Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMET
Newsletter Spring 2016

Water, Water Everywhere!

Communities are being impacted by water main breaks and ponding conditions
Elmhurst residents in and around the vicinity of Kneeland Avenue (see photo on le) and residents in the
Wineld secon of Woodside near 51st Avenue (see photo on the right) are concerned about their sewers
and water mains.

Should we all be
concerned about what
is happening under
our streets?
Photo by John Schaer

If you see something, say something!

Counter Terrorism Hotline
1-888-692-7233 or 1-888-NY-SAFE

Photo by Dick Gundlach

If you see something, send something.

Go to the APP Store, type in "see send".
You can attach photos or send information.

Parking Wars

Snow Removal Update

Were all too familiar with the lack of parking spaces in our
community and the fact that parking goes from bad to worse
during a snowstorm. If we were to take a vote, our guess is that
the community would be split as to whether or not drivers have
the right to claim a spot once they shovel it out or whether
anyone has a right to park in the spot regardless of who shoveled
it out.

We were very pleased with the snow and ice removal eorts
throughout our area. We didnt have to call Council Member
Crowley or Council Member Dromms oce with numerous
overpasses that were unpassable. Woodside folks were able to
cross the overpass on 65th Place, Maspeth residents were able to
cross the Long Island Expressway overpasses on Grand Avenue as
well has Hamilton Place, and Elmhurst residents could navigate
the overpass on Grand Avenue at Calamus Avenue. We did have
a couple of glitches that we called into our Council Members
oces.

Maspeth Plateau - the person who shoveled out this spot

wanted to send a clear message to any would-be parker. At
least he/she didn't wait for someone to park and then bury the
vehicle! Photo by Mike Fordunski
61st Street at Grand Avenue in Maspeth.
Photo by Teresa Marrero

61st Street/Flushing Avenue - If you look closely at the mound

of snow you'll see a car is parked under the mound. Whoever
shoveled the spot buried the car that took the spot...
Photo by Teresa Marrero
Pg. 2 Spring 2016 COMET

CSX overpass at Grand Avenue and 74th Street in Elmhurst.

Photo by Richie Polgar

Manhole Explosions Spark Concern in Elmhurst

Gorsline Street at 51st Avenue and Manilla Street at Kneeland Avenue

At about 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 9th, Elmhurst resident
Phil Wong noced the lights were ickering in his house. He
reached out to his neighbor John Schaer who stepped outside
and could smell smoke that he believed was coming from an
electrical source. Shortly aerward he heard a re truck with
its lights on drive up the street. Within minutes of their arrival
they heard the explosion. Shortly aer the explosion a ulity pole
went on re.
One neighbor states she called Con Edison to inquire about why
her lights were ickering but they were not very helpful. She
walked to 51st Avenue and saw two manhole covers with smoke
billowing out and saw a manhole cover explode from beneath a
car.
The end result was that 51st Avenue and Manilla Street had
to be closed down completely, cars were going in all dierent
direcons not knowing which block they could turn down to get
out to 51st Avenue, and some of the residents lost electricity on
one or more oors of their homes. Time Warner and RCN was on
site doing rewiring and four Con Edison trucks were on site trying
to address the problem. Luckily no one was injured.

Phil Wong standing near a manhole

that exploded. We don't know where
the bus's bumper landed!

Water Main Break Causes Concern

We reached out to Council Member Daniel Dromms oce who

then contacted the Oce of Emergency Management (OEM) to
determine what caused the blast.

Photos by John Schaer

A ulity pole that went on re.

On February 16th, a week aer the

manhole explosions, residents had to
contend with a sinkhole on Kneeland
Avenue between Hillyer and Ireland
Streets that turned out to be a water
main break. The Department of
Environmental Protecon told one
of the residents that water had been
running from this main for quite
some me.Several days later, water
was seen running beneath a manhole
cover on Ireland Street at Kneeland
Avenue. We once again reached out
to Councilman Dromms oce as well
as the Mayors oce asking that they
conduct an invesgaon to determine
why these problems are aecng this
parcular part of Elmhurst.
We cannot stress the importance of calling 311 and reporng
problems and get the agency to invesgate. Make sure you
keep a record of the 311 complaint numbers.
COMET

Spring 2016 Pg. 3

A ulity pole that went on re.

