“Why are there still pet stores?” Joann, a Howard Beach resident, innocently asked her sister-in-law, who had been doing research on the subject.

And it’s a difficult question to answer, particularly for anyone that has visited animal shelters and seen the myriad animals, many purebreds, picked off the streets and out of the hands of owners who simply no longer want them.

This formerly feral cat, who lives on the “Catio” at Bobbi and the Strays, along with fun-loving Diesel — and hundreds of animals like them — are available for adoption and fostering every day from rescue operations throughout Queens. Forum Photos by Eugénie Bisulco

“I wish breeders realized that they shouldn’t breed animals anymore,” said Andrea, the manager of Bobbi and the Strays’ Atlas Shops locations. She explained that the no-kill shelter has frequently taken in animals whose owners purchased them before understanding the workload and cost involved. Like buying junk food when you’re hungry, the regret comes after the initial delight wears off. “Don’t get a dog if you can’t afford to have one,” she emphasized.

In addition, as Andrea was quick to point out, many pet owners aren’t educated enough about the importance of spaying and neutering — and when they do know and care enough to get their pets sterilized, the cost can be overwhelming. Some veterinarians charge as much as $700 for the procedure.

But lower cost options do exist. As one example, ASPCA’s mobile clinic (aspca.org/nyc/aspca-mobile-spayneuter-clinic), available at various Queens locations three or four days a week on average, charges as little as $5 and as much as $125, depending on income level. Shelters, rescue and foster operations, and Animal Care Centers of NYC are legally bound to spay and neuter before releasing animals. Though they don’t sterilize animals outside of those up for adoption, ACC’s website at nycacc.org does suggest several low-cost options in addition to the ASPCA; of note is The Toby Project, which offers free spaying/neutering for pit bulls and non-purebreds regardless of household income.

Getting an animal “fixed,” actually does more fixing than one might think. Several cancers and infections can be prevented as a result, extending the life of the pet by years. Sterilization also regulates hormones in animals, which in turn helps to modify behaviors detrimental both to pet owners and to animals themselves. In addition, being already spayed or neutered when admitted to an animal control center may save them from near-immediate euthanasia. Thus, in addition to reducing the tremendous overpopulation problem, sterilization will ultimately give you more time – and better-quality time – with your pet. Only 10 percent of admitted shelter animals have been spayed or neutered. And nearly three million animals in shelters nationwide are euthanized every year.

Local rescue operations like Fur Babies and Bobbi and the Strays do their part to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, a non-profit organization not affiliated with the Mayor or funded by the city, collaborates with over 150 community partners in an effort to make New York City a “no-kill community.” To that end, their website (animalalliancenyc.org) also includes many resources for affordable pet care.

“In 12 short years we have dramatically reduced the number of animals killed in shelters each year, while at the same time increasing adoptions and community-wide spay/neuter.  But our work is far from over,” said Jane Hoffman, President of the Alliance.  “Every pet owner and would-be pet owner in New York City has the power to help us as we continue to reduce the number of homeless animals living in shelters and on the streets in the five boroughs.  The first step is to adopt from a shelter or rescue group. Buying from a pet store or breeder should never be an option when there are thousands of homeless pets just waiting for a loving forever home.  Equally important is for pet owners to ensure that their animals are spayed or neutered.  Reducing the number of unwanted litters keeps the shelter population down and keeps unwanted animals – particularly cats—off the streets.  Of course, spaying or neutering brings added health benefits that will allow pets to live healthier and longer lives.”

To be an animal ally (and save a life), numerous adoption and foster options exist. Here in south Queens, see websites and Facebook pages for Bobbi and the Strays, the NYC Animal Care and Control Centers, Heavenly Angels, Pets on Death Row, and Fur Babies Rescue (Adopt! Don’t Shop!) – or give The Forum a call, and we’ll try to help. To get a pet spayed or neutered, visit aspca.org, email info@tobyproject.org, or visit your local friendly veterinarian.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

That unmistakable swagger. The show-stopping showmanship. The piercing blue eyes. And that incredible voice, like warm caramel syrup on the best sundae you ever ate.

