Woodside Herald 1 9 15

To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 1

VOL. 82, NO. 2 WOODSIDE, L.I.C., N.Y. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 FREE

SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITY

Crowley HelpsWoodside ResidentReunite With Family

After 5 YR SeparationRep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens,

And The Lottery Winners Get…. Justice For Hit-And-Run Victims Act To

Hold Reckless DriversAccountable

Beginning in 2015, Local Law50 – “The Justice for Hit-and-RunVictims Act” – goes into effect.The law, which was sponsored byNew York City Council MajorityLeader Jimmy Van Bramer andTransportation Committee ChairYdanis Rodriguez, passed the CityCouncil on September 23rd andwas signed into law by Mayor Billde Blasio on September 30.

“I was moved to introduce thisbill in response to the death ofthree people who were killed inmy district by drivers who fled thescene,” said Council Member VanBramer Jimmy Van Bramer. “LuisBravo, 19, Kumar Ragunath, 64,and Karen Pheras, 20, all lost theirlives because of the unconscio-nable actions of reckless driverswho showed no concern for thelives of these three people. In 2015,civil penalties of up to $10,000will be imposed on irresponsibleand callous drivers who flee thescene of a collision. We will neverknow if one or all of our fellowNew Yorkers could have been

the Bronx), Vice Chair for theDemocratic Caucus, recently metwith a Queens family that hehelped to reunite by securing awaiver of inadmissibility to the

U.S. for Woodside resident ZullyGallo based on the extreme hard-ship her absence caused to herU.S. citizen husband and theirnine year-old daughter.

( continued on page 7 )

by Crystal Wolfe

140,000 families in New Yorkare waiting for public housing.154,000 families are waiting forSection 8 housing vouchers. A typi-cal family will currently spend aminimum of eight years on eachwaiting list. Between 1990 and2000, the official population ofNew York City grew by 686,000,but only 81,000 new housing unitswere built. Undeniably there is agreat need in this city for afford-able housing.

On October 15, 2014 theHunter’s Point South develop-ment in Long Island Citylaunched an extensive affordablehousing lottery for 925 belowmarket-rate apartments for low-and middle-income New York-ers. In only the first two weeks,there over 25,000 applications.By the time the lottery closed onDecember 15, 2014 there were

saved had the drivers done theright thing: stop their car, call 911and get assistance. The civil pen-alties set forth in this bill will notbring back the life of Luis Bravo,Karen Pheras, or Kumar Ragunath,but they will punish the crass ac-tions of those who commit thesecrimes. Furthermore, this bill willsave lives by deterring those whowould think to flee the scene of acollision and leave a fellow NewYorker to die in the street. We willnot rest until we achieve VisionZero, and this law brings us onestep closer to this goal.”

“This New Year sets a newtone for drivers,” said CouncilMember Rodriguez. “Thanks tothe “Justice for Hit-and-Run Vic-tims Act” if you leave the scene ofan accident, not only will you beprosecuted to the fullest extent ofthe law you will also pay fines tothe City for your callous actions. Iam confident these fines will notonly decrease potential hit-and-runs but also increase the likeli-hood accident victims survive.Thank you to Speaker MelissaMark-Viverito and Mayor DeBlasio for their initiative on thisimportant life-saving legislation.

(continued on page 7)

92,700 applicants for HuntersPoint South affordable units.

The units are located in twotall, glassy towers looming overthe Queens waterfront and arestill under construction at 1-5050th Avenue and 1-55 BordenAvenue. The 925 apartmentsshared between the two build-ings, Hunters Point South Com-mons and Crossing will be pricedwell below the current marketrates. Reportedly Queens’s na-tive, Senior VP of Related FrankMonterisi, said the developmentsfor affordable housing are in ef-fort to give families and workingpeople a reasonable, even beauti-ful place to live amidst the hustleand bustle of New York living.

