Happy New Year!

Looking back on 2010!

Before it comes to a close later tonight at midnight, I thought we might spend a few minutes looking back at the year 2010 and what it has meant to all of us here in Broad Channel.

We finally managed to have city officials and agencies get off their duffs and actually start doing something about the longstanding issue of serious tidal street flooding!

It looks lke the Broad Channel Vollies will get their FireHouse after all!

It looks like there will be no new "medical facility" on the property across from the VFW.

We got hammered by an historic Nor'Easter back in March with 75 mph winds and severe flooding.

Hurricane Earl barely missed us.

Severe Thunderstorms and 2 tornadoes lashed our area!

Tropical Storm Earl managed to avoid us.

The Christmas weekend blizzard clobbered us!

The MTA took away our Cross Bay Bridge Resident Toll Rebate and then raised the toll (and transit fares) a few months later.

New York State reinstated a 4% sales tax on clothing sales under $110.

Whartons Pharmacy closed...

then..

Whartons Post Office closed....

then..

Whartons closed!

DEP raised your water and sewage rate 12%.

Con Edison raised your electric  rates 4%

There were several weekend shark scares at Rockaway Beach!

A Pelican was spotted in the wildlife preserve!

All of our local politicians were re-elected...Surprise!

DOT reconfigured the lanes on Cross Bay Boulevard in the wildlife preserve in an attempt to slow traffic...

then..

DOT undid their previous changes and reconfigured the lanes on the Howard Beach side of the Addabbo Bridge.

The Broad Channel Library unveiled a new "book return kiosk" and then changed their hours of operation, closing on Saturday.

Rock "n" Roll Bagels opened!

The handball courts at 17th Road Park were refurbished.

Gasoline and Home heating oil  prices are well above $3 a gallon. 

A gallon of milk costs more than gasoline or home heating oil.

The City and State again taxed cigarettes bringing a pack of butts to about $12! 

The Cty has decided that you will be billed (taxed) for any vehicle accident that the FDNY resonds to!

Our only town laundromat closed.

C'est la Vie!

MTA Fare and Toll Increases in Effect Tomorrow!

Subway/Bus Fares

Cash or Pay-per-Ride MetroCard $2.25

Single-Ride Ticket $2.50

Express Bus Fare $5.50

Pay-per Ride MetroCard Bonus Value 7% @ $10.00

30-Day Unlimited Ride Pass $104.00

7-Day Unlimited Ride Pass $29.00

7-Day Express Bus Plus Pass $50.00

14-Day Pass Discontinued

1-Day Fun Pass Discontinued

New MetroCard Purchases In-System $1.00 (to take effect in the 2nd half of 2011)

Cross Bay Bridge

Cash Toll:  $3.25

E-Z Pass: $1.80

Resident Token: $1.62

Resident E-Z Pass: $1.19

The Calvary has Arrived!

The Plow finally arrived on West 12th Road earlier this morning at 10 am clearing the street affording vehicle access onto and off of our block!

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE LATE THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REGION. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR THE COASTS... AND UP TO AROUND 2O MPH AT INLAND LOCATIONS. BLOWING SNOW MAY BRIEFLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. ICY TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON UNTREATED ROADS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING TODAY.

Thank You Neighbor!

A good neighbor is truly a great blessing as the impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.

The recent Christmas weekend storm was accompanied by a myriad of problems for several West 12th Road residents including, but not limited to, no vehicle access on or off the block; running out of heating oil; stuck cars, a broken snow shovel; a broken broom; etc.

As we fast approach the end of calendar year 2010, I would just like to express the deep appreciation of the West 12th Block Association to the below individuals who went out of their way to assist their neighbors during this blizzard.

Lenny DiVirgilio

Sophia Valakis-DiVirgilio

Liz Mala

Donna Kramer

Mary Ann Nellan

Grace Arnemann

Kit Uvino

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect until 9:00 am this morning!

