It's a "Harvest Moon".....

By definition, the harvest moon is the first full moon that occurs after the autumnal equinox. This year, the autumnal equinox fell on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012. That makes this weekend's full moon a harvest moon!.

Besides being the first full moon after the equinox, the harvest moon gets its name for another reason. Not all full moons are created equal. Much like the sun, the moon will rise and fall each day. However, the moon does this with a much larger variability than the sun does. Whereas the sun's rise and set is at most a couple minutes different from one day to the next, the moon rises on average 50 minutes later each day than the previous day.

Unlike other full moons, it just so happens that the harvest moon's rise corresponds with sunset more closely then at any other time during the year. This means that just as night falls, the full moon begins to rise above the horizon in all it's glory. It's called the harvest moon then because it provides ample light for farmers to bring in the harvest well after the sun sets.

Community Board #14 Regular Monthly Meeting - 10/9/2012

Flood Mitigation Project Update....

The following information is provided based on the presentation and discussion of the new bulkhead/"shared space"/raised streets Flood Mitigation Project by City DOT, DDC, and "The RBA Group" design firm as that project pertains to West 12th Road at yesterday's Civic Association meeting.

PRESENTATION

STATUS OF PROJECT

Commissioner Maura McCarthy (Queens DOT) stated that "...we are getting close to the end of this initial phase of the project...initial plans for this project were submitted  to DEP DEC for the permitting process back in May pertaining to bulkhead work and is proceeding....Mass Mailing II was distributed to involved city agencies and others this past June...Just recently,  consent letters were distributed to all affected property owners for signature by individual owners and return to the city."

Mr. Joseph Menza Menzer of the "RBA Group" design firm stated that "...although the project was delayed for a period of time due to the problem of individual street widths,  that issue has been resolved and all streets will now share a common 32' width designation with parking available on both sides of the street and a dedicated pedestrian walkway on one side....assuming the permitting process proceeds without serious problem and all consent (waiver) letters are signed and returned to the city, the final plans will be ready by the end of this year and the project put out for bid in January of 2013 with a subsequent contract award and start of construction, hopefully, in June of 2013."

Mr. Menza Menzer further stated that "...although we have met individually with property owners in the past to discuss specific issues we will not be meeting with individual homeowners any longer.  It should be kept in mind that a representative from the DDC will meet with individual property owners several weeks prior to the commencement of construction."

DISCUSSION

Several residents from 11th and 13th Roads expressed concern regarding the "impact and mitigation" data provided on their individual consent letters.  If any West 12th Road property owner has any such concerns or other questions, they are urged to promptly contact DDC Program Director Gary Ambroise, P.E. at (718)391-1314.

If Mr. Ambroise is unable to satisfactorily address your concerns in this regard, please contact either myself, Sophia DeVirgilio or John Heaphy and we will attempt to resolve any outstanding issues you may have.

Questions were also raised regarding how the city would obtain consent forms from properties
with "absentee landlords" or those properties deemed "abandoned" or under "foreclosure."  It was explained that in those instances multiple mailings of the consent forms were made to both the property address as well as the individual or other entity listed on the tax record for that property.

The issue of resident parking during construction was addressed by Commissioner McCarthy who stated that it is tentatively envisioned that "...the bike lanes on Cross Bay Boulevard on 11th, 12th and 13th Roads will be removed to allow for additional traffic footage with parking allowed on the Cross Bay median."  Commissioner McCarthy stressed that this parking policy is not yet set in stone but is being actively pursued.

Once construction starts, work on all 3 new bulkheads for the affected blocks will commence and once completed, work will then begin on individual blocks, one block at a time, starting with West 12th Road.  It is anticipated that street construction for each block will take approximately 9 months to complete. 

IMPORTANT*****IMPORTANT*****IMPORTANT

 

In order for this project to proceed smoothly to the next important stage (the January 2013 request for contractor bids), three things must take place.

 

1.  The permitting process by DEP must be finalized.

 

2.  Completion of final project design plans for distribution to interested contractors.

 

3.  All consent "waivers" for each individual West 12th Road property must be signed, notarized and returned to the city in a timely fashion.

 

Although I do not not foresee any problems with items 1 & 2 above, I must stress the fact that unless all consent "waivers" are received by the city this project will be delayed.

 

If only one individual property owner refuses to execute his or her property consent "waiver" the project bid for West 12th Road will not take place.

 

In those instances where a property owner steadfastly refuses to execute this "waiver" a process exists whereby the city would be allowed to purchase up to 2 feet of an individual property's land for the sum of $1.00 dollar, thus allowing the project to proceed, but this process is time consuming and can take as long as two years. 

 

If any West 12th Road property owner has strong reservations regarding executing their individual consent "waiver" we are respectfully requesting that he or she contact this Association in order that we can sit down to discuss this matter in the hopes of arriving at an amicable resolution to your concerns. 