At Hunters Point South,monthly payments start as low as$494/month for some studios (fora one-person household making$18,618 to $23,520 in annual in-

come) and range to three-bedroomsstarting at $743 to $4,346/month(for households of three to sixpeople with a combined income of$151,132 to roughly $200,000).Moderate income studios start at$1,561, and three-bedrooms at$2,729. The bulk of the units arefor families with moderate in-comes, while 186 apartments areavailable for low income families.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015THE WOODSIDE HERALDPAGE 2

Attorneys-At-LawMARC CRAWFORD LEAVITT

JOSEPH N. YAMANER*IRA R. GREENBERG

PAUL E. KERSON

JOHN F. DUANE

TALI SEHATI

THE BENJAMIN SHAW PROFESSIONAL BUILDING

45-29 47th Street - Woodside, New York 11377718-729-0986

MIDTOWN OFFICE: 228 E. 45TH STREET, 17 FL., NYC 10017

Serving the Community Since 1947*We speak Spanish, Hebrew & Turkish

43-11 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104Telephone (718) 729-3772

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Caulfield, Peter A. Ross, Rob MacKay

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERSJoe Gurrado, Robert Flanagan

Marlene Sabba ............................................................... Publisher

Sherilyn Jo Sabba ................................................................. Editor

YOGA DIARIESFrom The Young And Young At Heart

by Karen L. Arthur, LCSW,BCD

Benefits of YogaSt. Sebastian ‘s Yoga students report some cool life enhancing benefits by attending classes1. Improves balance2. Increases awareness and connection between the mind and body3. Improves sleep4. Inspires a more positive attitude toward life5. Achieve deeper states of relaxation6. Calms the mind7. Increases energy8. Improves mood9. You may find yourself smiling more10. Gently stretches the spine.11. Enhances a well functioning central nervous system12. Maintains strong skeletal system through low impact exercise and movement13. Helps stretch the ligaments that connect bone to bone14. Teaches proper breathing techniques15. Increases the body’s ability to absorb and use oxygen16. Yoga helps to manage and maintain optimal energy levels17. Releases deeply held tension that you may have gotten used to as a normal way to feel18. Increases flexibility19. May reduce stiffness from arthritis20. Have fun and make new friends while exercising21. Feel better, look better, live betterSome direct diary reports from the St. Sebastian yoga crowd include, “Yoga relieves pain and aches in my

hips after doing stretches.” “Yoga leaves me relaxed, yet energetic!” “Yoga has helped my back pain and mademe stronger.” “Keeps me grounded!” “WONDERFUL KEEPS ME IN SHAPE! “ Join us every Wednesdayat St. Sebastian’s to CELEBRATE YOU at YOGA! Karen L. Arthur is a Sivananda Yoga teacher andPsychotherapist. She also offers private instruction in YOGA for anxiety and depression. For moreinformation, contact St. Sebastian’s Recreation Center 718-426-5858 or Karen at 212 947-7111 ext. 364.



Arrested DevelopmentOp Ed by Patricia Dorfman

The Rezoning Battle Is Lost. Center Cin-ema will soon join a parade of fine smallbusinesses and professionals (ArthurKubikian, DDS, gone in November) lostalong Greenpoint and Queens Boulevard.

How Did This Happen? We all went alongwith rezoning in 2011 because we were toldwe needed to protect the side streets, that ifrezoning were not passed, that buildingwould be unregulated. Even local preserva-tionists went along. We cannot blame Com-munity Board 2 and City Council now whenwe were all there.

Now We Are Faced With Reality. Did wemake a mistake? Nothing will stop thecoming glass horizon and loss of small busi-ness (other than a few new buyers losingmoney and word getting out).

Those Who Benefit. Are property owners.Local property owners can cash out andlive or set up elsewhere. But renters orsmall businesses without long leases lack asafe perch.

What Can We Do? We can accomplishsomething important:Stop the building over Sunnyside Yards.

Why Is That Important? The Yards is a167-acre rail yard, a stone’s throw from allof us, which a series of mayors eyed tobuild on to absorb Manhattan growth, re-cently with either a convention center oraffordable housing.

