My Dear Queens Villagers,

               We wish the very best to all members and residents who are observing the holy period of Lent.  May the rewards of your penance be fruitful.  Best wishes also go to our Hindu community on the occasion of Holi.  Happy New Year 2057.  And we wish safe passage to our Muslim residents who are making the journey to Mecca.

               We remind our Senior Citizens to be especially careful during this income tax filing time of the year.  There are unscrupulous people out there who will charge you an exorbitant fee to do your taxes.  If you want to have your taxes done with charge, please see the "free income tax assistance" in the news page of this Newsletter.

               Governor Pataki has approved the use of up to 26 acres of surplus state land at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center to build much needed schools for our communities.  However, the School Construction Authority plans to utilize only 10 acres of the tract.  We strongly support the use of the entire allotted acreage to build three new schools, and we are asking you to contact our elected officials in writing or by telephone tin support of our position  They are listed in the advertising pages of this Newsletter.  Queens Borough President Claire Shulman can be reached at  (718) 286-2560 and Mayor Giuliani by calling (212) 788-9600.

               Your civic association, Community Board 13, our elected officials, and many other community organizations are opposing the completion of the Paradise Motel at 220-16 Jamaica Avenue.  We believe that such a facility is not needed in our community and will attract prostitution and unsavory people.  Construction of the partially built shell of the $3.2 million, 54-room motel was stopped in November of 1998 when ti was determined that building a transient motel there was contrary to zoning laws.  The developers have appealed to the Board of Standards and Appeals to receive a variance to complete construction of the motel.  The Board's decision is expected on March 28.

               We are again asking home and business owners to obey the City's garbage disposal and recycling regulations and zoning laws that forbid illegal housing conversions, and to keep their property free of litter and debris up to 18 inches from the curb.  The result will be an improvement in both the quality of our life and the value of our property.

               Our current civic year is fast coming to a close.  We invite you to become an active participant in our civic association by serving on our committees and our Executive Board.  Let us know if you're interested at this month's meeting.  I hope to see you there.  Bring along a friend or neighbor. 

105th Precinct Community Council

            You can obtain a wealth of information about police activities in our community and be given the opportunity to express your concerns and complaints by attending the next meeting of the 105th Precinct Community Council on Wednesday, March 26, in the precinct located at 92-08 222nd Street, in Queens Village, beginning at 8:00 P. M. The council meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, except in July and August.  Meeting dates for the remainder of the council year are: April 26, May 31, and June 28.  If you want to know more about the activities and functions of this vital commmity organization, please call President Sheila Pecoraro at (718) 276-1922.

          If your quality of life is being invaded and diminished by loud music, graffiti, vandalism, barking dogs, disorderly persons, drug sales, prostitution, loitering, illegally parked cars, malfunctioning car alarms--you now can get help by calling 1-888-677 LIFE (5433).  Your complaints will be routed to a police dispatcher, and you'll get action.  The line is expected to forge closer links between the police and communities on quality-of-life offenses.  It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

           Health officials say that now is the time to prevent an outbreak of West Nile encephalitis by eliminating stagnant water in your backyard and on your property. 

           You should:

• Remove used tires.  Tires are the Number 1 breeding areas for mosquitos.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools.
• Drain water from pool covers.
• Get rid of discarded soda cans, plastic containers, and ceramic pots, which become potential breeding areas when filled with water.
• Clean clogged gutters.

         Counselors trained by the IRS will provide free tax assistance to low income and older adults in completing their 1999 personal income tax returns at two locations in our community.  At the Queens Village Library Branch, 94-11 217th Street, help will be available for low income and older adults on Thursdays through April 13, from 1:00 P. M. to 5:00 P. M.  SNAP of Eastern Queens, located at 80-45 Winchester Boulevard, Building #4, CBU #29, will give tax assistance to senior citizens on Thursdays, beginning at 9:30 A. M., through April 13.  Pre-registration is required.  Please call 454-2100 for more information.

          The programs are sponsored by the American Assocaticn of Retired Persons (AARP), Veterans Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and Retired & Senior Volunteer Program/TCE (RSVP).  You should bring the following: W2 forms, 1099 Forms, forms mailed to you by the IRS, any information concerning your income and expenses, and a copy of last year's tax return.

           When you receive an unwanted telemarketing call, ask for the name of the caller and the company he or she is representing.  You can tell any unwanted telemarketer to put you on their "Do Not Call List."  Record this information along with the time and date of the call.  Federal Law requires most telemarketers to keep these lists and prohibits them from calling anyone on such lists for at least 10 years.  If you believe that a telemarketer has violated this law, report it to the office of the New York State Attorney General at (800) 771-7755.  You should consider having your name unlisted in your local telephone directory as telemarketers often use the directory to obtain your telephone number.  Also consider getting Caller I.D. as state Law prohibits telemarketers from using devices to block information from appearing on your Caller I. D. Box.  Lastly, if you are at your wit's end, demand to be removed from telemarketers' lists by writing to the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service, P. 0. Box 9014, Farmingdale, New York, 11735-9014 and by calling (800) 407-1088.