 

 

Your neighbor,

 

Peter J. Mahon

55 West 12th Road

(718) 945-0805

Rockaway Beach Branch Rail Line Forum....

Dueling plans for abandoned Rockaway Beach branch rail line pit park lovers against transit advocates

By Lisa L. Colangelo / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Thursday, September 27, 2012

 

 

 

Two groups with two very different visions for the abandoned Rockaway Beach rail line will try to win over Queens residents during a special forum on Saturday.

Friends of the QueensWay is hoping to help transform the tracks — which snake through Forest Hills, Glendale, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park — into a lush outdoor park similar to Manhattan’s popular High Line.

But transportation advocates have argued the tracks need to be reactivated to give public transit-starved southern Queens residents faster ways to get around the city.

“We have not taken a position on this yet,” said Ed Wendell of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, which is hosting the meeting at 1 p.m. at the Queens Tabernacle, 86-03 96th St. “We want to hear from the residents who are going to be affected the most.”

Public sentiment on the plans has been mixed. Park advocates have embraced the QueensWay proposals, saying it will open up the heavily wooded stretch and make it safer. Rockaway residents, who say the city’s mass transit system has essentially abandoned them, dream of a quick trip into Manhattan. And some who live closest to the tracks are uncomfortable with both plans.
“We’ve sent out 1,000 flyers,” said Wendell. “This is their chance to be heard. Even within our own board there are two or three different opinions.”

Andrea Crawford, who sits on the Friends of the QueensWay steering committee, said the group has raised more than $6,000 of private money to help fund a feasibility study. The Trust for Public Land is also helping the group secure a grant for that purpose.

“This will be such a boon to central Queens,” said Crawford. “It would be a cultural greenway and add economic development. There’s a lot of support out there.”

The group is planning to lead a group of elected officials on a tour of the tracks in the coming weeks.
But most lawmakers, wary of angering voters on this hot topic, have not advocated for either plan.

The one exception is Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, who has said he believes reactivating the line will have the most benefits for local residents.

“South Queens is cut off,” said transit advocate John Rozankowski. “If you reactivate the Rockaway [Beach] line and combine it with limited-stop bus service, you will be able to get to Citi Field, Queens College and downtown Flushing in record time. Travel time into Manhattan would be 23 minutes.”

He also said having greater access would make the region more attractive to businesses looking for lower rents in Queens.

Broad Channel Carnival Canceled....

Hello Everyone,

I am sorry to say that we had to cancel the (Broad Channel BCVFD) Carnival for this weekend.

The City would not issue the permits needed for the rides to be brought in.

Please let everyone know.

I just found out myself and we are in shock

Thank You

Dawn McIntyre

 

Andy Williams - An American Icon

Andy Williams, whose corn-fed good looks, easygoing charm and smooth rendition of "Moon River" propelled him to the heights of music stardom in the early '60s, died Tuesday at his home in Branson, Mo., following a battle with bladder cancer, his family announced.

He was 84, and 2012 had marked his 75th year in showbiz. Williams is survived by his wife Debbie and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian.

NYPD Community Affairs Bureau Monthly Message (Sept.'12)

September 2012 Monthly Message2

Broad Channel Carnival... [Sponsored by BCVFD]

NYPD on West 12th Road....

I am sure by now many of you have heard that there was a rather large police presence at the end of West 12th Road earlier this morning.

What occurred was that shortly before 10:00 a.m., an individual working for one of the local propane tank distributors parked his truck on Cross Bay Boulevard and used a hand truck to make a delivery to one of the residence at the end of the block.  Apparently, he was not comfortable maneuvering his truck down the narrow street.

One of our neighbors observed the individual exiting the residence with a propane tank on a hand truck and walking up the block.  Not seeing a delivery truck on the street the neighbor thought the matter highly irregular and called the police to check it out.

Shortly after 10:00 a.m., 3 police squad cars, an unmarked car, two police vans and a lone officer on an NYPD scooter responded to the bay end of West 12th Road.  By this time the propane delivery individual had departed the block.

It took a few minutes to sort everything out but once the situation was clear to the responding police staff and that all was well the responding police officers and all their vehicles departed West 12th Road.

It is interesting to note that our neighbor apologized to several of the responding police staff for misconstruing the situation and requesting a police response and was assured that there was nothing to be embarrassed about and that calling the police when you feel something is amiss is the "right thing to do."

The lone exception was a responding Sergeant who felt it necessary to chastise our neighbor by stating, "You wasted our time...we are risking our lives responding here with guns drawn...someone could have been hurt."

As previously stated, 99% of the responding police were both courteous and professional in their interaction with our neighbor, assuring her that she had done the right thing.

Perhaps the lone sourpuss Sergeant has not seen the widely played media ads saturating our city, to wit:  "If you see something say something!"

Finally, on behalf of all the residents of West 12th Road here in Broad Channel we would like to extend our sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to our alert neighbor for watching out for her friends and neighbors.  

In today's N.Y. Daily News....