Goal: NO Building At All. Our publicgreen is scarce, schools jammed, commutespacked, high-rises past blueprints, and weneed a lot of nothing. Even if officials prom-ise to put in parks there, more housing willbe put in to cover the cost.

Alarming News: Alarmingly, our Commu-nity Board has recently approved a feasibil-ity study on building over the Yards. Ourinfrastructure cannot bear the massive con-gestion Yards development would create.

Locals Seem Left Out Of Decisions: Aconvention center will result in billions fornon-locals, those who sell the Javits Center,and those who broker and develop the Yards.Affordable housing no matter how well ex-ecuted brings in hundreds of thousands ofpeople and vehicles.

Only The Developers Win: To add mil-lions of people and traffic to our alreadytaxed infrastructure will remove all hope ofWestern Queens keeping any charm forcurrent or future residents.

Who Pays? The process of rezoning wasdone with public money. So the process ofSunnyside/ Woodside being turned into a

congested and expensive area was finessedwithout cost for those who will benefit, andhas no benefit for us. My husband and I ownand presumably could sell it for more. Butwhere would we move? I lived in Manhattanmost of my adult life and we moved here forQueens, not Manhattan.

Arguments Make No Sense: We have beentold that building over the yards is “inevi-table.” There is nothing inevitable about it.If we taxpayers and voters stand up forourselves, it will stop.

If one builds a big highway, many will use it.If there is no highway, they travel anotherway. We hear the city must “expand and growhere.” Why? There are areas in five boroughs,which might welcome growth. Just like prop-erty owners can sell and build high-rises now,some can try to build over the Yards, we havea right to defend our space. When the railyards and cemeteries were built here, therewere few to object. We were Manhattan’s“spare room.” Now we are many. We livehere, pay taxes, and vote, and can object tobecoming an extension of Manhattan.

Enclave? Sunnyside Gardeners might feelmore protected, but what good is landmarkstatus with looming towers, streets and side-walks overrun? How safe will children andelderly be?

Mayor, Please Talk To Actual Locals.Perhaps the mayor might form a committeeof non-wealthy locals from all five bor-oughs, not connected to banking or realestate, tasked to identify ten areas in the fiveboroughs which WANT revitalization, andTHEN start the process – not the reverse.

ALL: Stand Up for ourselves in WesternQueens. This is a turf we occupy that otherswant to make a lot of money on, ruin it inorder to make money, and charge the publicfor doing it.

WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW:

1. SIGN the online petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/124/232/303/please-do-not-build-over-the-sunnyside-yards

2. Rather Than Complain about CB2,attend, listen, and speak up. Board membersare not paid, and devote their own time tomake decisions for all of us. Ask your electedshow to be appointed.

3. ASK Councilman Van Bramer,who showed enormous courage un-equivocally opposing Yards buildingand Assemblywoman Nolan, who pub-licly asked that locals be listened to,what we can do to help them oppose allbuilding over Sunnyside Yards.



IDNYC To IntegrateWith Library Cards

Congratulations

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer celebrated Director ofConstituent Services Deborah Tharrington’s five-year anniversarywith Team JVB. Congratulations!

The de Blasio administration,New York City Council, and City’sthree library systems announced theintegration of the IDNYC municipalidentification program with librarycards in the Manhattan, Brooklynand Queens public library systems.This is the first time a single cardwill be accepted by all three citylibrary systems.

Five of the City’s most-traffickedlibrary branches will act as enroll-ment centers for the IDNYC pro-gram, which launches in mid-Janu-ary, creating ease of access for appli-cants. The City will open a total of 11permanent public enrollment cen-ters across the five boroughs at launchin mid-January for all New Yorkersand six additional enrollment cen-ters for clients of the Human Re-sources Administration and the De-partment of Probation. Late in Janu-ary, the City will launch two rotatingpop-up enrollment centers to fill geo-graphic gaps and create increasedaccessibility for all New Yorkers.An additional public enrollment cen-ter will open in Spring 2015.