December 12 marks what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday. A host of centennial tributes have been held around the country since January, including a Grammy-sponsored concert in Las Vegas this past Sunday night.

Frank Sinatra’s music transcended genre and generations, from even before the time of his first album release in 1946, until beyond the release of his last in 1994. Few among us can’t name at least one of the more than 1400 ditties Sinatra recorded in his lifetime. Over a 50-year span, the crooner from Hoboken had at least one song on the charts per year. He received many awards along the way, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented to him by Ronald Reagan, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP, for his efforts to fight racism in and outside of the music industry.

The Chairman of the Board, as he was also known, had a successful acting career, too, with more than 50 movies under his belt, including From Here to Eternity, for which he won an Academy Award, The Man with the Golden Arm, and the classic Goldwyn musical, Guys and Dolls.

Sinatra got his break singing with a group called the Hoboken Four in the late 30’s and was eventually picked up by Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra, where he became widely recognized as the top band vocalist in the country. In addition to his superior vocal ability, his good looks appealed to teenaged girls, and born was a sensation – even in the buttoned-up time — foreshadowing the appeal of many performing artists today.

A little known fact: Sinatra was not a New York City Cabaret Card holder. These cards, until 1967, were required of all employees and performers in night clubs and were denied or revoked for a variety of often ambiguous reasons, including criminal affiliations, drug use, or actions or attire deemed inappropriate by the City. Sinatra refused to apply for one, on principle. Thus, his New York fan base had to travel elsewhere to hear “The Voice” live in clubs.

Evidence of Sinatra’s multigenerational appeal was present during the Grammy tribute, where Sinatra staple songs were performed by a wide range of artists, from Garth Brooks to Adam Levine, with particularly memorable renditions by Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, and animator Seth MacFarlane, who should, in this case, quit his day job if it means we’ll get to hear more of the surprisingly beautiful singing voice which managed to authentically and almost spiritually capture Sinatra.

Fittingly, Sinatra’s final album was a batch of duets recorded with greats from multiple eras and genres, such as Patti LaBelle, Lena Horne, and Willie Nelson. Not quite the sales success of the first Duets album, Duets II nonetheless resounds as testament to another of Sinatra’s musical skills, that of timing, though the duet partners were not present in the studio during the taping of his vocals.

A new album of rare Sinatra radio recordings, A Voice on Air, was released last month; this means we all get a very special birthday present from the Chairman. The centennial also grants another opportunity to say farewell to Queens’ own Gary Russo, who died earlier this year. Dapper and blue-eyed himself, Russo gained notoriety as an amateur performer in Sinatra’s swing style.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

On the eve of Thanksgiving, visitors to the Target in the Gateway Shopping Center, rushing past the early NYPD boom lift set-up for the coming Black Friday crowds, couldn’t help but notice a plump white calico slinking casually out from and back under parked cars. What to do for the poor creature, who seemed comfortable among these giant machines, as colder weather threatened with the darkening sky?

Torn between researching and bothering animal rescuers on the holiday and potentially disturbing some sort of rhythm the cat had adopted in her hobo life, versus the opportunity to save her from the winter ahead, parking lot passersby continued into the store. And when they came back with their bags overflowing, she was gone.

The sad fact for Wayward Kitty and hundreds of other stray animals like her in the area, is that if you want to try to help and you can’t take her in yourself, there’s no one method that will ensure her a better life. The “official route,” calling 311 or an Animal Care Center of NYC (who did not return The Forum’s request for an interview), will offer fleeting shelter. But according to nycacc.org, unless “deemed medically necessary for humane reasons” to be euthanized even sooner, the animal will only be given a total of 96 hours before it is put down.

