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8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
1/8
Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together
COMETNewsletter · Spring 2016
If you see something, say something!
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1-888-692-7233 or 1-888-NY-SAFE
If you see something, send something.
Go to the APP Store, type in "see send".
You can attach photos or send information.
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.
Photo by John Scha ff er Photo by Dick Gundlach
Should we all be
concerned about whatis happening under
our streets?
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
2/8
Pg. 2 Spring 2016 COMET
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
CSX overpass at Grand Avenue and 74th Street in Elmhurst.
Photo by Richie Polgar
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 thevehicle! Photo by Mike Fordunski
Parking Wars Snow Removal Update
We’re 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 eff ort
throughout our area. We didn’t have to call Council Membe
Crowley or Council Member Dromm’s offi ce with numerou
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 a
well has Hamilton Place, and Elmhurst residents could navigatethe overpass on Grand Avenue at Calamus Avenue. We did have
a couple of glitches that we called into our Council Members
offi ces.
61st Street at Grand Avenue in Maspeth.
Photo by Teresa Marrero
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
3/8
COMET Spring 2016 Pg. 3
Water Main Break Causes Concern
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 Schaff er who stepped outside
and could smell smoke that he believed was coming from an
electrical source. Shortly a�erward he heard a re truck with
its lights on drive up the street. Within minutes of their arrival
they heard the explosion. Shortly a�er 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 diff erent
direcons not knowing which block they could turn down to getout 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.
We reached out to Council Member Daniel Dromm’s offi ce who
then contacted the Offi ce of Emergency Management (OEM) to
determine what caused the blast.
On February 16th, a week a�er 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 manholecover on Ireland Street at Kneeland
Avenue. We once again reached out
to Councilman Dromm’s offi ce as wel
as the Mayor’s offi ce asking that they
conduct an invesgaon to determine
why these problems are aff ecng 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.
Phil Wong standing near a manhole
that exploded. We don't know where
the bus's bumper landed!
A u� lity pole that went on re.
Photos by John Scha ff er
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
4/8
Pg. 4 Spring 2016 COMET
Ponding Condition on 72nd Street
and 51st Avenue in Win
eld
Comet’s Vice President Dick Gundlach has had an ongoing concernabout 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
offi ce 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. We’re hopeful the problem will be resolved in
the near future.
New Signage at RustStreet 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.
If you see damaged or missing signage, call 311.
A u lity pole that went on re.
Photos by Dick Gundlach
Photo by Chris na Wilkinson
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
5/8
COMET Spring 2016 Pg. 5
Where are the Traf c Lanes? Sharp-eyed Comet member Richie Polgar was quick to noce
the yellow paint depicng the traffi c 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 offi ce of Council Member
Crowley and the 104th Precinct to have the lanes restored.
Captain Mark Wachter, 104th Precinct, had a meeng with theDepartment of Transportaon and they stated the painng of the
lines will be done in the spring.
Consequences of WaterRun-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 runoff
from roo�ops, streets, driveways and sidewalks contributes
to Combined Sewer Overow which results in water backupsin our homes.
You Can HelpBioswales are being placed in some locaons throughout
our community to help with water run-off . However we
all need to do our share to curtail water from our property
owing into the sewers. If you don’t 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!!
Maspeth’s 69th Street“Parking Lot” Restored to
Open Space
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 tha
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 off the lot would run
down 69th Street into the Wineld secon of Woodside tha
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 couldn’t take the water run
off . As a result, not only did water ood the streets but it also
backed up into people’s basements.
Before
A er
Example of a bioswale
Photo by Richie Polgar
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
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Pg. 6 Spring 2016 COMET
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 a�er her street was
paved.
If you see problems such as this, call 311. If it ’s not addressed in
a mely fashion, call your City Council representave with the
complaint number.
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 don’t care about
our neighborhood. If you
see graffi , trash or another
problem, take a minute andreport it to 311.
Photos by Richie Polgar
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 o
not the building is safe. We reached out to the Department o
Buildings and Council Member Daniel Dromm’s offi ce and asked
them to invesgate. The building has now been sealed but the
eyesore remains. We are working with the Councilman’s offi ce 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.
Neighborhood Eyesores
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.
Photo by Madeline Barrionuevo
Photo by Geraldine Walsh
Grand Avenue between
69th Street & 69th Place
Former St. John's Parking
garage on Ho ff man Drive
Grand Avenue at HamiltonPlace - now vacant building
Photos by
Geraldine Walsh
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
7/8
Report Plane Noise hp://www.planenoise.com/panynj/daPRAbr9/qs114wbt.php
Q47 Bus Detour Will Continue
to Affect Woodside ResidentsFolks are wondering why the Q47 bus isn’t back on its route even
though no work is being done. Community Board 5 was able to
get some answers to our ques�ons regarding the Calamus Avenue
sewer project which made it necessary to detour the Q47 bus.
We want to thank Community Board 5 for ge ng answers for us.
Response:
“The reason that the Q47 bus is s�ll not back to running along
Calamus Avenue is that the new sewer s�ll 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 s�ll 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 wai�ng 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.
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 tenta�vely scheduled for April 2016.”
Comet Updates
To get the latest Comet and neighborhood news all in one place, join our Google Group “CometUpdates”.
If you do not already have a Google account, you can create one at: hps://accounts.google.com and then search and subscribe
to “CometUpdates” by entering your email address at hps://groups.google.com
Newsletter Committee
Mike Fordunski, Tom Porembski, Geraldine Walsh, Chris�na 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. Mee�ngs start at 7:00 pm and are open to all.
Check our website at www.cometcivic.com to see if a mee�ng is canceled due to inclement weather.
Monday, April 4th / Monday, May 2nd / Monday, June 6th
Special Thank You
This newsle er 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 ffi � removal and the Maspeth Memorial Day Parade.
Support your community!
COMET Dues for 2016 $10.00
Checks or money orders please
NAME
ADDRESS
EMAIL (op�onal)
Exis�ng Member New Member
Mail to: COMET
P.O. Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378
We needyour supportto continue
our efforts inthe community.
8/19/2019 Comet Spring Newsletter 2016
8/8
C.O.M.E.T., INCP.O.Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378
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Permit #1264
Please Deliver To:
Annual Earth Day Event Join Council Member Elizabeth Crowley,Maspeth Federal Savings, NYPD & CometSaturday, 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
RAIN BARREL GIVEAWAY
Collect water for your plants and vegetables. Quan es 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 graffi removal program
To nd out more about
C.O.M.E.T.check out our website at
www.cometcivic.com
P r i nt ed b y wwwMas pet h P r es s c om