“New York City libraries havebeen truly innovative in reimaginingwhat a library can be in the 21stCentury,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.“They are not only hubs of learningand civic engagement, but alsotrusted centers in the community thatteach us the value of nurturing anopen-door policy. I applaud the NewYork City libraries on their commit-ment to the IDNYC program andtheir enthusiastic partnership in get-ting this program off the ground.”

Once individuals sign up andreceive their municipal ID cards, theywill have the opportunity to visittheir local library branches and acti-vate them as library cards, either byopening new accounts in any of thethree systems, or linking to theircurrent library card accounts (cur-rent cards will still work).

Library cardholders are able tocheck out millions of books, movies,and other materials from branches,as well as access the internet. Addi-tionally, library users can take ad-vantage of countless free programsand classes, including ESOL classes,tech training, job search resources,after school programs, financial lit-eracy classes, and much more.

“No public institution servesimmigrants in New York better thanour libraries,” said New York CityCouncil Majority Leader & Chair ofthe Committee on Libraries JimmyVan Bramer. “I’m proud that ourthree library systems have becomeindispensable partners in the launch,implementation and ultimately thesuccess of IDNYC. By allowing thisnew ID to serve as a library card, theinformation and resources at our li-braries will be available to so manymore people. Immigrant communi-ties have always flocked to our pub-lic libraries because they trust ourlibraries. This is a game changerwhen it comes to access for all.”

The IDNYC card will be pro-vided to applicants free of chargeand will expire after five years. Theminimum age to apply for the cardwill be 14 years of age. Applicantswill be required to present proof ofidentity and proof of residency inNew York City. Homeless NewYorkers without a permanent addresswill have the ability to obtain a card,and the card will provide addressconfidentiality protections to survi-vors of domestic violence. Appli-cants without a home address andsurvivors of domestic violence willbe able to list a Care Of address ontheir card. Passports that are ma-chine-readable will be accepted up tothree years after expiration, but allother documents must be current.There will be a 30-day window forapplicants to appeal IDNYC denials.

The IDNYC program rules setforth over 40 categories of docu-ments that may be used to establishidentity, including foreign passportsand consular identification cards,foreign birth certificates, militaryidentification, Electronic BenefitTransfer cards, and U.S. high schooldiplomas, and U.S. voter registra-tion cards. Applicants will be ableto demonstrate residency in NewYork City with cable, phone orutility bills, bank statements, andresidential leases, among otherdocuments. The documents will beaccepted on a point-based systemthat weighs document value, simi-lar to the one used by the New YorkState DMV. For more informationon eligibility criteria, applicants canvisit: nyc.gov/idnyc.



by Patricia Dorfman

Pastor Brian Dowd of Queen of Angels Church inSunnyside hosted his annual free, invitation-only thankyou dinner in their auditorium last Sunday for 175-plusparish volunteers who “allow the church to do what itdoes” and to whom he is “deeply grateful.” FatherDowd had his staff turn the tables on the volunteers andserve them.

Father Jonas Achacoso assisted, and Vicar Father Tho-mas Pettei also attended. The volunteers include those whohelp with communion, read the gospels, and work daily tomaintain the many activities and organizations within thelarge Roman Catholic parish.

The event was held on the Epiphany, which means“manifestation” in Greek, which celebrates the realizationby the Magi, the three Kings, that the baby Jesus was theirKing, the manifestation of the Lord. The Magi’s allegianceshifted to him from the worldly Herod.

A great deal of worldly catered food, including wine, wasenjoyed by the assembled parishioners. The large buffet fea-tured many entrées such as shrimp, chicken and Italian pasta.

Father Dowd pulled so many raffle numbers; he jok-ingly asked there was anyone there who had not won a prize.Large mugs were popular gifts. Helen Johnson, who scoreda “Wizard of Oz” box with ruby slippers, said, “I will givethem to my niece. She will love them.”

Behind the scenes, Pastoral Associate Juan Rodriguezand his DJ associate, Jude Christian, kept the music flowing.Jude, formerly an altar boy at Queen of Angels reports he istrying to decide whether to go into local or federal lawenforcement. Jude is currently an NYPD Auxiliary Officerin the 108 Precinct. He understands Tamil, which is a plus.