AC & C — otherwise known as animal control — is open-admissions, so even if a center is full, it is required to take newly arriving animals. The 96-hour grace period, which includes a requisite 72 hours to attempt to find the pet’s owner, is extended if animals come in with more information, for example if they have been given up and there is a known medical or behavioral history. The reprieve appears to extend to around two weeks if the animal is determined by professionals and volunteers at the facility to be suitable for adoption. During this still-brief period, cats, dogs, rabbits, and other species are listed online (and viewable in person at certain facilities) as available for adoption, and then, in a grim and final 18-hour stretch, “At Risk” for euthanasia, when they can be adopted up until about an hour before they are scheduled to die. Animals are destroyed by euthanasia in these facilities 365 days of the year.

Shelby was on Tuesday/Wednesday’s At Risk list online, published daily at 6 pm by Animal Care Centers of NYC. The ten-year old neutered male would die around noon on Wednesday if not adopted. Full descriptions of all ailments, known history, and documented behaviors are available with each animal profile on the At Risk list, available at nycacc.org. Photo Courtesy of nycacc.org

There are three centers in the city which not only accept admissions but also offer adoptions: Manhattan, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. In Bronx and Queens, there are merely admissions centers, described by some animal rescuers as tiny holding facilities inappropriate for long term animal care.

Once admitted, assessments are made, photos taken, and profiles documented so that the animals might be adopted by members of the general public or by New Hope partners. Animals on the New Hope list might be older or have some treatable ailment that shelters could be better prepared to handle than private individuals. New Hope partners such as Bobbi and the Strays (profiled in last week’s Forum), according to nycacc.org, “take ownership of AC & C animals and care for them in shelters, foster homes, boarding facilities, or their own private facilities prior to placing them in permanent homes through their own adoption process.” The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals (not a governmental organization and not affiliated with the Mayor of New York) has a Wheels of Hope program, the only free animal transportation program in the city, which brings animals from AC & Cs to over 150 New Hope partners.

Animal shelters and rescue leagues in the New Hope partnership, like Bobbi and the Strays, often take in feral or disabled cats, rehabilitate or reacclimate them, and offer them for adoption. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

To adopt an “At Risk” animal, go to nycacc.org/Adopt and click on the “ACC’s At-Risk List” between 6:00 pm and 12:00 noon the following day. The three AC & C adoption locations are all open until 8:00 pm on weekdays; thus it is possible to “meet” (in a two-hour window) an imminently At Risk animal in person before adopting it. The adoption fee is $50, plus a $150 deposit to ensure spaying or neutering. If the animal has already been spayed or neutered, that deposit is refunded, and if the animal cannot be sterilized prior to adoption due to a medical condition, the deposit is refunded when the owner provides proof of sterilization outside of the facility.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Saving the world – animal by animal – is one time-consuming occupation.

Bobbi Giordano, of all people, knows this firsthand. She starts every day early – before 7 am – and is off and running to one of two Bobbi and the Strays no-kill shelters she operates, or to do a home visit or follow up with the fundraising necessary to successfully manage this not-for-profit business.

Giordano, 70, who currently has three dogs of her own at home, has helped thousands of animals since her first rescue of kittens when she was just nine years old. With a network of veterinarians and other friends like the local ASPCA, she’s determined to accept ailing and elderly animals, sometimes dogs as old as 17 or 18.

“We don’t put them to sleep; we fix them,” Giordano said solemnly. One of those older dogs is in her own personal care at home.

Mallgoers at the Atlas Shops in Glendale might at first be taken aback to see a fully operational animal shelter at the shopping center’s Cooper Avenue entrance. Shade your eyes to peer through the huge plate glass windows and you’ll see peering back at you the faces of some 20-odd dogs and cats, whose cages face the bright windows. Walk in and a clamor occurs; the animals are just that excited to see their Bobbi, who tends to give out delectable-looking morsels of chicken — and plenty of kisses. Giordano says she is incredibly lucky to have this space donated by its generous owners.

And it does get a lot of traffic. Tara Powers, a dog attendant dressed in pink scrubs and fingerless mittens, remarked about the frequency of visitors.

