Queens Civic Congress Calendar

All meetings, excluding Legislative Reception, unless otherwise noted take place at:
Union Plaza Nursing Home
33-23 Union Street
[five blocks north of Northern Boulevard]

Meetings of the Executive Committee are open to all QCC members and take place at 8:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) If you wish to add an agenda item, please call Corey Bearak (343-6779) or email Bearak@aol.com at least 24 hours in advance. 

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Legislative Forum 2008: Real Property Tax Reform
Panelists include: State Senator Frank Padavan who wrote S.7000-A, Assembly Member Mark Weprin who will provide the Assembly point of view, City Council Finance Chair David Weprin, City Council Environmental Chair James Gennaro, and President David Moog of the City Assessors and Appraisers Local 1757, District Council 37 AFSCME, who will talk on fairness in City Assessment Policies
sponsored by Queens Civic Congress, Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
at the Samuel Field Y, 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY 11362
Includes Free light breakfast courtesy of Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation
RSVP to Gail at (718) 225-6750x247 or email bearak@aol.com
For background on the issue, click here

Deferred - Monday, May 19, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Executive Committee (Any business for this meeting will take place June 16)

Monday, June 16, 2008, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Foundation Board meeting

Monday, June 16, 2008, 8:00 p.m. (updated)
Queens Civic Congress Executive Committee and Regular meeting
Guest Speaker: City Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr, chair of the Council's Committee on Public Safety
Topics: "The lack of Police Officers in our Precincts and its affect on Queens" and "An Update on the Graffiti Wars".

***Additional special issue meetings and workshops will be announced as they get added to the schedule***

Past 2007-2008 meetings follow below for your information:

Monday, September 17, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Membership Meeting – Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe
at Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, New York 11004-1129

Monday, October 15, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Membership Meeting – Installation of Officers
Keynote Address by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and Installation of Officers by Assemblywoman Barbara Clark
at Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 202,
at Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
*Refreshments* Off-street Parking available (fee) in Kew Gardens Road's Garage

Monday, November 19, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Executive Committee – Update from Department of Buildings Deputy Commissioner Robert LiMandri (8:15 – 9:15 p.m.), former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman briefs QCC on Willets Points Development Plans (7:45 – 8:15 p.m.) and Pam Bennett, Citizen Action of New York, will discuss Public Financing of State Elections (7:30 – 7:45 p.m.)

Sunday, December 2, 2007, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Legislative Reception
at The Douglaston Club, 600 West Drive, Douglaston, NY 11363

Wednesday, January 23, 6:30 p.m.
Informational Community Meeting on AIA Proposal to Amend Zoning Text for Contextual Zoning Districts
at the General Society for Mechanics & Tradesmen, 20 W. 44th Street. (in third floor classrooms of The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America)
The Queens Civic Congress co-sponsors with our friends, The Historic Districts Council, this important public meeting to make sure residents and property owners who fought to preserve the traditional scale and humane qualities of their communities in all five boroughs have access to information about the ramifications of the zoning changes proposed by the NY Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (the full proposal is available at: http://www.aiany.org/planningurban/. RSVP hdc@hdc.org or (212) 614-9107.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. (note change in time)
Queens Civic Congress Executive Committee
followed at 7:45 p.m. by
MTA Capital Plan Forum featuring MTA Executive Director/CEO Elliot Sander

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress Historic Preservation and Landmarks Workshop
Atlas Park Community Room, The Shops at Atlas Park, 80-00 Cooper Avenue, Glendale
Speakers: Hon. Jessica Lappin (Chair, City Council Landmarks Subcommittee); Simeon Bankoff (Executive Director, Historic District Council); Herb Reynolds (Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance); Kevin Wolfe (architect & Preservationist, The Douglaston & Little Neck Historical Society); Frank Emile Sanchis (Senior Vice President, Municipal Arts Society)
Moderated by James Trent, President, Metropolitan Historic Structures Association
Limited seating; Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Free on-site parking courtesy of the Queens Civic Congress Foundation to all pre-registrants.
Download the program which contains useful information on Landmarking and the Landmarks Preservation Commission (PDF file)
RSVP and for parking info call (718) 343-6779 or (718) 275-9771 or e-mail bearak@aol.com