W12th Road on the morning (6:30 am) of Tuesday 12/27/2010...the street is a mixture and snow and frozen slush as a result of Monday's early morning high tide which under-ran the snow pack. Cars are still unable to ingress/egress the block because of exceptionally high drifting at the top the block.  Everyone is still patieintly awaiting the arrival of the
plows! 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM THIS MORNING.

HAZARDS... STRONG WINDS CAUSING AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW THIS MORNING... WITH RESULTANT POOR VISIBILITY. BLACK ICE DUE TO REFREEZING OF ANY SLUSH DURING THE OVERNIGHT.

WINDS... .NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH THIS MORNING.

TEMPERATURES... UPPER TEENS AND LOWER 20S... WITH WINDCHILLS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO THIS MORNING.

Yikes!

Today Is Snow Day In City Parks

You just have to love the NYC Parks Department.

Between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today the city Parks Department is providing free, supervised sledding, snowman building contests, friendly snowball fights, music, winter walks, nature activities and hot chocolate for all Queens residents at Juniper Valley Park, located at 78th Street and Juniper Valley North.

Looks like fun to me....All you have to do is get there!

The Christmas Storm of 2010!



A neighbor's car at the end of W12th Road is comletely free of snow at 11pm last night because of the constant whipping winds blowing the snow around! 



"DANGEROUS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NORTH WINDS OF 30+ MPH ARE EXPECED TO LAST FOR MOST OF MONDAY.  THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE FREQUENT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS... WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS."

You will also be happy to know that the City has suspended "Alternate Side Parking" regulations for Monday because of the storm. 

Oh, I almost forgot, the City also said that all "Metered Parking" regulations will remain in effect!

A "Bomb"!

Although presently all you are seeing is light snow, blizzard conditions will  develop around 4pm this afternoon and will last for several hours into the evening. New York City will get the worst of the blizzard this evening into Monday and we are in for a longer-duration than points south. Snow accumulations of 12" to 18" are expected with locally higher accumualtions reaching two feet!

High Tides during this storm will be at Noon today (5.5') with NE winds at about 19 mph with the next High Tide at 12:47 am tomorrow morning (5.2') and, hopefully, by that time the winds will have shifted around to the NorthWest but will be much stroner (30+ mph).

Winds gusting past 40 mph for a multiple-hour stretch (4 pm to 11 pm) will create white-out conditions at the height of the storm this evening for our area.  Blowing and drifting snow will create an uphill battle for crews working keep the streets clear during the height of the storm and in its wake for a time.

It might be wise to park your vehicle on Cross Bay Boulevard (on the median - not the sidewalk where you will get plowed in) until this over.  This will also make it easier for sanitation to plow out our street.

Now is also a good time to check on your relative and friends who may need assistance getting ready for this storm prior to it devloping fully later this afternoon.

Meteorologists refer to this type of a storm as a "bomb," due to crashing atmospheric pressure and resultant increasing winds. A dynamic storm of this caliber can bring thunder and lightning with the snow in coastal areas!

Looks like 2010 is going to go out with a storm to remember!

BLIZZARD WARNING ISSUED...

...A BLIZZARD WARNING

HAS BEEN ISSUED EFFECTIVE

 6:00 AM SUNDAY MORNING

THROUGH

6:00 PM MONDAY EVENING

HAZARDS...HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS...WITH CONSIDERABLE

BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT

TIMES.

ACCUMULATIONS...11 TO 16 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. SNOW

MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO RAIN AND SLEET AT THE HEIGHT OF THE

STORM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT ACROSS EASTERN LONG ISLAND...AND

POSSIBLY ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHEAST CONNECTICUT...WHICH COULD HOLD

DOWN AMOUNTS THERE...BUT ONLY AFTER SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS

HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.