Bobbi (pictured, far right) and the staff and interns at her Atlas Shops shelter care deeply for the twenty or so pets available every day at the Glendale location. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

“I’ve only been here about six weeks, and four or five dogs – and three cats – got adopted already. Turnover is really good,” said Powers, a South Ozone Park resident. Stats on a recent month’s adoption report agree: 25 dogs and 13 cats adopted, in total, from both locations.

But people walking in shouldn’t expect to walk out with a new pet right away. There is a process, taking as little as a day, which includes an application, a fee to cover vaccines and spaying/neutering, and a home visit. Bobbi and the Strays will not give you an animal you are ill-prepared to care for, no matter how much love you have to provide it.

And apparently it takes a village – or an army – to manage everything. Elyse D’Agostino, who heads up the shelter in Freeport, calls their volunteers, who put in as many as 50 hours a week, “the best in the world.”

Superstitious pet adopters steer clear of beautiful cats like this one, confounding color-blind shelter staff desperate to find them homes. Black cats are usually sought out during Halloween season, when shelters such as Bobbi and the Strays hold firm to a no-black-cats adoption policy, in fear of less than honorable intentions. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

D’Agostino also shed some light on the sad fact that black animals are underadopted, calling it a “sort of racism” based on some visitors’ belief in “witchcraft.” An entire litter of stunning, healthy black kittens the shelter took in April has yet to be adopted.

When an animal is adopted, cage space – a valuable commodity in the mall shop, particularly – becomes available, and it is filled immediately, usually by reviewing a “euthanasia list” that rescue operations – as well as the general public — can access. Those on death row receive their shelter pardon often with very little time to spare.

“It truly is their second chance,” said Andrea, the Atlas location’s manager, who has been helping Giordano for 15 years. “The City puts down 200 animals a day.” For those who are adopted, “I think they know you saved them.”

Andrea tries to remain aloof so that she can focus on getting a malnourished or sick animal seen by a vet. “But it’s hard to separate your personal love for them when they come in so neglected.”

She also spoke of the increasing number of purebreds in shelters, due to the prevalence of breeders who continue to overpopulate the animal world, the pet owners who buy without fully realizing the commitment involved then must give up their animals, or the lack of education on the importance of spaying and neutering.

“People shouldn’t sell pit bulls that haven’t been spayed or neutered,” said Andrea. “They’re a great breed, so loyal, but they are dying at an alarming rate.” The Atlas location can only take one at a time, and “96% of dogs on the euthanasia list are pit bulls.”

Andrea and the whole network that works for Bobbi and the Strays wear their hearts on their sleeves, all with a deep abiding passion to somehow make things better for our furry, four-footed friends.

“You can’t save the world, but you can definitely make a difference,” she said.

To make your own difference and adopt a pet from Bobbi and the Strays, visit the Glendale shelter at 80-36 Cooper Avenue or their website at bobbiandthestrays.org. For continuing coverage of local animal allies, stay tuned for next week’s issue of The Forum.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Brown, a native of Brooklyn, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College in 1953 and graduated from NYU’s School of Law in 1956. Known as Judge Brown to most, he became a member of the judiciary in 1973, where his first day on the bench saw him actually dodging bullets when a case he was overseeing turned sour; this earned him the lasting nickname “Duck Down Brown.” In 1977, as a Criminal Court judge in Brooklyn, Brown packed a courtroom to remand “Son of Sam” killer David Berkowitz into custody. Eventually elected a Justice of the Supreme Court in Queens County and an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Brown was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo as Queens DA in 1991. In 2012, the now 83-year-old judge was reported to have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but has continued to serve actively since.

In a statement released late Tuesday night, the venerable judge thanked Queens County residents for their “vote of confidence” in re-electing him.