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Challenging Real Estate Assessments – A Workshop and Seminar sponsored by Queens Civic Congress and the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association
Rabbinical Seminary of America, 76-01 147th Street, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367
Speakers: Chaim Wiessman, CPA; and Mr. Valery Yuabov
For more information, Patricia Dolan (718) 263-1760

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 7,8,9, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Historic Districts Council's 14th Annual Preservation Conference – Preservation 2030 – co-sponsored by Queens Civic Congress and others
Register for the conference For more information, contact Lauren Belfer, Community Coordinator at the Historic Districts Council, (212) 614-9107x14

Saturday, March 8, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The First Annual GOING GREEN IN QUEENS – sponsored by Queens Civic Congress, Queens Coalition for Parks & Green Spaces, Partnerships for Parks, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Queens Botanical Garden, NY/NJ Trial Conference, Queens Blvd Restoration Group, Friends of Gantry Neighborhood Parks, Belle Harbor Property Owners Association, Eastern Queens Alliance
New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368 (718)699-0005
A free environmental, educational and networking event for green, environmental, parks, volunteer and civic minded individuals and groups. The most exciting and informative green event in Queens. Don't miss it!
*Keynote Speaker: Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.
*Informational Workshops: Trees workshops (2 or 3 sessions depending on weather, Lower Level Board Room) – City of Water short film screening (Auditorium) – Parks Resources workshops (3 sessions, Great Hall) – Make Waves in the Blue Movement workshop (2 sessions, Viscusi) – Environmental Sustainability (3 sessions, Lower Level Classroom
*A tabling exhibition highlighting local and city wide volunteer, non-profit, and green organizations such as our sponsors, City Parks Foundation, Citizens Committee for NYC, Solar One, Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee along with 2 dozen other organizations.
Program
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Registration (Great Hall)
10:00 – 11:00a.m. Registration and Tabling Expo (Great Hall
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Keynote speaech (Auditorium)
11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Workshop Session 1
12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Workshop Session 2
1:20 – 2:05 p.m. – Workshop Session 3
2:10 – 2:35 p.m. Closing Ceremony and Raffle (Great Hall)
*The trolley will provide Free shuttle service from the 111th Street #7 train subway on Roosevelt Avenue to the Hall of Science.
*Free Parking (you must tell the guard you are attending GOING GREEN IN QUEENS; otherwise you will be charged the normal $10/car.)
*Please RSVP – so we can plan accordingly for light refreshments, instructional materials and give-a-ways! – to (718) 343-6779 or e-mail GoingGreeninQueens@gmail.com
Download the Invitation

Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m
Queens Citizen Pruner Alumni Association – Certified Citizen Pruners and Tree StewardsInaugural Meeting
at The Overlook, 80-30 Park Lane, Kew Gardens NY 11415
Please RSVP by 3/24 to either (718)341-1395 or Herr281761@aol.com

Monday, March 31, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress – A Special Forum on Zoning & Land Use: Unfinished Business
at Queens Community House/ Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road at Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard, Suite 202, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Speakers: City Council Zoning & Franchises Committee Chair Tony Avella ; NYC Board of Standards & Appeals Vice Chair Christopher Collins , Esq.; Department of City Planning Queens Director John Young ; Sandra Atwell (President, Hollis 11423 Block Association); Paul DiBenedetto (President, Bayside Civic Database); Henry Euler (Zoning & Housing Chair, Auburndale Improvement Association), Paul Graziano (Independent Urban Planner & President, Historic Districts Council) (in formation)
Moderated by Sean M. Walsh , Esq. (QCC President Emeritus & Founder; Douglaston Civic Association)
Neighborhoods waiting for re-zoning – New zones to protect the R1 zone ("R1A") – onefamily row houses and single-family occupancy houses on narrow lots – Queens Civic Congress responds to the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) zoning proposals – Neighborhoods that don't get the zoning plan they need – Getting ready for the City Planning Commission – More.
Chaired by Patricia Dolan, QCC Executive Vice President & President, Kew Gardens Hills Civic Assoc.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m. – Photo I.D. required to access building; free parking available on the street & behind Borough Hall; paid parking available in building garage (enter on 80th Road)
To reserve and for info call (718) 343-6779 or (718) 263-1760 or e-mail bearak@aol.com