IMPACTS...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DEVELOPING

SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING DUE TO SIGNIFICANT SNOW

ACCUMULATIONS...AND STRONG WINDS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING

AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO AT

TIMES...WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS EXPECTED. STRONG WINDS MAY ALSO

DOWN SOME POWER LINES...TREE LIMBS...AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

TIMING...LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN DURING SUNDAY MORNING...THEN

BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO MUCH OF SUNDAY

NIGHT. LIGHT SNOWS WILL LIKELY LINGER INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

WINDS....DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM SUNDAY NIGHT...NORTH

WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS 40 TO 55 MPH LIKELY.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE

EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS

AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT

CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF

YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET

STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

Blizzard Conditions Tomorrow!

Although yesterday I posted that the computer models were predicting a "near miss" with this storm, I did caution by stating that the proof in the pudding would be how the storm  tracked northward after reaching the coast this afternoon.

Well the storm is tracking much closer to the coast than the models were predicting yesterday and now it appears that we will be facing blizzard conditions starting tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon through Monday with a possible snow accumulation of 12 to 18 inches for our area.

I will update this forecast again this evening.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

The poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas, more commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, has been a classic since its first appearance in the Troy Sentinel in 1823.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Weekend Storm Update - Looking like another near miss!

It looks like the comuter models are now favoring a "partial ocean storm" with a swing-out just enough to leave the heavy snow out of the mid-Atlantic and any significant snow accumulation up in New England.

If this predicted forecast holds true, our area can expect a coating to maybe 2 inches of snow Sunday evening.

The proof in the pudding will come Saturday evening and early Sunday morning when the storm turns north and finally establishes its coastal track.

Weekend Storm Update...

The expected track of this cross country storm will dip further south than originally expected which means that when it reaches the southern east coast (Georgia) and turns north, it won't reach our area until late Sunday.

Snow accumulation will depend on how close the storm tracks to the coast as it turns northward Saturday evening.

Christmas Weekend Storm Update

Many of the computer models I have been looking at are fast becoming consistent, all showing a storm running up the coast this weekend. 

The computer models also are showing an area of high pressure over New England which could turn this weather event into a Nor'Easter.

Due dilgence requires that I caution that these computer models are just that, computer models, and are subject to change as data develops or changes.

Nonetheless, I am finding it interesting that unlike last weeks event, the computer forecasts are all quickly becomig consistent with each other.  That itself should tell us that somethng interesting is brewing out there.

Forecast models will be updated later today.  I will get back to you.

More "Politically Correct Holiday Wishes" from our Elected Representatives and Journalists!

Just a few days ago I posted a piece about the Holiday E-Card sent out by Helen Marshall, the Queens Borough President, wishing all her constituents a "Happy Holiday."


Our State Senator, Shirley Huntley, appears to have one-upped the Borough President with her announcement for a Christmas party at a local Day Care Center entitled, "Winter Wishes and Holiday Dreams."  

Additionally, National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Nina Totenberg, while speaking on PBS,  prefaced the term “Christmas party” with an apology. 

I guess it was to make sure she’s not disinvited to any of her liberal pals “late December gatherings that happen to coincide with some holidays of religious significance” parties. 

Here's what she said (emphasis mine):

"Well, these agencies, including the Defense Department, don’t know how much money they’ve got and for what. And I was at – forgive the expression – a Christmas party at the Department of Justice and people actually were really worried about this."

After much though on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that it must be truly sad to live one's life in such a fashion that each spoken/written word must be examined over and over to avoid or apologize for the mention of a Christian religious holiday to preclude offense.

And what is truly even sadder are the lives of those who actually feel offended by it.

In any case, Merry Christmas!

Is the Third Time a Charm?

For the third weekend in row we are facing yet another weather event with a possibility of accumulating snow. 

This one will be moving eastward across the plains states to the Mid-Atlantic Coast Saturday evening but the storm may not head completely out to sea at that point. 