Ponding Condition on 72nd Street

and 51st Avenue in Wineld
Photos by Dick Gundlach

Comets Vice President Dick Gundlach has had an ongoing concern

about the ponding condion at the intersecon of 72nd Street
and 51st Avenue. Dick lives in the Wineld secon of Woodside
that is located at the boom of the steep hill in Maspeth. When
it rains heavily the water ows down the hill so fast the catch
basins become overloaded and the water oods the streets and
at mes goes into the local businesses and homes of residents.
Some folks have had to install sump pumps.
If you look at the photos you can see that the water is ponding
around the catch basins and that is why the problem was reported
to the Department of Environmental Protecon through 311
and subsequently to Community Board 2 and Council Member
Crowley when the condion was not addressed.
We are all hopeful that the Calamus Avenue Sewer Project
will alleviate the ooding problem in the area. However, if the
catch basins are clogged, as in this case, ooding will persist.
Dick will connue working with Community Board 2 and the
oce of Council Member Crowley to get the Department of
Environmental Protecon to address the condion. The best way
to get the job done would be to restrict parking so the agency
can do their work. Were hopeful the problem will be resolved in
the near future.
Pg. 4 Spring 2016 COMET

New Signage at Rust

Street at Maspeth Avenue
New signage was installed at
the intersecon of Rust Street
at Maspeth Avenue to help
alleviate accidents involving
vehicles crossing the tracks.
The signs were posted in both
direcons and trains will now
have to stop at this crossover.
Chrisna
Wilkinson,
who
took the photo, noced the
No Turn sign for motorists
had been knocked down. She
reported this condion to 311
and the problem has been
reced.

Photo by Chrisna Wilkinson

If you see damaged or missing signage, call 311.

Maspeths 69th Street

Parking Lot Restored to
Open Space
Photo by Richie Polgar

Where are the Trafc Lanes?

Sharp-eyed Comet member Richie Polgar was quick to noce

the yellow paint depicng the trac lanes is gone and creang a
hazard for drivers on the LIE service road. This is another prime
example of a problem that can be called into 311. If you see
something, please report it!!
Richie has been working with the oce of Council Member
Crowley and the 104th Precinct to have the lanes restored.
Captain Mark Wachter, 104th Precinct, had a meeng with the
Department of Transportaon and they stated the painng of the
lines will be done in the spring.

Before

Consequences of Water
Run-Off

Regardless of whether you live at the top of the hill or the

boom and regardless of whether you live in Maspeth,
Elmhurst, Woodside or Middle Village and surrounding
communies, we all pay the price if the excess water runo
from rooops, streets, driveways and sidewalks contributes
to Combined Sewer Overow which results in water backups
in our homes.

You Can Help

Bioswales are being placed in some locaons throughout

our community to help with water run-o. However we
all need to do our share to curtail water from our property
owing into the sewers. If you dont want to bother with
grass, trees or shrubs, please make sure any solid surface
you install is porous to help absorb the water. Going green
is the best choice!!

Example of a bioswale

Aer
A vacant piece of property located on 69th Street and 52nd Drive
was called to our aenon by a nearby resident who stated that
it had been paved over and was being used as a parking lot. We
checked the Department of Buildings website and found out that
it had already been reported. A number of violaons were issued
and according to a Buildings Department permit that was posted
on the fence, the property owner was required to remove the
concrete, plant grass and remove the illegal curb cut.
When we passed by to take a photo, we saw the concrete was
removed except for about a three foot concrete frame around
the property. We assume this meets Department of Buildings
approval.
If you look at the top photo you can see the property is sloped
towards 69th Street and water owing o the lot would run
down 69th Street into the Wineld secon of Woodside that
is prone to ooding. Several years ago when we experienced a
heavy rainfall, we received calls from residents telling us that
manhole covers on 69th Street at the boom of the hill were
actually oang because the sewers couldnt take the water runo. As a result, not only did water ood the streets but it also
backed up into peoples basements.
COMET

Spring 2016 Pg. 5

Neighborhood Eyesores

Grand Avenue between

69th Street & 69th Place
Photo by Geraldine Walsh

Ponding Condition on 52nd

Avenue in Elmhurst
This is a prime example of a ponding condion that needs to be
addressed by the Department of Transportaon.
Comet Treasurer Geraldine Walsh called this problem on 52nd
Avenue into 311 in December. She noced it aer her street was
paved.

Block Captain Richie Polgar

takes noce of problems in
the community and reports
them. If eyesores like this
are not taken care of, it will
look like we dont care about
our neighborhood. If you
see gra, trash or another
problem, take a minute and
report it to 311.
Photos by Richie Polgar

Former St. John's Parking

garage on Homan Drive

Grand Avenue at Hamilton

Place - now vacant building

If you see problems such as this, call 311. If its not addressed in
a mely fashion, call your City Council representave with the
complaint number.

