4 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 7, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Community works to
raise funds for sick
Whitestone infant
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Whitestone
residents are
coming together
to help a local
family as they
care for their
sick infant.
Five-monthold
Stevie Skaats
was born with a
rare genetic disease
on June 4,
according to
a GoFundMe
page created by
the child’s aunt,
April Leavy.
Local residents
and parents Ann
and Steve Skaats
were recently
able to bring
their new addition
Photo via GoFundMe/April Leavy
Young Whitestone resident
Stevie Skaats, who is receiving
treatment for a rare genetic
disease
to the family home aft er he spent 150 days
in the hospital receiving treatment.
“Ann has opened up their lives to us and
shares the good, the bad, and the ugly with
each of us on a daily basis,” April Leavy wrote
on the fundraising page. “What an incredible
journey we have all shared.”
Care for Stevie includes medical equipment
to facilitate breathing and eating, as well
20-hour care from a registered nurse. Mother
Ann Skaats has had to leave her job to care for
her son, who is slated to to have an upcoming
medical stay in Canada, where he will receive
life-saving treatment, according to Leavy.
“Everyone has their own issues,” Leavy
wrote. “I was hoping together, we can make
Ann, Steve, and Stevie’s a little easier.”
So far, nearly $15,000 has been raised
through the page from friends, family and
concerned community members. Donors
have commented with prayers, good wishes
and words of encouragement for the new
parents.
Stevie’s anxious grandparents, who are also
longtime Whitestone residents, reached out
to Alfredo Centola, president of the We
Love Whitestone Civic Association, for help
spreading the word. Th e campaign has since
been shared via the civic’s email list and
Facebook page to drum up support.
According to the latest update on the page
from Leavy, the sick infant went through surgery
on Nov. 29.
View the GoFundMe page by visiting www.
gofundme.com/stevie-skaats-medical-fund.
Contact information for Leavy can also be
found on the page, as well as updates on
Stevie’s condition.
In the past, Whitestone residents have
stepped up for other young residents struggling
with medical conditions numerous
times. Just earlier this year, community members
came up with creative ways to raise funds
to support medical treatments for Chloe
Mitchell, a fi rst-grade student at P.S. 193
diagnosed with leukemia, and Sofi a Rabello,
a sixth-grade student at Holy Trinity Catholic
Academy diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Flushing penthouse in rising
development sells for nearly $3M
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A Flushing penthouse boasting views
of the city’s skyline has been scooped
up for a heft y price tag.
“Penthouse 1H,” located within
the rising 1.2-million-square-foot
Tangram development, has sold for
$2.726 million. It is the fi rst penthouse
to sell within the new development
aft er sales began last month.
Th e just over 2,000-square-foot
space boasts three bedrooms, three
baths, high ceilings and white oaks
fl oors. Bedrooms feature spacious
walk-in closets and ceilings max out at
10 feet high.
Th e kitchen features appliances
designed by German manufacturer
Miele and custom-designed cabinetry
by Italian furnishing company Doimo
Contract.
Th e penthouse also features a
612-square-foot terrace, where residents
can take in the city’s sights and
sounds from above.
Th e luxury residential space is part
of the massive four-building Tangram
development under construction in
downtown Flushing at 133rd Street
and 39th Avenue.
Plans for the four 15- or 16-story
towers include 317 residential units,
hotel and retail spaces, themed restaurants,
a culinary food hall, beer garden
and offi ce condominiums.
Tangram will also be home to a
34,000-square-foot sensory movie theater
by CGV Cinemas that will show
“4-D” and panoramic fi lms.
To date, approximately 50 percent
of the 12 luxury residences in building
Phase I have already sold. Sales
Photos courtesy of Tangram
for Phase II will begin in early 2018
through listing company Fultonex
Realty.
Tangram is being co-developed
by F&T Group and SCG America.
New York-based Margulies Hoelzli
Architecture designed the project.
Th e site of the new Tangram development
was formerly home to Flushing
Mall until it was demolished in 2015.
Taverna Kyclades prepares
to open Bayside restaurant
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Bayside residents can expect a new
eatery serving authentic Greek food to
open up on a bustling commercial strip
in the next couple of weeks.
Taverna Kyclades, a restaurant
already serving Greek dishes and fresh
seafood at locations in Astoria and
Manhattan, is expected to open to the
public on Bell Boulevard by the end of
the month, according to an employee
at the Astoria location.
Th e restaurant will be located at
39-28/30 Bell Blvd., the spacious former
home of Italian eatery Il Borgo.
It’s the latest addition to a number
of Mediterranean restaurants now
operating on Bell Boulevard, including
Avli Cafe and Grill and Maria’s
Mediterranean Seafood and Grill, both
of which are located a block north of
the new Taverna Kyclades.
At the Bayside location, Taverna
Kyclades diners can expect to fi nd
similar menu off erings to its Ditmars
Boulevard and East Village locations.
“From the land,” you can fi nd lamb
Taverna Kyclades storefront at 39th Avenue and Bell Boulevard
chops, Greek-style hamburgers, ribeye
steaks and various kebabs. “From
the sea,” dine on Mediterranean sea
bass, red snapper, grilled swordfi sh,
scallops and more.
Th e Astoria and Manhattan eateries
also feature extensive wine and
drink lists, as well as various appetizers,
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
including stuff ed clams, grilled
octopus and spicy feta dip.
Owners updating residents on the
status of construction at the new
Bayside location on social media said
they were “almost there” on Dec. 2.
Find out more about the restaurant
by visiting www.tavernakyclades.com.
Inside the Flushing penthouse