The cold, dry artic air that shunted snow to the east over much of the I-95 Northeast this past weekend is still present. However, it does not look to be as strong and could allow accumulating snow to run up the coast late in the Christmas weekend and  many computer models have been consistently turning the storm northward Saturday night and Sunday.

If the storm is able to turn north and run up the coast the question then becomes, how close to the coast will the storm track?  The closer it tracks to our coast the more significant accumulation we can expect.

As of now, there is a real possibility of a white Christmas for our area this weekend!

Winter Solstice and Total Lunar Eclipse - All at Once!

This year's winter solstice, an event that will occur next Tuesday, December 21st, will coincide with a full lunar eclipse.

This dual event that hasn't been seen since 1554, some 456 years ago when Lady Jane Grey was beheaded for treason, Princess Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and Mary of Guise — the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots — became regent of Scotland.

The eclipse will start just after midnight on Tuesday morning, with the main event starting at 1:33 am, total eclipe taking place at 2:41 am and ending at 5:01 am. 

As long as the sky is clear, we here in Broad Channel will have a perfect view of this once in a many lifetimes event!

Just a reminder - December 30th MTA Bridge/Tunnel Toll Increase!

Nicole Weedon, one of our neighbors here on West 12th Road, emailed to remind us that...

"Toll rates at all MTA Bridges and Tunnels crossings will increase effective at 2 AM on Thursday, December 30, 2010.  MTA operates the Bronx Whitestone, Throgs Neck, Verrazano Narrows, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges, Henry Hudson and RFK Bridges as well as the Brooklyn Battery and Queens Midtown Tunnels. As an example of the new toll rates, E-ZPass customers driving a 2-axle passenger vehicle will be charged $4.80 per crossing at the Bronx Whitestone, Throgs Neck and RFK Bridges as well as at the Brooklyn

Battery and Queens Midtown Tunnels. Cash customers will be charged $6.50. At the Verrazano Narrows Bridge the new E-ZPass charge for these customers will be $9.60. Cash customers will be charged $13."

Also keep in mind that, effective December 30th, residents of Broad Channel who pay cash to travel back and forth to Rockaway will see the present $2.75 toll rise to $3.25.   Broad Channel residents who utilize E-Z Pass will see the present Resident E-Z Pass discounted toll rise from $1.13 to $1.19.

Thanks Nicole.

Weekend Nor'Easter Snow Event to Miss Broad Channel!

Athough Old Man Winter landed his first punch earlier this week with the arrival of the cold artic air, it was that first punch that may have prevented him from landing a second snow event wallop.

The cold, dense air will really hang tough over this region and will force the oncoming low to stay well off our coast preventing snow in most areas and it now appears the risk of any accumulation (beyond a possible coating of snow) is out of reach now for our Broad Channel community.

Weekend Nor'Easter - Update

I have been tracking several weather sites and they all agree that all forecast models for this storm indicate that the storm has yet to evidence a definitive track for its path up the coast.

Although it presently appears that the storm will track sufficiently east off the coast to avoid a serious impact in our area, there is still concern that heavy, accumulating snow will skirt our immediate coastal area. 

This could change markedly over the next 24 hours.

Stay tuned!



Happy Holidays?

I received the above email greeting card earlier today from the office of our Borough President, Helen Marshall. 

Although I am sure the action was well intentioned, the proclivity on the part of our elected representatives to be "politically correct" in their season greetings continues to both astound and infuriate me.

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore and an unknown internet author, I offer the following response. 

Twas the week before Christmas

when all through our land,

not a Christian was praying

nor taking a stand.

See the 'PC Police' had taken away,

the reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say,

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

The shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get at it!

CDs by Gaga, an X BOX, an I-pod...

Something was changing, something quite odd! 

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

in hopes to sell books by Franken and Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

at Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Barney, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
This year those at DOT were not all that merry
as they removed the manger scene from the Staten Island Ferry.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

Not Happy Holiday !
Then hopefully as the years pass from this time today,
All the politically correct "grinches" will all go away!

