My Dear Queens Villagers,

          As I write this column, it’s a day with blue skies and temperatures in the high fifties, a very pleasant time in this first week of  March.  But the weatherman is predicting two to three inches of snow in 48 hours.  Let’s not be fooled by fickle March.  There are still a few weeks of winter left.

          We will be welcoming Deputy Inspector Thomas Manzolillo, the new Commander of the 105th Precinct, at this month’s meeting.  We wish departing commander Deputy Inspector Michael Bryan all the best in his new assignment to the Queens Patrol Borough South Headquarters. (Refer to article in the news page.)

          On March 6, I attended the Open House for Queens Homeowners sponsored by the Queens Office of the
Buildings Department.  I was impressed by their sharing of information with us, especially the offer of training on the use of the Building Information System (BIS), the Department’s online property database.  We were informed that homeowners can research their property records by visiting the Department of Buildings’ website,  www.NYC.gov/buildings , and selecting the link to BIS on the Web. But we are still skeptical about the Department’s ability to rid our communities of illegal buildings and housing conversions that threaten our quality of life.

          We need two members to serve on the Nomination Committee for our May elections.  If you’re interested, please see me at this month’s meeting.  Also, you could consider serving as an officer of our civic association.  We are always looking for new ideas on how to better serve our community and increase our membership.  One can find great satisfaction knowing that he or she has contributed to making the community a better place in which to live, work, grow, and play.

          We are pleased that our School District 29 is scheduled to have a new elementary school built at 222-22
Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village.  The design for the school is already completed; the facility is needed to alleviate overcrowding in our school district.  Our Executive Board has passed a resolution asking the Board of Education to make the new school a K-8 school (kindergarten through 8th grade).   We are also asking that I. S. 109 become a K-8 school. (Refer to article in the news page.)

          I am sad to report that more and more homeowners are cementing over their front lawns to make additional parking spaces.  This is a violation of Buildings Department law, subject to heavy fines.  Don’t risk the consequences.  And remember that grass and plants help to beautify our community.

          Stay well and be good to yourself. I hope to see you on March 16.