Pastor Dowd sent everyone home with a small surprisegift of a clay angel welcoming plaque, available In Englishand Spanish.

Pastor Dowd is a native English speaker but learnedSpanish and conducts Spanish language weddings. Thechurch demographic is widely varied, with friendly co-congregants of English, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino) speak-ers and many more worshipers, joined in their faith.



Notice is hereby given that an Order enteredby the Civil Court, Queens County on OCT06, 2014, bearing Index Number NC-000825-14/QU a copy of which may beexamined at the Office of the Clerk, locatedat 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assumethe name of (First) FELIX (Middle)ALBERTO (Last) ANTON (Seniority) JRMy present name is (First) FELIX (Middle)

ALBERTO (Last) ANTON-IZAGUIRREAKA FELIX ALBERTO ANTONIZAGUIRRE, AKA FELIX ANTON, AKAFELIX A. ANTONIZAGUIRRE, AKAFELIX ALBERTO ANTON, AKA FELIXA. ANTON My present address is 47-2739th Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104-4403 Myplace of birth is ECUADOR My date ofbirth is December 18, 1971

• LEGAL NOTICE • LEGAL NOTICE • LEGAL NOTICE

KindergartenAdmission BeginsFor children born in 2010, the applica-

tion period opened on January 7 and closeson February 13. Placement offers will bedistributed in early April and pre-registra-tion at schools starts in April. Like last year,families can apply online by visitingwww.nyc.gov/schools/kindergarten, by call-ing (718) 935-2400 between 8am – 6pmMonday-Friday or in person at one of theFamily Welcome Centers http://

schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/NewStudents/WelcomeCenters/default.htm

This year the kindergarten applica-tion is translated into nine languages on-line, and the Family Welcome Centerswill have translated paper copies of theapplications as well.

We will be holding a KindergartenAdmissions Information Session nextmonth in each borough:

Home Improvement Contractors CourseFor Contractors Seeking City Licenses

The Queens Economic DevelopmentCorporation (QEDC) will offer the nextversion of its highly successful Home Im-provement Contractor Training (HICT)course in English in Long Island City overtwo weekends in mid January.

QEDC will provide a HICT instructorwho has worked with many small con-struction businesses to lead workshopsthat prepare contractors to pass the NYCDepartment of Consumer Affairs (DCA)licensing exam. Classes will take placefrom 10 am to 4 pm at the EntrepreneurSpace, 36-46 37th Street, Long Island City,on the following dates: Saturday, January

17; Sunday, January 18; and the followingSaturday, January 24. Participants mustattend all three sessions, and after the lastone, they will choose a date and go as agroup to DCA headquarters in Manhattanto take the licensing exam.

The lessons, which cost $300 ($350 atthe door), will be accompanied by free, one-on-one business advisory services, such asconsultations on permits and licensing, busi-ness development, avoiding liability, pro-curement, and access to capital.

To register, surf to www.queensny.orgor contact Danielle Chu at 718-263-0546 [email protected].



The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the QueensTourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy theborough’s wonderful attractions.

It’s InWesternQueens!

ObituaryObituaryObituaryObituaryObituaryNYPD Captain Scott

Stelmok of the 103rd Precinctdied December 28th, 2014, leav-ing behind his wife, Jeanne andtheir daughter Ashley after a longfight with a cancer related to theWorld Trade Center attacks on9/11. He was a first responder atthe Twin Towers with the 108thQueens Precinct. He served inthe New York City Police Forcefor 20 years. His viewing washeld on Friday, January 2, 2015and at the Mangana FuneralHome in Deer Park. The funeralwas held on Saturday, Jan 3rd2015 at the St. Cyril &Methodious Church in Deer Park.

If your New Year resolutions include weight loss, healthy living,recycling, learning about 3D technology, expanding business knowl-edge and contacts, admiring awe-inspiring photography, listeningto great music, or just plain old laughing, Queens has something foryou this week. Here’s the rundown.