Possible Weekend Nor'Easter - Update

There is a possibility of a low forming along and riding up the east coast this weekend.

Once this low develops, the big question is where it will track and its intensity.

The tracks pictured on the image above range from an out to sea path with no impacts to the East Coast, while the track closest to the coast would result in a major winter storm. If the system follows a path in between these extremes, we could see some lighter snows along the coast and a grazing of New England.

If this storm impacts the East Coast, the mostly likely timing would be the mid-Atlantic on Saturday and the Northeast on Sunday.

Friday afternoon should provide sufficient specific details regarding this possible storm to more thoroughly estimate what we may be looking forward to on Sunday.

Update tomorrow.

Brrrrrr! AND...Another weekend storm?

West 11th - 12th Road Canal @ 4:25 pm 12/15/2010

As expected, the cold Artic air started spilling over our area early Tuesday morning bringing frigid wind chills and a dusting of snow.  Less than 48 hours later, the bay at the end of the West 11th and 12th Road Canal has started to surface freeze!

Luckily for us, tomorrow will bring daytime temperatures in the high 30's and overnight lows in the 20's through Saturday.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...many weather models are now predicting the possibility of a weekend snow storm on Sunday to come up the coast. 

The weekend is still too far out to be definite and the system would have to move the large area of cold dry air that is sitting on top of us for our area to receive any significant accumulation.

I will update you tomorrow.

It is going to get COLD!

As we mentioned in yesterday's Winter Storm Update, all of us here in Broad Channel are in for a shock next week as brutally cold arctic air invades the region after Sunday's rain event.

Although living next to the ocean oftentimes serves to mitigate extremely cold weather (sea surface temperatures are presently hovering around 40 degrees ) we will still experience record highs in the 20s and lows in the teens Tuesday and/or Wednesday.

While actual temperatures will be frigid, it's the wind that will really have all of us reeling next week as overnight and morning temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will see wind chills near or below zero.

Tide heights for this period will be in the 4 to 5 foot range and should not pose a significant problem unless aggravated by the winds.

To add to the above, I am quite sure that the weekend rains will leave ponded water on our streets, especially along the sidewalk gutter areas, which will freeze and present a slipping hazard.

Some Basic Cold Weather Precautions

In addition to 911, keep our Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department's Hotline Number prominently posted near your phone:  718-474-8888

Make sure your car's coolant system has sufficient anti-freeze as well as a de-icer in the windshield washer fluid.

Ensure your house has sufficient heating oil and propane.

Check daily on elderly or disabled friends, relatives and neighbors who live alone.

The elderly and very young should stay indoors as much as possible. Offer to shop for elderly/disabled friends and relatives. Just like in the summer with heat, it takes some time to get acclimated to cold weather. 

Do not allow your pets to remain outside any longer than is necesary to compete their "business".

If you have an fish or reptile aquarium, make sure the habitat's heater is working.

While indoors, try to keep at least one room heated to 70 degrees. This is especially important for the elderly and small children to prevent hypothermia.

Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, as the temperature inside the walls, where pipes are located, is substantially colder. 

Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom).

Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.

Learn how to shut off the water to your home. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The more quickly you shut off the water, the better your chances at minimizing damage.

Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer. The more insulation the better. Detach garden hoses from spickets.

Wear layered clothing outdoors for better protection from the cold. Wear a cap to prevent rapid heat loss from an uncovered head. Cover exposed skin to prevent frostbite.

Eat high energy foods along with warm beverages and soup.

Sleep warm with extra blankets, a warm cap, socks and layered clothing.

Avoid fatigue and exhaustion during cold weather. Overexertion, such as shoveling snow or pushing a car, can strain your heart.

Be careful when using fireplaces, stoves or space heaters to stay warm. Carbon monoxide poisoning and home fires are very real winter hazards.

Be careful when using space heaters...never leave them unattended while operating.

