14 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 29, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
De Blasio to
bring City Hall
to Queens
next month
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
Get ready to see much more of
Mayor Bill de Blasio in Queens.
Th e mayor announced on Monday
that he would be running the city
out of Queens Borough Hall in Kew
Gardens the week of Monday, July
17, as part of his “City Hall in Your
Borough” initiative.
De Blasio will be bringing deputy
mayors and senior offi cials to Queens
to manage the city’s day-to-day operations
while also focusing on issues
around the “World’s Borough.” Earlier
this year, he held similar initiatives in
Staten Island and the Bronx.
“As we move City Hall from borough
to borough, we hope to continue building
a closer relationship between New
Yorkers and their city government,”
said de Blasio, who’s seeking a second
term as mayor this November. “In
Queens, we will continue focusing city
resources on the borough’s most pressing
needs.”
De Blasio’s agenda for the week in
Queens includes a cabinet meeting,
a resource fair and a town hall meeting
at a yet-to-be announced location.
He will also make the rounds in
Queens, stopping at points of interest
and events being held at that time.
Chirlane McCray, the city’s fi rst lady,
will also hold events in Queens during
the week.
Both de Blasio and Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz announced the
“City Hall in Your Borough” Queens
initiative in posts to their Twitter
accounts on Monday, June 27.
“Queens welcomes the administration
to Borough Hall and the opportunity
to engage on the needs and
challenges unique to the ‘World’s
Borough,’” Katz said. “With 2.3 million
residents, there will be much ground to
cover for the families of Queens.”
Th e full itinerary of Queens events
will be announced in the days to come,
according to the mayor’s offi ce.
Volunteers rebuilding home in St. Albans
BY JUSTIN BERGLUND
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
Habitat for Humanity New York City
and the Queens Coalition teamed up on
June 24 for their fi rst project together:
extensive renovations to the interior and
exterior of a St. Albans house.
Th e volunteers have started a full gut
rehabilitation of a home at the corner of
111th Avenue and 202nd Street. Much
of the exterior is already fi nished, and
the home is expected to be completed
next year.
It’s part of Habitat for Humanity’s
ongoing eff orts to transform lives and
communities by building and/or preserving
aff ordable homes throughout the fi ve
boroughs.
Karen Haycox, CEO of Habitat NYC,
was joined by future Habitat homeowners;
she spoke to volunteers about not
only how homeownership benefi ts the
family but also the value it brings to the
larger community.
“Community is at the center of Th e
Queens Coalition, and at Habitat NYC we
build aff ordable homes to the benefi t of
entire communities,” Haycox said. “We
are grateful for the faith- and community
based organizations that have joined
the coalition and committed to helping
revitalize homes in their own community.”
With the help of thousands of volunteers
each year, Habitat NYC builds and
repairs homes for families across the fi ve
boroughs.
Th e Queens Coalition, meanwhile, is
a group of faith and community organizations
in Queens that was launched
in January. It has committed to raising
fi nancial support and mobilizing volunteers
Volunteers outside the renovated home in St. Albans
to help rehabilitate and transform
20 dilapidated single-family homes in
Queens.
Th e coalition’s members include Sacred
Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church,
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of the
Blessed Sacrament Academy, American
Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Grace
Episcopal Church, Sisters of Charity
and St. Robert Bellarmine Knights of
Columbus.
“I am from Queens and have seen fi rsthand
how when we work together, we can
help build better communities. I am excited
to be a part of the Queens Coalition
and give back in my own backyard,” said
Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity NYC
Ryan Bacci, a volunteer with the Queens
Coalition. “Th is is more than a single day
of service; we are fundraising, building,
and making noise about Habitat NYC’s
work in Queens because we are invested
in our neighborhood and the families
who call it home.”
Th e coalition has a fundraising goal of
$53,000 as well as a commitment to mobilize
monthly construction volunteers and
raise awareness about the ReStore and
Habitat NYC advocacy initiatives.
Learn more about Habitat for Humanity
NYC and see updates from the build at
www.HabitatNYC.org or follow them on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @
HabitatNYC.
New ride added next door to Forest Park Carousel
BY JUSTIN BERGLUND
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
Business will really be hopping soon at
the Forest Park Carousel.
Th e operators of the landmark merrygo
round will be introducing a new kiddie
ride, Th e Frog Hopper, on July 1 near
the carousel.
Frog Hopper, which is a tower-drop
ride, pulls riders gently to the top before
they are sent for a ride that is one giggle
inducing jump aft er another. Children
and parents alike can ride it.
“We’re happy to bring this new ride to
the Forest Park Carousel,” said Daeshawn
Grimes, park manager of the Forest Park
Carousel. “Th e hopping and free-fall
experience of the Frog Hopper is the perfect
addition to complement our other
rides and games.”
Forest Park Carousel is also off ering a
special deal, off ering free Frog Hopper
rides to the fi rst 100 guests on Opening
Day. Guests must be at least 42” tall to ride
Th e Frog Hopper alone. Children between
36” and 42” tall may ride with an adult
capable of ensuring the child’s compliance
with all safety rules. An adult accompanying
these riders can go on for free.
“We wanted to install an attraction
that children and parents could enjoy
together,” says David P. Galst, managing
director of NY Carousel, which
operates the Forest Park Carousel and
the nearby snack bar, game stations
and the Woodhaven Express, a classic
choo-choo train ride near the merry
go-round.
Carousel operators sees Th e Frog
Hopper as another addition to the carousel
area as it continues its transition
from a single ride operation to a small
family amusement park.
Photo by Demetrius Freeman/
Mayoral Photography Offi ce
Mayor Bill de Blasio, shown at a town hall
meeting in Bayside last year, will be spending
a week in Queens this July.
Photo courtesy of NY Carousel
The Frog Hopper, the newest attraction at the Forest Park Carousel, will debut this Saturday.