With storm season looming, Broad Channel residents push city to move quickly on flood control plan

Department of Transportation plans to elevate sunken roads in Broad Channel under ‘shared streets’ project

By Lisa L. Colangelo / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Broad Channel residents Sophia DeDirgilio and Peter Mahon at the end of W. 12th Rd., which is an area especially vulnerable to flooding. Queens Transportation Commissioner Maura McCarthy is scheduled to attend a Broad Channel Civic Association meeting on Sept. 27 and unveil finalized plans for project to alleviate flooding.

 

 

Broad Channel residents, facing the annual barrage of autumn storms and floods, say the city is dragging its feet on a plan to repair vulnerable streets.

Residents of W. 12th Rd., where floodwaters have totaled cars and turned streets into canals, said they are still waiting the start of a $24 million project to elevate the roadway.

“When I got home today, the tide was all the way up to my house,” said John Heaphy, who has lived in Broad Channel for 40 years. “I leave my car on the [Cross Bay] boulevard.”

Heaphy said it’s been two years since Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and others pledged funds to pay for the project, which will elevate the level of W. 11th, 12th and 13th roads by several inches.

“There’s always something to postpone it,” Heaphy said on Tuesday. “We were supposed to be done and now they are talking about spring 2013.

Queens Transportation Commissioner Maura McCarthy is scheduled to attend a Broad Channel Civic Association meeting on Sept. 27 and unveil finalized plans for the project.

Under the so-called shared-streets concept, sidewalks and roads will be level. But homeowners will have to allow construction on their property.

Broad Channel is surrounded by Jamaica Bay, giving many residents breathtaking waterfront views. But the water has also proven a formidable enemy for property owners, who have seen streets sink several inches over the years.

The end of W. 12th Rd. has essentially collapsed into the bay.  “This is the lowest if not the second-lowest street in the whole channel,” said Sophia DeVirgilio, who lost a car to flood waters. “The kids needs boots to make it down the block to go to school. What if a power line falls into the water?”

Dan Mundy Jr., who heads the local civic association, said initial plans were revised after residents expressed concerns about some of the specifics.

City officials “had talked about putting steel bollards along the walkway,” said Mundy. “To their credit, they took them out.”

Mundy said he empathizes with Heaphy and DeVirgilio, noting their block floods even more in the fall and winter season because of nor’easters.

“I have my fingers crossed that when we walk out of that meeting, everyone will agree it’s a great plan,” said Mundy. “We’ll see.”


 

Weather Update - Tornado Watch Issued for our area....

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for our area until late tonight.

Southerly winds (20 to 30 mph) with gusts to 50 mph are expected.  JFK airport is already recording gusts up to 40 mph.

LOCAL SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED TORNADO ARE POSSIBLE.  THE TIME OF
GREATEST IMPACT LOOKS TO BE FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.

 

Goodbye Summer...Hello Fall!

 

This Saturday, September 22nd, at 10:49 a.m., the sun will be centered directly on the earth's equator resulting in (approximately) equal lengths of both day and night.

 

Here in the Northern Hemisphere this celestial event is referred to as the "Autumnal Equinox" and marks the end of summer and the start of fall.

 

Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere it is called the "Vernal Equinox" signalling the end of  winter and the start of spring.

Flood Mitigation Project Update.....

The city will begin mailing "consent forms" to all individual West 12th Road property owners later this week.  The city requires this "consent" document which acknowledges the property owners authorization allowing city contractors to perform work on their individual property.

Once we know the "consent" documents have definitely been mailed, members of the W12th Road Flood Project Committee will be contacting each individual property owner on our block to ensure everyone has received one.

Additionally, DOT and the RBA Group will be present at the September 27th Civic Association meeting to present finalized plans for this project which appears to be still on track to commence sometime next Spring    

High Wind Watch Advisory Issued.....

 

 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND

WATCH  FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH
POSSIBLE.

 

11 Years Ago this morning......

Eleven years later, many of us have forgotten the absolute terror that touched all New Yorkers that terrible September morning.

 

Keep in mind that there are still those people in the world who wake up each morning with just one thought foremost in their minds...to kill us.   

 

Severe Storm Advisory - Saturday Sept. 8, 2012

 

The same outbreak of dangerous storms responsible for at least four deaths on Friday will push eastward today into ourarea later today.  There is a chance of severe thunderstorms this morning between 10am and noon and again this evening, between 7pm and midnight.

The culprit for this outbreak of violent storms is a powerful cold front for this time of year that will be sweeping through the Great Lakes into the Northeast.  Strong southerly winds ahead of this front are ushering in warm and tropical air. At the same time, westerly winds behind the front are driving a fall-like air mass toward the region.

The clash of these air masses will lead to violent upward motion in the atmosphere, and the result will be formidable thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts, hail larger than ping pong balls and blinding downpours.

Additionally, a furious twisting motion in the atmosphere caused by the sudden changes in wind direction near and just ahead of the front could lead to a threat of tornadoes in ourarea as well.