Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 103

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• Town Hall Meeting Recap
• WRBA Next Meeting – 2/22 @ 1 PM
• Ambulance Corps Files $13M Suit
• Valentines for Vets
• Queens Star of the Week – Martin Colberg
• Miller to Tackle Out of State Parking
• Eric Ulrich’s Inauguration
• No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening
• School Sisters of Notre Dame Mardi Gras Celebration
• WORKS Little League Registration
• A Tree Grows in Woodhaven
• Woodhaven Resident Badly Injured
• Historical Society Meetings
• Valentines at Neir’s Tavern
• Homework Help Heroes
• Radio Free Woodhaven

** Town Hall Meeting – Recap – The WRBA held their first Town Hall of 2014 earlier this month and if you missed this meeting, you missed a very interesting presentation on Participatory Budgeting, as well as visits from most of our elected representatives. Click here for comprehensive coverage of the meeting, including the results of how residents of Woodhaven would spend a million dollars.

 

** Our Next Meeting – Mark it on your calendars!  The WRBA will hold its next meeting on Saturday, February 22nd, at 1 PM at Emanuel United Church of Christ (91st Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard).

 

** Ambulance Corps Files Suit – The Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps has filed a 13 Million Dollar lawsuit against the owner of the collapsed building next door, the conditions of which have forced the Senior Center to move – and caused tremendous financial stress to the volunteers of the ambulance corps. Click here to hear Assemblyman Mike Miller speak about this on Radio Free Woodhaven.

 

** Valentines for Vets – Mike Miller is collecting cards, candy (sugar free snacks a plus), toiletries and new clothing items for the men and women veterans hospitalized at St.Albans VA Hospital and the NYS Veterans Nursing Home. You can drop off donations at Mike’s Office (83- 91 Woodhaven Blvd.) until Tuesday, February 12th.  Click here for more info.

 

** Queens Star of the Week – WRBA President Martin Colberg has been named this week’s Star of Queens by the Queens Courier.  Congratulations, Martin!

 

** Miller To Tackle Out of State Parking – Assemblyman Mike Miller is introducing a bill that targets people who live here, but insure their car in other states (and register them there). Not only does this cheat the State out of money, it puts those who follow the law at risk. If you are in an accident with someone who has obtained insurance illegally, the insurer may refuse to pay on the claim due to fraud.  Click here to hear Mike comment about this. 

 

** Eric Ulrich’s Innauguration – Councilman Ulrich’s Inaugural Ceremony will commence at 7 PM on Thursday, January 30th at PS 63 Elementary School (90-15 Sutter Ave in Ozone Park).  This event is open to the public. For directions or more information, please call (718) 738-1251.

** No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening – The American-Italian Cancer Foundation’s (AICF) mobile, No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening Program which provides mammograms and clinical breast exams to uninsured and medically underserved New York City women is scheduled to conduct screenings at New York Community Bank at 156-02 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach, NY 11414 on Thursday, January 30th. Click here for flyers in English and Spanish.

** Mardi Gras with The Sisters – The School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center is holding their annual Mardi Gras Celebration at Roma View on Crossbay Boulevard on Wednesday, February 26th from 6 to 10 PM. Tickets are $75 per person, which includes dinner, dessert, an open bar and more. For reservations contact the Sisters at ssndec@aol.com or call 718-738-0588 (click here for more info).

** WORKS Little League Registration – Do you know of any children who want to play ball?  Now is the chance to sign them up for WORKS Little League’s 2014 Season – click here for more information.

** A Tree Grows in Woodhaven – It took a while, but Woodhaven finally has a Holiday Tree again – click here to see it.

 

** Woodhaven Resident Badly Injured – 84-year old Gertrude Schnabel was struck by a bus in Forest Hills and suffered serious injuries that resulted in the loss of part of one leg. We hope she recovers soon (if you know Ms. Schnabel, please pass along her contact info so we can send her our best wishes).

 

** Woodhaven History – The Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society will hold the first meeting of 2014 tomorrow (Wed., January 29th) at 1 PM at Emanuel United (91st Avenue & Woodhaven Boulevard). Author Jason Antos will give a presentation on the history of Jackson Heights.  Note: The WCHS will hold their first evening meeting Monday, February 24th at 7 PM at Neir’s Tavern – he will give a slideshow presentation of Queens: Then and Now.

 

** Valentines @ Neir’s Tavern – Neir’s Tavern is offering a special 3-course dinner on Valentine’s Day, click here for more information.

 

** Homework Help Heroes – Some residents in Woodhaven are starting an organization to help bring students in need and volunteer teachers together. They will be having an introductory presentation on Thursday, January 30th at 6:30 PM at the Avenue Diner. Light refreshments will be served.  Click here for more information. 

