Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 72

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• Date of our next Town Hall, and Block Watchers program
• Wanted — help us catch a thief
• Coverage of our last Town Hall
• Keeping Woodhaven Whole
• First Aid Class
• RIP Mayor Ed Koch
• Water and Sewer Service Line Protection Programs
• PS/IS 113 Parent Teacher Association event
• Lack hot water?
• Flu season
• Previous issues of The Grapevine

**  February Town Hall:  If you haven’t marked it on your calendars, please do it now: our next Town Hall will occur on Wednesday, February 20, 8 p.m., at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Ave.).  Note that it’s a weeknight meeting!  This Town Hall will focus on the NYPD and the Block Watchers program being launched in our neighborhood.  Here is more information about the Block Watchers program.  It’s not too late to become a Block Watcher; here is the application, which you can complete and bring to the Town Hall.  So far, we’ve signed up over 50 residents who are interested in making our community better and safer.  Click here to see a map of where in Woodhaven the program will have coverage — and where we really need more volunteers to step up and become Block Watchers.

**  WANTED — The 102nd Precinct is asking for our help and warning us to be careful.  Click here to see a wanted flyer for a young man who has been victimizing women, stealing their pocketbooks and cell phones from the back of his bicycle.  Suspect is described as a male black or possible male black Hispanic.  Possible reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.  Contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or text your tip to TIP577 plus your message to CRIMES (274637).  You can also submit an internet tip by visiting www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.  All information will be kept confidential.  Anyone with information regarding the above subject please notify Det. Ronald Buell at 718-520-9200 or Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200.

**  Missed our January Town Hall?  Too bad!  Fortunately, you can read about what you missed at the well-attended and action-packed meeting.  Click here for a thorough summary by the Times Newsweekly, and click here to check out the article in the Daily News too.

**  Keeping Woodhaven Whole:  You’ve probably heard about the WRBA’s efforts to keep Woodhaven from being split by a gerrymander in the latest City Council redistricting.  If you’re not familiar with this issue, click here to bring yourself up to speed.  We’re hoping the new district lines will be released in the near future, and that they will include a united Woodhaven.  In the meantime, take a look at this forceful editorial published by the Times Newsweekly, also arguing that Woodhaven should be kept together.

**  A First Aid Class will be offered at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Ave.) on Sunday, February 17, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The cost is $40.  If you’re interested, call John Bennett at 516-643-6746 or e-mail bennettcpr@aol.com.

**  Ed Koch, New York City’s colorful mayor from 1978 to 1989, died last week.  Click here for some great photos of him visiting Woodhaven in 1985.  We bet you’ll recognize where the pictures were taken!

**  Water and Sewer Service Line Protection Programs:  Attention Woodhaven homeowners: There is a new city program introduced by the Department of Environmental Protection that could save you thousands of dollars by protecting you from the unexpected costs of service line repairs.  Click here for more information.

**  The Parent Teacher Association of PS/IS 113 is sponsoring an event, “Joey and Mary’s Irish/Italian Comedy Wedding,” on March 15.  Click here to see a poster with more information, including details on how to purchase tickets.

**  Is there a lack of hot water in your building?  Get online assistance by clicking here.

**  It’s flu season.  This year’s flu outbreak is reportedly the worst in a decade.  Take this threat seriously.  Click here to read advice from the Centers for Disease Control on how to protect yourself from the flu.

**  Previous issues of The Grapevine:  If you only recently signed up for The Grapevine, or if you want to look at a previous issue, the last several issues are available on our blog here (be sure to scroll down).

