. Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Gladys Carrion responded to the letter and Betty Braton, CB 10 chair, read the letter aloud to everyone in attendance. “I understand your concerns about the perceived negative impact of the LSP limited secure placement residential facility and the concentration of facilities in the South Ozone Community Board 10 residents expressed their opposition to a proposed Close to Home juvenile justice program. Park community,” Carrion said in the letter. “However as described in the analysis, a review of residential facilitates in Community District 10 found that it ranked 57th in the citywide ranking of residential beds by community district with a ratio of 4.5 residential beds per 1,000 people. The citywide average is 19 beds per 1,000 people and the average in Queens is 19.9.” Braton penned a letter in response to Carrion and also read it aloud on Thursday. “Although we appreciate your response, it does not address adequately the concerns of the residents in the area immediately surrounding the location,” Braton said. “It does not alter our board’s view or our community’s view that the site selected is inappropriate…While we understand your analysis of residential facilities in our district, we continue to maintain that your decision to place an LSP facility in immediate proximity to another, albeit one less secure, is a poor decision in that it implies that impacts on a community from one type of residential bed facility versus THE COURIER/Photo by Angela Matua another type of residential bed facility are no different from each other.” Braton’s letter was met with cheers, especially from residents standing in the back of the Knights of Columbus hall who held signs opposing the facility. Johiah Rose, director of constituent affairs at Councilman Ruben Wills‘ office, who is strongly against the construction of the facility, thanked the community board for its efforts and said Wills’ office has been using the media to highlight ACS’ mishandling of the issue. Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens celebrates milestones BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected]/AngelaMatua Maple Grove Cemetery had a historic weekend marking three milestones affecting the Kew Gardens burial grounds. The cemetery commemorated the sesquicentennials of both the end of the Civil War and the formation of the New York U.S. Colored Troops (NY USCT), the first regiment of color, as well as the 140th anniversary of Maple Grove’s foundation. Queens residents were treated to a concert on Saturday featuring 12 musicians who performed classical pieces, marches, ballads, lullabies and jazz. Each piece that was performed honored a musician who was buried at the cemetery. “Requiem for a Soldier” was also performed to honor veterans buried in Maple Grove such as Joseph Teagle, a Civil War veteran who moved to Jamaica after his service. The 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War was celebrated on Sunday with the help of the USCT reenactors. The group provides educational enrichment programs, demonstrations, talks at living history events, classrooms and battle reenactments. Artifacts were also on display, including furniture and photographs from the Civil War era. According to Friends of Maple Grove President Carl Ballenas, the event was a success. “We had crowds coming in nonstop,” he said. The reenactors guided patrons to several sites in the cemetery where people connected to the Civil War are interred. They included Henry Heath, who was captured in battle and was one of the first people to be involved in a prisoner exchange during the war; and Millie Tunnel, a slave who moved to Jamaica when she was freed. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Councilman Rory Lancman attended the event to help lay a wreath at the site of the Shiloh Church monument. It was recently discovered that 300 congregants of the Shiloh Church, the first African-American church in Manhattan founded in 1822, were moved to the Maple Grove Cemetery in 1877. The church was often visited by Frederick Douglas, a famous abolitionist and writer. “People expressed delight and joy at such an important event in Queens and how extraordinary it was for both young and old,” Ballenas said. Photo courtesy of Carl Ballenas Maple Grove Cemetery was host to several celebrations last weekend, including the 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War.
SC06112015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above