8 THE QUEENS COURIER • SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
These Queens fi rehouses will accept donations for Hurricane Maria victims
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
Aft er Hurricane Maria devastated
Puerto Rico, destroying homes and killing
at least 10 people, Mayor Bill de Blasio
is asking residents to donate critical supplies
to the island.
Th e mayor announced on Friday that
18 fi rehouses and EMS stations would be
collecting critical supplies from 7 a.m. to
9 p.m. De Blasio has not yet announced
an end date for this drive.
New York City has a large Puerto Rican
population — more than 700,000 — and
several elected offi cials from the commonwealth
who still have family living
there are urging New Yorkers to donate.
“Donations of necessities – such as baby
food, feminine hygiene products and fi rst
aid supplies – are of utmost importance
aft er any natural disaster, and can help
relieve the burden on residents and families
who are struggling aft er the impact
of the recent storm,” said Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito, who moved to New York
from Puerto Rico at 18. “I strongly encourage
New Yorkers to donate at their nearest
participating fi rehouse or EMS station, or
volunteer in whichever capacity possible.”
Th e island’s power grid has been completely
destroyed, making it hard for family
members to get in touch. Puerto Rico’s
Governor Ricardo Rosselló has said it
may take months to restore power.
At a press conference to announce the
assistance New York is sending to Puerto
Rico, Mark-Viverito said several elected
offi cials have not been able to get in touch
with family members.
Engine 316 at 27-12 Kearney Street in
East Elmhurst; Engine 289/Ladder 138 at
97-28 43rd Ave. in Corona; and Engine
307/Ladder 154 at 81-17 Northern Blvd.
in Jackson Heights are all accepting the
following donations:
• Diapers
• Baby food
• Batteries
• First-aid supplies
• Feminine hygiene products
NYPD, FDNY and Offi ce of Emergency
Management personnel will head down
to Puerto Rico to help with recovery
eff orts and the mayor said he will accommodate
city employees who want to travel
to the island to help. City residents can
also visit nyc.gov/fund to donate specifically
to Puerto Rico. You can also visit
Hispanicfederation.org/donate to donate
to the Hispanic Federation’s relief eff orts.
Astoria's Chappetto Square getting a makeover
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
Dozens of parks across the city are in
the process of being renovated as a part of
the mayor’s Community Parks Initiative,
and Chappetto Square in Astoria has
been added to the list.
In 2014, the city embarked on a mission
to restore 35 community parks
around the fi ve boroughs. In 2016, that
number increased to 67 parks, and
on Sept. 25, Mayor Bill do Blasio and
Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver
announced in Astoria that Chappetto
Square would be among the latest spaces
to receive a “full reconstruction.”
“When we talk about improving
parks in New York City, we’re really
talking about improving the lives
of New Yorkers,” de Blasio said. “Th e
Community Parks Initiative focuses on
parks and neighborhoods that have faced
the most historic disinvestment and serve
dense, growing populations so every New
Yorker can be proud of their neighborhood
park.”
Th e parks chosen as part of the initiative
are in neighborhoods where there are
higher concentrations of poverty where
parks and green spaces have not recieved
attention. A total of $318 million will be
allocated to parks that have received less
than $250,000 over the past 20 years.
Chappetto Square, located near the
RFK Bridge along Hoyt Avenue North,
includes a memorial to Peter Chappetto,
an Astoria resident who was killed in
action during World War II. It previously
acted as a roller hockey fi eld though residents
now use it to play volleyball, soccer
and soft ball.
Anthony Liberatoscioli, a board member
of the Astoria Park Alliance, said that
the park is heavily utilized by the community
and is also where his daughter
learned how to ride a bike. Th ough he is
happy to see money allocated to the space
for improvements, he would like to see
the Parks Department retain its features.
“I believe that Chappetto Square
retains a tremendous amount of value
to the community as an open, paved,
gated space, and I would hate to see that
changed through over development,” he
said. “Th e open nature allows it to be a
very multipurpose destination that works
well for dog owners who come in the
mornings, young children on bikes and
scooters in the aft ernoon, and the volleyball
games in the evenings.”
Th e money, he argues, should go to
adding and improving the amenities that
already exist at Chappetto Square.
For example, more benches around the
perimeter would allow patrons not playing
volleyball to have a place to sit and
watch the games. Th ere are currently only
two benches at the space and most people
are forced to sit on the ground when
not playing.
Additional trees and shade structures
would create a more comfortable atmosphere
for children and parents and a
water fountain with a bottle fi lling station
and lowered spigot for dogs could greatly
improve the experience for park goers
and pets, he said.
Th e ground is also sloped, which forces
water to collect on the southeast corner
of the park near the Chappetto memorial.
“In this time of Zika, having a regularly
occurring large standing pool of water is
a health hazard,” he said.
Th e design process will start in October
and reconstruction will be completed
sometime in the winter of 2020 or
2021. Th e Department of Environmental
Preservation will also allocate $50 million
to the parks to install green infrastructuresuch
as rain gardens. Green infrastructure
collects rain to keep it out of the sewer system
and helps to reduce sewer overfl ows.
“Th e Community Parks Initiative has
already begun to improve under-served
parks in Astoria including Van Alst
and Astoria Heights Playgrounds,” said
Councilman Costa Constantinides. “We
are looking forward to seeing upgrades at
Chappetto Square. Th e capital improvements
and added infrastructure upgrades
will be enjoyed by children and families.”
Photo courtesy of OEM
Queens fi rehouses will be accepting donations
to send to victims of Hurricane Maria.
Photo via Parks Department
Chappetto Square in Astoria will receive a
makeover as part of the Community Parks
Initiative.
11/15/17 11/15/17
FALL SPECIALS
11/15/17
Encore Premium
$169
VARILUX
PROGRESSIVE LENSES
No-line Bifocals W/ Metal Frame
Select frames with clear plastic no-line lenses
+/- 4 sph, 2 cyl. Not valid with any other
offers, sales, vision plan packages. Must
present prior to purchase. Offer valid at
location only. Some restrictions apply
see store for details.
Expires 11/15/17
With the purchase of glasses,
contact lens exam & fitting add'l.
QC
$100 OFF
DESIGNER FRAMES
PLUS FREE 2ND PAIR
Includes EYE EXAM Frames & Lenses
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
clear plastic, single vision lenses +/-4 sph., 2 cyl.
Not valid with any other offers,
Expires 11/15/17