Until next time,

Your friends and neighbors at the

Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 66

 

 

 

In this issue of the Grapevine:

•    Town Hall Recap
•    Redistricting Hearing
•    Holiday Party at Miller’s Office Tonight (12/18)
•    WRBA Sandy Toy Drive a Success
•    American Legion In Woodhaven Holds Toy Drive
•    NYPD Block Watchers
•    Historical Society Christmas Party / 2013 Schedule of Events
•    Woodhaven and Norman Rockwell
•    Mayor LaGuardia Comes to Woodhaven
•    Community Calendar
•    Grapevine Schedule

** On Saturday, the residents of Woodhaven gathered for their monthly Town Hall meeting.  We had a great turnout – the 2 main topics of discussion turned out to be Redistricting and the NYPD’s Block Watcher program.  Click here for pictures and video of our December 2012 Meeting.

** As noted in the recap, there will be a hearing in Queens about redistricting at 6 PM on Monday, January 14th at LaGuardia Community College.  Click here for meeting info.  We would like to get a decent sized group to go to the hearing — just because you attend does not mean you have to speak.  If you do plan to speak, you must pre-register (click here).  Please let us know if you will be attending and either (a) can drive and take a passenger or two, or (b) want to go but need a ride.  We will try to accommodate as many people as we can.

** Holiday Party.  Sorry for the short notice, but Assemblyman Mike Miller, Senator Joe Addabbo and Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley will be holding a Holiday Party at Mike’s Office on Woodhaven Boulevard (off Park Lane South) from 5:00 to 7:00 tonight (12/18).

** Woodhaven’s Sandy Toy Drive Successful – After the meeting, we wrapped up our toy drive for children slammed by Hurricane Sandy.  Click here for a recap of our toy drive.

** Woodhaven’s American Legion Post 118 Holds Toy Drive.  The American Legion held a toy drive this past weekend and one of our members, Dennis Farley, was the special guest (all dressed up in red).  Click here for picture and story.

** The NYPD is rolling out a Block Watcher program that the residents of Woodhaven would benefit greatly from. Block Watchers will receive an ID Number to use when calling information into the local precinct. You are NOT patrolling the streets, you just report issues to the NYPD. You will take part in a 3-hour class (which we expect to be held here in Woodhaven). We signed up 35 Block Watchers at Saturday’s meeting.  If you have not filled out a form yet, you must do so ASAP (click here for the form).  Even if you are already a Block Captain, we need you to fill out this application. We believe this will be an effective program and will be a positive impact in our community.  We need all application forms filled in by December 31st, 2012. 

PLEASE:  We are asking our members to pass the word to other residents, particularly if you know people who live on different blocks than you.  We are trying to get as much coverage as possible.  Spread the word!

** The Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society is holding their annual Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 19th at 1 PM (at Emanuel United Church of Christ – 91st Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard), all are welcome to attend.  The first meeting of 2013 will be about the proposed Landmark Designation of St. Matthew’s Episcopalian Church on 96th Street.  The history of the church and the Wyckoff-Snediker Cemetery behind the church will also be discussed.  This meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 30th 2013.  Click here for the entire 2013 Historical Society schedule.

** Sometimes when scanning the web for Woodhaven news you come across something interesting.  A former Woodhaven resident, Anna Fahy, passed away in Upstate NY.   She was 92 (here is her obituary).  In her obituary it mentions that “she modeled for painter Norman Rockwell’s Jan. 1, 1944, Saturday Evening Post cover.”  We did a little digging and we were able to find a copy of that cover (click here).  RIP Anna Fahy.

** Mayor LaGuardia Comes to Woodhaven!  Here’s an interesting picture from Woodhaven’s past — Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia visits Woodhaven in 1934.

** Community Calendar – Remember that we are maintaining a calendar of events happening in our community.  Please e-mail us if you’d like relevant events to be added to it.  The calendar is embedded in the homepage of our website and it is also available here.  And here’s a short, easy-to-remember link to the calendar: bit.ly/WoodhavenCalendar.

** Grapevine Schedule.  We are striving to make the Grapevine a weekly missive, getting launched once a week, on Tuesday afternoon.  It will also be posted to this blog.  We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of you health and happiness during this Holiday Season

Until next time,
Your friends and neighbors at the

—
Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735