Photos by
Geraldine Walsh

Photo by Madeline Barrionuevo

Illegal Commercial Parking

Many residents have to contend with nding on-street parking
space in our area. Residents in west Maspeth were furious to
discover a huge commercial vehicle that parked overnight on
Grand Avenue at 58th Avenue. It was taking up about ve parking
spots!The problem was called into 311.
Commercial vehicles cannot park on residenal streets between
the hours of 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. If you have a problem such
as this, call it into 311.

Pg. 6 Spring 2016 COMET

Empty Building on Grand

Avenue in Elmhurst

The vacant building at 84-52 Grand Avenue has been an eyesore

for many years and community residents queson whether or
not the building is safe. We reached out to the Department of
Buildings and Council Member Daniel Dromms oce and asked
them to invesgate. The building has now been sealed but the
eyesore remains. We are working with the Councilmans oce to
determine what can be done to restore this building and would
be thrilled to see a business move in downstairs and give an
opportunity to tenants to live upstairs.

Q47 Bus Detour Will Continue

to Affect Woodside Residents
Folks are wondering why the Q47 bus isnt back on its route even
though no work is being done. Community Board 5 was able to
get some answers to our quesons regarding the Calamus Avenue
sewer project which made it necessary to detour the Q47 bus.
We want to thank Community Board 5 for geng answers for us.

We need
your support
to continue
our efforts in
the community.

Support your community!

COMET Dues for 2016 $10.00
Checks or money orders please

Response:
The reason that the Q47 bus is sll not back to running along
Calamus Avenue is that the new sewer sll has to be installed
in Calamus Avenue. The contractor has installed water mains in
both Calamus Avenue and in 69th Street, but signicant sewer
work sll has to be performed in both of these streets. The
contractor has recently done a test pit in 69 Street, between
Queens Blvd. and 47 Avenue, related to problems with planned
sewer work in 69th Street. I am waing to hear back from NYC
DDC regarding their plans to proceed with sewer work. Once all
sewer work is completed, both Calamus Avenue and 69th Street,
within the project limits, have to be resurfaced from curb to curb.
Sorry for the delays.

NAME
ADDRESS

EMAIL (oponal)
Exisng Member

DOT informed us today that the Q47 bus shelter (69th Street at
Gareld Avenue) was removed in August 2015, due to the major
capital project on 69th Street. The bus shelter will be reinstalled,
and is tentavely scheduled for April 2016.

New Member

Mail to: COMET

P.O. Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378

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hp://www.planenoise.com/panynj/daPRAbr9/qs114wbt.php

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Newsletter Committee
Mike Fordunski, Tom Porembski, Geraldine Walsh, Chrisna Wilkinson, Richie Polgar, Dick Gundlach,
Howard Moskowitz, Roe Daraio and Maspeth Press

Upcoming C.O.M.E.T. Meetings

St. Adalbert Parish Center, lower level, 52-40 84th Street, Elmhurst. Meengs start at 7:00 pm and are open to all.
Check our website at www.cometcivic.com to see if a meeng is canceled due to inclement weather.

Monday, April 4th / Monday, May 2nd / Monday, June 6th

Special Thank You

This newsleer is made possible by funding from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley, Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van
Bramer through the Department of Youth and Community Development. State funding was provided by Assembly
Member Marge Markey and will be used for gra removal and the Maspeth Memorial Day Parade.

C.O.M.E.T., INC

P.O.Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378

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Please Deliver To:

Annual Earth Day Event

Join Council Member Elizabeth Crowley,
Maspeth Federal Savings, NYPD & Comet
Saturday, April 16th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Maspeth Federal Parking lot at 69th Street at Grand Avenue

PAPER SHREDDING
Your opportunity to safely dispose of valuable paperwork to avoid identy the
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Dispose of your old TVs, computers, phones and other electronics
Printed by www.MaspethPress.com

RAIN BARREL GIVEAWAY

Collect water for your plants and vegetables. Quanes limited!!
NYPD VIN ETCH PROGRAM
You may be eligible for a discount on your car the insurance!
REGISTRATION
The 104th& 108th Precincts will register your cell phones, iPads, tablets, cameras,
bicycles, etc. to help recover them if stolen. These are city-wide programs and
everyone is invited to take advantage of them.
Informaon available in English and Chinese concerning identy the and the
city-wide gra removal program

To nd out more about

C.O.M.E.T.
check out our website at
www.cometcivic.com