** Radio Free Woodhaven – Councilman Eric Ulrich will be the guest caller this Friday (January 31) on Radio Free Woodhaven (click here at 10 PM EST to listen LIVE).  And on February 7th, we’ll be joined by Sr. Catherine Feeney of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center which is celebrating their 10th Anniversary.

 

 

Until next time,

Your friends and Neighbors at the  

 

Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 102

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• Town Hall Meeting – Saturday
• New WRBA Leadership
• Billiard Hall Liquor License
• Woodhaven Resident in Pageant
• Crime Tip – The Mystery Shopper Scam
• Woodhaven Native Pens Memoir
• Do You Recognize These Guys?
• Homework Help Heroes
• Abandoned Railway Line Meeting
• Radio Free Woodhaven

** Town Hall Meeting – Saturday – We will be having our first meeting of the year this Saturday and it’s an important one. It will take place at 1 PM at Emanuel United Church of Christ (we’ll be in the downstairs meeting room).  We will be getting a presentation on Participatory Budgeting – that’s where the residents of Woodhaven get to decide how tax dollars get spent.  Want to be part of the process?  We’ll see you Saturday!  Read more about Participatory Budgeting here.

** New Leadership – Congratulations to Martin Colberg and Giedra Kregzdys, the new President and Vice-President of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association.  Read more about them here.

** Billiard Hall Liquor License – The application for a liquor license by the soon to open Pool Hall on Rockaway Blvd. was unanimously rejected by Community Board 9. This is the 2nd time in a few months CB9 has rejected this application.  A pool hall used to sit at the same spot and was the location of much trouble over the years.

** Woodhaven Resident in Beauty Contest – Keep your fingers crossed for Woodhaven’s Nalicia Ramdyal, who will be competing this weekend in the Miss New York USA Pageant.  Click here to read about Nalicia. We’ll let you know how she does!

** Crime Tip – The Mystery Shopper Scam – If it seems to good to be true, it usually is!  Click here for more information.

** Woodhaven Native Pens Memoir – Retired NYPD Detective Raymond Berke, who was born and raised in Woodhaven, has published a book about his years in the NYPD, including his involvement in an international smuggling case with ties to the royal family and as the lead detective on the College Point massacre.  Click here to find out more.

** Do You Recognize These Guys? A pair of burglars have been plaguing Queens, and they robbed one grocery store right here in Woodhaven.  But they didn’t realize they were on candid camera.  Take a look, maybe you recognize these guys from around town.  Click here to see more.

** Homework Help Heroes – Some residents in Woodhaven are starting an organization to help bring students in need and volunteer teachers together. They will be having an introductory presentation on Monday, January 30th at 6:30 PM at the Avenue Diner.  Click here for more information.

** Abandoned Railway Line Meeting – Last month, the residents of Woodhaven met and had an opportunity to voice their opinion on what should be done with the abandoned Rockaway Beach LIRR Railway.  It was a good meeting with differing opinions voiced in a civil manner – click here for video of the meeting.

** Radio Free Woodhaven – Queens Historian Jason Antos will be calling in to Radio Free Woodhaven Friday Night at 10 PM, click here to listen to it.  Mr. Antos is author of Queens: Then and Now and the recent history book on Jackson Heights.  He will be the guest speaker at the Woodhaven Historical Society, Wednesday, January 29th at 1 PM (Emanuel United Church of Christ – corner of Woodhaven Blvd. and 91st Avenue).

Until next time,

Your friends and Neighbors at the

—
Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

Mystery Shopper Scam

How does the crime take place?

A potential victim is sent a solicitation via mail, text or email asking the consumer to evaluate their retail experience, products and services at stores.  After responding to the ad, the consumer receives an “employment packet” containing a training assignment, a list of products to purchase at various stores and a realistic looking check often for $2,000 to $4,000.

The “training assignment” is for the consumer to deposit the check into the consumer’s bank account, purchase the items on the Shopping List and then use a wire transfer service to send the balance of the check’s proceeds, after the consumer  finishes shopping, to an address outside of the US, often in Canada.  The check that the consumer deposited in their account is counterfeit, a fact unbeknownst to the consumer. The balance of money sent to the fraudster is real and the consumer is now out that money and is liable for any and all penalties associated with the bounced check.

Tips

Should you receive an email soliciting you to become a “Secret Shopper:”

• Don’t open or respond to unsolicited e-mails asking you to become a mystery or secret shopper.
• Never deposit a check you receive in the mail from a “mystery shopping” company.  No legitimate business will pay in advance and ask you to send a portion of the money back.
• If you have posted your resume to an online job site, verify with the site any job solicitations you receive.
• Don’t click on or respond to online ads or Web sites offering free gift cards.

Remember, if it sounds too good to believe, it is!