Month: November 2014

Join the American Legion Post 104 for bouncy castle a Veterans Day ceremony this Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Memorial Triangle at Myrtle and Cooper avenues from 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Now going into their third week at the Shops at Atlas Park, located at 8000 Cooper Ave., TJ Maxx has not only been a success, but Atlas representatives say they are also generating considerable foot traffic for the surrounding businesses.

“There has definitely been a pickup in foot traffic since their opening, so I am very happy with the way things are going,” said Peter DeLucia, marketing manager at the Shops at Atlas Park.

DeLucia added that while the TJ Maxx has become the outdoor mall’s retail anchor – with other recent openings like Ulta Beauty, Charlotte Russe and Foot Locker also contributing to their success –  the Atlas administration is now looking forward to new kiosks and upcoming events for the winter.

“Leasing has been fantastic,” he said, adding castillo hinchable that the new Orchard and Grand kosher hotdog and knish kiosk is also expected to open within the next month.

Since they opened, Glendale Civic Association president Kathy Masi said she now makes a stop nearly twice a week, however adding that she would spend more time if the parking was free for more than just 45 minutes.

“The parking is the only problem with Atlas now,” Masi said.

As far as the foot traffic is concerned, Masi added that it all comes down to the types of businesses that are coming in.

“I don’t think there is the right kind of business, but I think at this point in the economy, anyone that can pay their rent is the right kind of business,” she said.

See the full story in the Glendale Register this Wednesday

Roughly four months after the formation of the Glendale-Middle Village Coalition to fight the establishment of a warehouse-style homeless shelter at 78-16 Cooper Avenue, the group is about to hit the halfway point on its fundraising goal.

“As of November, we were about $300 short of $63,000 and that’s from four months,” said Brian Dooley, coalition treasurer and president of the Glendale Property Owner’s Association. “We’re doing very well, and we have broad based support.”

According to Dooley, a total of 375 donors have contributed to the cause so far, with an average donation of $175.

One of the central sources of fundraising so far has been jeux gonflables through the use of block captains, who have been going door-to-door soliciting donations from friends and neighbors. Deborah Kueber of Coldwell-Banker Kueber Realty in Glendale explained the idea behind the block captain model.

“Much like when you do a block party there’s always one person who gets the signatures to get a permit,” Kueber said, telling the crowd gathered in Pfeiffer Hall, “Speak to each of your neighbors. Talk to them and hopefully get donations. That is the ultimate goal.”

According to Dooley, 32 block captains showed up to their most recent meeting, about half of those who have signed up for block captain responsibilities.

Kathy Masi, president of the Glendale Civic Association and GMVC founding member, believes that through the use of block captains the coalition will be able to meet its fundraising goal in short order.

“On my block, I am a self-appointed block captain. It was as simple as taking a form letter that we have and attaching a personal note to it and leaving it in the mail. I collected $7,000 that way on one block alone,” Masi said.

While Dooley said he understands the crisis of homelessness in New York City, he doesn’t believe that the style of shelter being forced on Glendale is the right answer.

“What we are against is this facility, which is a former manufacturing facility. We ought to have another factory in there because it would bring jobs into the community,” Dooley said.

Further, Dooley said he is inflatable water slide disappointed in the city officials who seem so focused on sheltering homeless individuals that they are ignoring other issues affecting his community.

“The fact that no one at the city level is thinking about traffic and schools, it makes you wonder who is looking out for the tax paying citizens of the city. It may be nobody,” Dooley said.

To date, the coalition has spent $15,000 on legal actions to fight the establishment of the Samaritan Village-run shelter, and Dooley estimates that another $48,000 will be needed to see those actions through.

The overall fundraising goal for the coalition is $130,000.

Starting today, police will begin enforcing the new 25 mph citywide speed limit.

Legislation passed last month lowered the default city speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. For the past 25 days, the Department of Transportation, politicians, the NYPD and others have done what they could to get the word out about the new road rules.

Today, strict enforcement of the new speed limit will begin. Unless otherwise posted, speed limits on city roads will now be 25 mph, so unless you want to be the one putting money into the City’s pockets through the pile of speeding tickets that are sure to be issued in the coming months, make sure you slow down.