Jan. 10, A Bronx Tale, 1pmSet in the Bronx in the 1960s, but shot in Astoria in the 1990s, this

film depicts a youth who gets lured into joining the mob. Free. GreaterAstoria Historical Society, Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, FourthFloor, LIC, www.astorialic.org.

Jan. 10 & 11, MulchFest 2015, 10am-2pmBring trees to a designated park to be recycled into mulch that will

nourish plantings across the city. NYC Parks employees chip the treesand give donors bags of mulch. Free. Astoria Park, 19th Street and HoytAvenue, chipping; Brookville Park, Brookville Boulevard/Caney Road/144th Avenue, chipping; Cunningham Park, visitor parking lot and 196th

Street, chipping; Forest Park, Forest Park Drive and WoodhavenBoulevard, chipping; GreenThumb and Land Restoration Project Com-pound, Queens Plaza South and 10th Street, drop-off only; JuniperValley Park, 80th Street between Juniper Boulevards North and South,chipping; Kissena Park, 164th Street at Underhill Avenue, drop-offonly; Oakland Playground (P.S. 203), Springfield Boulevard and 56th

Avenue, chipping; Rockaway Beach, Shore Front Parkway and Beach94th Street, drop-off only; Rockaway Beach, parking lot at Beach 11th

Street, drop-off; Rockaway Beach Neponsit Nursing Home parking lot,Rockaway Beach Boulevard just west of 149th Street, drop-off; RoyWilkins Park, park entrance at Merrick and Foch boulevards, drop-off;and Travers Park, 78th Street and 34th Avenue, chipping. More info atwww.nycgovparks.org.

Jan. 11, Electronic Waste Recycling Event, 10a-4pDrop off unwanted or broken gadgets, which will be disposed of in

the proper ecological way. This 12th annual event is done in partnershipwith the Lower East Side Ecology Center and sponsored by TekServe.Free. Queens Botanical Gardens, 43-50 Main St., but find parkinggarden entrance on Crommelin Street, Flushing,www.queensbotanical.org.

Jan. 11, Bauer Hour, 5pmPerformer and choreographer Eleanor Bauer hosts a talk show,

variety show, parlor show, all or none of the above and also anexperiment. She invites guests to join her and create a space and timefor whatever seems most important now and not later. Everybody hasa story so let’s hear it, and talk is cheap so let’s spend it. Small talk,medium talk, big talk, trash-talk, pillow talk, hard talk, shop talk, walktalk, fake talk, real talk, straight talk, curly talk, sideways talk, andbackwards talk. No talk is an option for guests who prefer dance orpantomime. MoMA PS 1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., LIC.

Jan. 11, Sunday, Funny Sunday, 7pmGet a showcase of NYC’s best new comedic talent and a

free pint of Abita beer. $10. Laughing Devil Comedy Club,47-38 Vernon Blvd., LIC.

Jan. 11, Emerging Toronto Filmmakers, 5:30pmThree emerging Canadian movie directors — Antoine Bourges

and Kazik Radwanski (founders of the production and screeningcollective Medium Density Fibreboard Films) and experimentalfilmmaker Sofia Bohdanowicz – participate in a discussion led byfilm critic Adam Nayman. Free. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Kaufman Arts District.

“Strengthening our families isvital for our communities to flour-ish, and I’m thrilled Zully was ableto rejoin her husband and daughterto begin rebuilding their lives,”said Crowley. “Overcoming re-strictions on re-entering the coun-try for people who have legal im-migration options is often morechallenging than it ought to be.That’s why it continues to be im-perative for us to act on compre-hensive reform - so that we canhelp more families like this onestay together.”

“We are very grateful to Con-gressman Crowley for all his helpand his concern for the well-beingof our family,” said Javier Gomez,Ms. Gallo’s spouse. “After a longand arduous process, our family isonce again able to live under thesame roof.”

