MTA Ventilation Project To Start In October
BY THOMAS COGAN

The Community Board 1 cabinet met in March after a February hiatus and entertained a long parade of organizational representatives, who brought up many interesting issues. Because the Kaufman Astoria Studios commissary on 36th Street had been taken over by some creative personnel, the cabinet meeting was held in a large, third floor room where raised voices were necessary but audibility remained a problem.

Among the speakers was a team from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, describing a large ventilation project that will commence in October on the subway line beneath Northern Boulevard. This announcement inevitably drew lamentations about noise and disruption, answered by assurances from the MTA reps that misery will be kept to a minimum. Felix Okolo of the Department of Transportation heard an angry voice or two also.

Hour Children's Michelene Jones and Kellie Phelan were at the meeting to fulfill their organization's mission statement on the literature they distributed: "We're looking for a few good mentors." Those would be persons who could "inspire the development of personal identity and instill positive behaviors in young children" who have a parent or parents currently incarcerated, mainly because of drug offenses. The children in the program, now in its second year, are from Queens or Brooklyn and are between four and 18 years of age. At the meeting, the women heard from such attendees as Jim Pollack of the 114th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (Civ-OP), who said he could take some of the children on the many graffiti clean-ups the group does and Taryn Drongowski of the Astoria Performing Arts Center, who asked if the children would like to be in a play, since she is trying to round up boys and girls for the Honk! Jr. auditions, to be held Saturday, March 22. Further information about the rehearsals is available by calling 718-393-7505 or e-mailing nikki@apacny.org; further information about Hour Children can be obtained at 718-433-4724, ext 21.

The Hospice of New York, at 45-18 Court Square, paid a visit also, to explain that it offers "comfort care for those who are dying", that is, having a life expectancy of six or fewer months. The group is holding a spring memorial gathering at its offices on Sunday, April 13. More information is available at 718-472-1999. Martina Mendez spoke for the Puerto Rican Family Institute, which is holding fatherhood and anger management workshops; more information is available at 718-963-4430, ext. 4501 or 718-963-4433, ext. 4438.

Joseph Raskin of the MTA was trying to prepare those living near or having business on Northern Boulevard to be ready for the ventilation project that will take place below ground in the vicinity of 46th Street on the express track of the IND subway beginning in October. Mahesh Patel, the project's design manager, explained that the express tracks, which descend between the 36th and 65th Street stations, are in need of better smoke clearance and new equipment is being installed. The old ventilation system on the local line is not part of the project, so the local 46th Street Station, which is on Broadway, is not involved. After the project is launched in October, Patel said, the plan is to work mainly on weekends. Following the MTA people, the DOT's Felix Okolo had to face the usual pack of the angry and skeptical. What, he was asked, can be done about parents who sometimes triple park when leaving or picking up their children at local schools? George Stamatiades then asked, for neither the first nor last time, about installation of parking meters around the Queens Library branch that has been open since last June on 21st Street and 38th Avenue. Ann Bruno asked once again when the anticipated parking lot beneath the Triborough Bridge would be opened. All possible answers were moved to the next meeting. Nor was there further word about the "corral gates" beneath the elevated trainon 31st Street, an attempt to protect bus passengers that Stamatiades said must have been thought up by some addle-pated pencil pusher in an office.

On a more positive note, Stamatiades said that the date for unveiling the Aristotle statue in Athens Square Park, 30th Avenue and 30th Street, is Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. Board 1 District Manager George Delis added that the unveiling of the Athena statue at Athens Square was a spectacular event a few years ago, and so should this be. He was enthusiastic also about a street care workshop, to be held a week earlier, Saturday, March 29, at ARROW headquarters, on 35th Street between 35th and 36th Avenues. Spokeswoman Karen Overton said that there would be tree pruning instructions at the workshop, and Delis said he once took such a course and found tree pruning an enjoyable experience. Drongowski of APAC, having talked about an audition for children, also made an announcement about an audition for seniors 60 years old or older. It is to be held this Thursday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Broccoli Theater, Variety Boys and Girls Club, 21-12 30th Rd. Rehearsals will follow on subsequent Thursdays from April 3 to May 15, and there will be two public performances on Saturday, May 17. For more information, call 718-393-7505.