Sunday, April 6, 2008, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Queens Civic Congress 6th biennual Luncheon sponsored by the Queens Civic Congress Foundation
Guest Speaker: Hon. Helen Marshall, President of the Borough of Queens
Honoring:
*QCC President Emeritus Sean M. Walsh, Esq. (Queens Civic Award for Outstanding Community Service)
*Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance (Queens Civic Achievement Award in Preservation)
*Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces (Queens Civic Environment Improvement Award)
at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Boulevard, Queens Village, NY 11429
Luncheon includes a four-course meal of chicken or salmon with beverages
Tickets: Non-members @ $40 each ($45 after March 31); Member of QCC Members @ $36 ($40 after March 31). Please make your reservation payable to the Queens Civic Congress Foundation or "QCCF" and mail to James Trent, Treasurer, 242-33 90th Avenues, Bellerose, NY 11426 by March 31. Use this handy reservation form

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
CELEBRATE SPRING MIGRATION AT RIDGEWOOD RESERVOIR tour
Meet at Upper Highland Park parking lot
Join Eric Slayton of the Wildlife Conservation Society for a walk around the natural habitats of Highland Park's unique Ridgewood Reservoir.
Download the flyer

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces
at the Overlook at 80-30 Park Lane, Kew Gardens 11415
Topics to be discussed: Ridgewood Reservoir and Highland Park - Klein Farm - Cornell Farm - Twin Ponds - Tree-R-borcide---never ending topic as more and more trees are slaughtered - Parks Advocacy Day - Its My Park Day - Info on free and low cost seeds and tools and gloves from KAB Foundation.

Saturday, April 26, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Citizens Against Graffiti Everywhere (CAGE) ANTI-GRAFFITI BOOT CAMP
Learn the best strategies to combat graffiti from law enforcement and citizen experts.
Sponsored by: State Senator Malcolm Smith, Councilman Leroy Comrie, Councilman David Weprin, Thrivent-Queens County Chapter #31028, Citizens Committee for NYC. Download the flyer

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Candidates Forum for Special City Council Election
sponsored by Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Assn. affecting Ridgewood residents living east of Woodward Ave. & Forest Ave. north of Myrtle Ave.
at PS 93 School auditorium, (use Main Entrance on) Forest Ave. near Madison St.
Panelists include representatives from the Queens Civic Congress, Times Newsweekly, Historic Districts Council, Citizens Union and Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Assn.

Friday, May 9, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Congressman Greg Meeks Community Task Force Meeting
to update the community onthe status of the Enhanced Use Lease Project proposed for the St. Albans VA Campus
at the St. Albans VA Campus, Pratt Auditorium, Linden Boulevard at 179th Street.
For further information, call the Congressman's office, (718) 725-6000

(Rain or Shine) Monday, May 12, 2008, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Rally with Queens Civic Congress as we fight to focus City Hall & City Planning on Unfinished Business
sponsored by Queens Civic Congress, Queens Preservation Council, Civic & Community Associations*, Concerned Community Boards
Outside Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Neighborhoods waiting for re-zoning and/ or landmarking – New zones to protect under-protected nabes – Neighborhoods that don't get the zoning plan they need – A City Buildings Dept. that follows - rather than makes new versions of - the law
Note to Elected Officials: Please download this letter to sign off on your commitment to support the rally and speak (or have a representative speak for you)
*To be listed as a co-sponsor on QCC's website and other media, please call (718) 343-6779 or (718) 229-5505 or e-mail bearak@aol.com.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Sixth Annual Parks Advocacy Day
sponsored by New Yorkers for Parks and supported by Queens Civic Congress and Queens Coalition for Parks & Green Spaces
at New York County Lawyers Association 14 Vesey Street (between Broadway and Church)
Queens Civic Congress President Corey Bearak will moderate the "Town Hall meeting" with Queens Council Members
To RSVP please contact: EMILY ANTONIADES at emilya@ny4p.org or call (212) 838-9410x313, or Register on line.

Thursday, May 15, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
18th Annual Historic Districts Council Preservation Party
featuring the 9th Annual Grassroots Preservation Awards, including to Queens Civic Congress member: Juniper Park Civic Association
at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, Garden and Parish Hall, East 10th Street & Second Avenue, Manhattan
$25/person $15/Friends of HDC - for more information E-mail kmorith@hdc.org or call (212) 614-9107