In 2009, Ms. Gallo, an un-documented immigrant from Co-lombia left the U.S. to care afterher ailing mother. However, Ms.Gallo was unable to re-enter theU.S., as she was subject to a 10-year restriction for having earlierhad unlawful presence in the coun-try. As the wife of Mr. Gomez, aU.S. citizen, Ms. Gallo would beeligible to immigrate to the U.S.to be with her husband and daugh-ter. Despite this, her immigrantvisa was denied due to the re-entry bar imposed.

Millions of families are af-fected by these re-entry bars,where a family member may havelegal opportunities to immigrateto the U.S., but if they leave thecountry to apply for their visa,they are barred from re-enteringeven under the legal visa. How-ever, when the separation wouldcause extreme hardship to familymembers in the U.S, waivers ofthe bars can be granted.

Mr. Gomez contactedCrowley’s office for assistance andapplied for a waiver while demon-strating the financial, emotionaland medical hardship he wouldsuffer caring for his daughter alone,on top of his own medical condi-tions. Crowley strongly urgedUnited States Citizenship and Im-migration Services (USCIS) tosupport his application. The waiverwas approved in July 2014 andMs. Gallo was able to return to theU.S. in time for the holiday season.

In November, Crowley com-mended the executive action takenby President Obama to help fix ournation’s broken immigration sys-tem. The administration’s new mea-

(continued from front page)


Woodside ResidentReunite With Family

After 5 YR Separation

sures included new regulations tohelp improve the process for immi-grants seeking waivers from 3- and10-year bars to re-enter the U.S. Inaddition, it has expanded the familymembers eligible for the waiver andalso directed USCIS to issue guid-ance clarifying how extreme hard-ship can be demonstrated, ensuringthat standards are not applied arbi-trarily in different situations.

It is a privilege to stand forthe victims of these inhumaneincidents and cosponsor thislegislation with MajorityLeader Van Bramer.”

The “Justice for Hit-and-RunVictims Act” establishes new civilpenalties where they previouslydid not exist. Drivers who flee thescene of a collision will now facecivil penalties for violations thatalready exist under the State’sVehicle Traffic Law. Fines will beassessed in increasing amounts inaccordance with the severity of thecollision: a civil penalty of up to$500 will be imposed if the inci-dent results in property damage; a$1,000 to $2,000 fine is assessed ifa person is injured; a $2,000 to$10,000fine is levied if there isserious injury; and $5,000 to$10,000 penalty is imposed if thecollision results in a victim’s death.

“I thank Council MemberJimmy Van Bramer for taking ac-tion and responding to the death ofmy son,” said Martha Puruncajas,mother of Luis Bravo who waskilled in a hit-and-run collision.“This law gives parents the abilityto trust that the authorities willhold drivers accountable for theiractions and helps ensure no familyever has to suffer the pain of losinga loved one.”

The passage of this muchneeded legislation came five daysbefore the one-year anniversary ofLuis Bravo’s death on September28th, 2013. Council Member VanBramer introduced the legislationafter Mr. Bravo was killed onBroadway in Woodside, Queensby a hit-and-run driver.

Transportation advocatespraised the new law and are confi-dent the “Justice for Hit-and-RunVictims Act” will save lives.

“The Justice for Hit and RunVictims Act will help bring an-swers and resolution to people af-fected by this particularly heinousform of traffic violence,” said PaulSteely White, Executive Directorof Transportation Alternatives. “Bycompelling drivers involved in col-lisions to stay at the scene and pro-

Hit-And-RunVictims Act

vide information to officers, Coun-cil Member Van Bramer’s legisla-tion will bring the City closer to thegoal of Vision Zero by deliveringaid to victims, and by deterring thekind of reckless driving that leadsto crashes in the first place.”