"The Edward I. Koch Bridge" song?

59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge

Slow down, you move too fast.

You got to make the morning last.

Just kicking down the cobble stones.

Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Back in 1967 we were all happily singng along with Simon and Garfunkel's 59th Sreet Bridge song (Feeling Groovy) even though the iconic bridge isn't once mentioned in the lyrics.

If Simon and Garfunkel ever decide to release a new version of the song it will have to be entitled "The Edward I. Koch Bridge" song!  The Bloomberg Administration wants to rename the span over the East River after former Mayor Ed Koch.

The name change requires approval by the City Council and Speaker Christine Quinn told the New York Times that she supports it.

By the way, the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is also getting a new name. State lawmakers voted Tuesday to rename it after former Governor Hugh Carey.

Weekend Winter Storm - Update

The patterns have all fell into line and our temperatures will be above freezing both days (40's on Saturday and almost 50 on Sunday) and so it looks like all we can expect is light rain starting Saturday evening with steady rain and wind on Sunday. 

What we have to be aware of now is a blast of Artic air that will be following this storm which will see our daytime temperatures only in the 20's and overnight lows in the teens next week!

Might not be a bad idea to check and make sure your oil tank is sufficiently filled and that you have sufficient gas for your stove, dryer, fireplace, etc.

Weekend Winter Storm Update

A friend told me I should not refer to this weather event as a "winter storm" because winter does not officially start until December 21st.

Meteorologists refer to "winter" as that quarter of the year wth the coldest temperatures which usually is considered early December through mid March.

Semantics aside, it presently appears that this weekend's winter storm will not be a snow event for us here in Broad Channel as any precipitation along the coast will changeover to rain on Sunday.

Will update tomorrow morning.

Weekend Storm Update

This is an update to yesterday's "White Christmas...Maybe?" posting.

Right now it looks like it will be a sloppy weekend for all of us here in the Channel because of our proximity to the coast.

That being said, there is still plenty of time for things to change and if the track of the low changes, the forecast could change signifiantly.

Precipitation may start as either snow, sleet, or freezing rain Saturday night into Sunday mainly inland of I-95. A changeover to rain is expected particularly near the coast Sunday. However, locations from western NY southward through the Appalachians will see mainly heavy, wind-driven snow from Sunday through early next week. Significant travel disruption possible!

We will update you tomorrow mornng.

Monday 12/6/2010 AM Tide

Monday 12/6/2010 at 8:20 am

This morning's tidal flooding was minor, coming up only a quarter of the street with no sidealk spillage but with the present cold weather we have been experieincing, we are surely destined to start seeing ice formations with any ponded tidal water remaining on the street after the tide departs.

A White Christmas....Maybe?

Normally, here in New York, we run about a 30% of having some snow cover on the ground at Christmas, but presently, several long range weather forecast models are upping that percentage to about 50%.

A storm that will take shape by the middle of December will cross the country and could end up developing into a major snowstorm for portions of the mid-Atlantic and New England.  Repetitive cold waves and the threats of storms will keep hitting parts of the East in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and, one or two of these storms has the potential to become a major snowstorm for portions of the mid-Atlantic and New England, including a storm that may hit the East from December 12-14.

There are different storm track scenarios at this point that mean the difference between mostly rain or a potential blizzard along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston.

We will keep you advised.

Sunday 12/5/2010 AM High Tide

Sunday 12/5/2010 at 7:20 am

NY1 on West 12th Road...

Jon Weinstein
Anchor/Reporter
"Your Queens News Now"
NY1 News

NY1 News Reporter Jon Weinsten was present on West 12th Road earlier this afternoon following up on our Tidal Street Flooding project.

Mr. Weinstein inteviewed several West12th Road residents inquiring about their response to all the recent flood mitigation activity (The RBA Group, Warren George, Inc., etc.) on the part of the city.

Mr. Weinstein's piece will be broadcast on NY1 later this evening.