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Recipe For Success?
Ground Broken On Traffic Fix For Boro Mixing Bowl Nightmare

By Brian M. Rafferty

After a generation of congestion, it seems that the notorious Kew Gardens Interchange will be overhauled. Officials broke ground Wednesday afternoon on the project, which will affect the Grand Central Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway, Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard.

The area affected in the first phase of development.

“Anybody that has ever driven on the highways of Queens or listened to a radio traffic report knows what a nightmare the Kew Gardens Interchange has been for motorists for more than a generation,” said Denise Richardson, the Managing Director of the General Contractors Association of New York. “This project is one of many critical infrastructure projects that are essential to the safety, mobility, economic vitality and quality of life of all New Yorkers.

“Aside from what it will do for drivers, this project will provide over 200 jobs that will enable laid off workers to come back to work and boost the area’s businesses and the city’s economy. The fact that this project has been deferred over the years due to funding constraints is yet another sign that New York must find a way to properly fund its transportation infrastructure needs. ”

At the groundbreaking, several officials were on hand to celebrate the event, including the State DOT Commissioner.

Read the entire story HERE. 

'Wildman' branches out, taking a bite out of Forest Park

BY CLARE TRAPASSO
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, August 26th 2010, 9:42 AM

STEVE (WILDMAN) BRILL just wasn't cut out to teach cooking classes, he said. So instead, he became the city's most prodigious forager.

After almost 30 years of organizing edible foraging tours in public parks, Brill, 61, of Mamaroneck, N.Y., isn't slowing down.

The self-taught naturalist is set to take intrepid participants through Forest Park on Saturday to sample the park's often-overlooked bounty - such as wintergreen-flavored black birch stems and spicy garlic mustard seeds.

"I love leading people through it and showing them where I spent my childhood," said Brill, who grew up in Kew Gardens.

Read more: 

Art Showcase and Reception at Ascend Day Spa Featuring

The Photography of LARAINE ANNE FLETCHER

on view 09/10/10- 11/07/10

The Ascend Day Spa, located at 82-62 Austin Street, in Kew Gardens, Queens, will be exhibiting artwork from local artists in an effort to give back to the community.  The Ascend Day Spa is an all natural green spa, focusing on mind and body wellness through relaxation and rejuvenation. Continuing the exhibition series, Ascend is offering its space for a selection of works by photographer Laraine Anne Fletcher; the opening reception will be on Friday, September 10th, 2010, at 8:00 pm. The artist will be in attendance. Wine and Refreshments will be served. The exhibition will be on view through November 7th, 2010 during business hours.

Laraine Anne Fletcher was born (1940) in Brooklyn, grew up in Ozone Park and currently resides in Kew Gardens.  She attended Richmond High School, received a B.A. from Adelphi University and a Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook. She has worked professionally as an archaeologist in Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua and currently heads the Anthropology Department at Adelphi.  She has also been a photographer since 1970. Her last exhibit, "México Profundo," was held at the Swirbul Library Gallery, Adelphi University, Garden City. 

Fletcher began taking pictures with the reliable Pentax Spotmatic, using only available light with  the classic 50mm f/1.4 lens and shooting exclusively in black and white. She tried to follow Robert Capa's advice that “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”. The switch to digital came within the last decade, and with that, an interest in color, form, and finally, the use of the zoom lens with greater frequency.  This eclectic exhibit reflects some 40 years of picture taking in black and white and color, and covers a wide variety of themes.

For more information: (718) 846-4601

Call for Actors!!!

Dear Actors, Friends of Maple Grove will once again be sponsoring SPIRITS ALIVE on Saturday October 9, 2010, 2:00pm-4:00pm. The mission of this FAMILY EVENT is to celebrate the lives of people who are buried at Maple Grove Cemetery (83-15 Kew Gardens Road, Kew Gardens). Their lives are acted out (short scripts to be memorized) and public upon arrival follows a mapped route to hear the stories of each of 30+ actors standing at various grave sites. There will be one rehearsal/costume fitting a week before event. RAIN OR SHINE! Post production, actors are invited to a well deserved cast party. An article and slide show for Spirits Alive 2007 can be found at http://www.kewgardenscivic.org/special-015.html.

For more information and/or to participate as a VOLUNTEER ACTOR, please call Carl Ballenas, Maple Grove Historian by September 10th: 718-523-1876, cetus@mindspring.com