“We welcome the entry-into-force of Local Law 50 of 2014,Council Member Jimmy VanBramer’s bill to increase penaltieson hit-and-run drivers,” said LauraNewman, representative of MakeQueens Safer. “To run off withoutassisting or taking any responsibil-ity for one’s own part in a motorvehicle crash, leaving another per-son possibly injured on the street, isa despicably selfish act. It is nowalso illegal. Under this new law,drivers who commit hit-and-runcrimes will be subject to additionalfines of up to ten thousand dollars.In Queens alone, six pedestrians andcyclists were killed in 2014 by hitand run drivers - Karol Grzegorczyk,Kaneez Hussain, Mosa Khatun,Kumar Ragunath, Wayne White, andan unnamed cyclist. Many othershave been injured. We applaud thisbill, as it will serve as a motivator todrivers to do the right thing—callfor emergency services and law en-forcement if you are involved in amotor vehicle crash.”

In an effort to continue crack-ing down on reckless drivers Coun-cil Member Van Bramer has intro-duced two additional bills – Intro.603 and Intro. 604 – which pro-pose to increase civil penalties forrepeat offenders who leave thescene of a hit-and-run collision aswell as require the City of NewYork to report violations under the“Justice for Hit-and-Run VictimsAct.” Transportation Chair YdanisRodriguez is the prime sponsor onboth pieces of legislation.


Woodside HeraldPublic Legal Notices

Phone:(718) 729-3772

For More InformationPlease Email

Sherilyn Sabba [email protected]

The income qualifications varydepending on family size, but forpeople of moderate means, thiscan be defined as a single personmaking $55,000 to a family of sixbringing in $220,000. On the lowerside, a single person needs to makeless than $20,000. Move-ins willstart this spring.

Nearly one in four New Yorkrenters pay more than 50 percentof household income for rent andutilities, considered a “severe rentburden.” “Affordable” housingmeans no more than 30 percent ofincome goes to rent and utilities.With the response to Hunter’s PointSouth lottery, hopefully this willprompt others like it to meet thedemand for the need of affordablehousing in our NYC community.

Lottery WinnersLetter/ Op Ed Writers are

entitled to their own opinions,but not their own facts. As withany letter, writers speak onlyfor themselves or their organi-zations: publication should notbe taken as an endorsement ofthat view by Woodside Herald.The aim is to stimulate discus-sion, not end it.



Enjoying The IceThe scouts of Pack 390 Woodside went ice-skating at City Ice Pavilion over the holiday

weekend. To earn their Ice Skating belt loops and pins, the scouts learned swizzles and glides;they helped each other up from spills and offered cheer and encouragement to the beginners.

Dorian Andrade, Theo Orecchio, Charlie Ding, Michael Tonns, Manny Jeffcoat, Steven Chang,Savior Melendez, Aurelius Herrera, Elias Pinto, Isamu Russo, Joshua Jiminez, Kazuki Russo,Noah Jacobson, Alex Ovanessian, Anthony Cuzo, Henry Kaeser

For One Of Their Ownby Crystal Wolfe

On September 30, 2014 after an accidentsustained to Terry Michael Clarke, afundraiser was put together in his honor.Terry works throughout the city and Queensas a DJ and Trivia Host at Molly Blooms andhas been instrumental in helping hostfundraisers in the Irish community so manywanted to return the favor and participate inthe event to support him. Ty Sullivan, oneof the main MCs of Terry’s Fundraiser said,“Communities coming together extendswider than just for major events but for thesmaller things that are major for an indi-vidual. When Terry had his accident weknew what needed to be done. We needed tosupport him not just as friends but as thecommunity he touched.”

On Sunday, January 4, 2015 thefundraiser organized by friends and family

members was held at the Mean Fiddler Barin Manhattan, Times Square. Several res-taurants’ personnel throughout Woodsideand Sunnyside came together with his sisterto form the committee that built this event.All monies from the raffle and donationswill aid him in his mounting medical billsand rehab. The event drew about 400 peoplefrom all over the country, even California.

“I want to give a big thank you to thesupport at the recent fundraiser, so manypeople turned out to bring donations andprizes. A big thank you to the bar for hostingthe event. A big thank you to people whowere entertaining at the event. And a bigthank you to the committee for organizingthe fundraiser. I am very blessed to have somany good people in my life.” To makefurther donations to support Terry Clarke,go to www.GoFundMe.com/hmk2ks.

Photo Credit: Ty Sullivan

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