“I look forward over the next four years to continuing to build on our successes and the law enforcement initiatives that we have employed over the past quarter century that I have made Queens County one of the safest counties not just in the City but in the State and nation as well,” said Brown.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Lights On Afterschool, a program of the Afterschool Alliance, was celebrated last week around the country, with nearly 400 schools in New York participating in afternoon and evening festivities to increase public awareness about the importance of afterschool programs. Gov. Andrew Cuomo named October 22 Lights On Afterschool Day, and, at many participating borough locations, performances and other events marked the special occasion: At COMPASS PS 223, Broadway was the theme of the evening; at Beacon 43, students celebrated a “Worldwide Day of Play.” And at Basie Beacon Middle School 72, the theme listed on the program was literacy, but the actual show – and diverse talents of the students — covered so much more.

Quavon Johnson captured the audience with his heartfelt rendition of America the Beautiful.

Basie’s presentations by elementary, middle, and high schoolers began with brief synopses of the presidential election and aspects of the three branches of government. Students strutted their stuff in other ways, too, with an African dance ensemble performance, a violin solo, and a campaign: a pre-politico running for Youth Council savvily used the opportunity to ask for more votes. Teachers and administrators were also on hand to talk about their work with robotics, the arts, and special projects such as Beautiful Me, a curriculum based self-esteem program for girls. Posterboards displayed Breast Cancer Awareness appeals and other projects hand-created during the school’s diverse extracurricular programs.

A kid-friendly KidWise poster in the hallway at Basie Beacon 72 displays services offered by the clinic in the form of smartphone app icons.

“Lights On is a great idea to let the community know about what services are available to them,” said Kidwise Supervisor and licensed mental health counselor Adriana Scott-Wolf, one of the evening’s presenters, who manages the in-school clinic. KidWise, a project of Sheltering Arms/Safe Space NYC, offers individual and group crisis counseling, as well as other services, during the school day at lunchtime and afterschool, promoting parental involvement and referring students at risk of serious emotional disturbance to other programs as needed.

Mom to twins Tyheema Marvin, a youth advocate with The Child Center of NY, presented on the College and Career Readiness program and introduced several students she has been working with, both to prepare them for college and beyond and to set examples for younger afterschool participants. The Child Center of NY, a partner of Basie Beacon and many other afterschool programs, employs youth advocates to maintain regular contact with deans, teachers, family members, and of course the students themselves to ensure that they are in school and keeping up with their assignments. Advocates receive and monitor report cards and are available to give assistance with both academic and social challenges.

Marvin’s students were inducted into the CCR program in seventh grade and have been going strong ever since, commuting by bus to get to the school when their classes (at other schools) let out in the afternoon. In addition to their own college prep, they volunteer by teaching senior citizens how to use smart phones, reading to younger children, and other community-centered activities.

Fatoumata Camara, a 10th grader, said she benefits from the afterschool programs mainly because, “If you want to succeed, you have to keep your priorities straight,” and that Tyheema and others had helped her make those priorities and set goals. “Someone has to be there to make me feel engaged,” she explained further.

Jonae Adams, also in 10th grade, said, “I’ve been on the honor roll since sixth grade because of the tutoring offered by The Child Center of NY.”

And Unique Walker, a senior, also extolled the virtues of the tutoring and mentoring she has received over the years: “Starting high school, I wasn’t on the right track, but becoming active with CCR and Beacon, my grades shot up.”

To learn more about The Child Center of NY, which serves thousands of Queens children and their families each year, visit childcenterny.org. For the Lights On Afterschool program, now in its 16^th year, go to afterschoolalliance.org.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Queens Restaurant Week, a program of the Queens Tourism Council, is set this year for Oct. 12-23. More than 200 restaurants will participate in the 12^th annual event by offering prix fixe dinners and lunches, most of which will be $28 and $14, respectively, and will be three courses.

This week the annual event was kicked off at The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale, where five eateries and Queens Brewery gave away free samples of their food and beverages to 300 attendees, most of whom happened by during a regular shopping trip. Some of the restaurants, such as Shiro of Japan, whose chef prepared tuna, salmon, and vegetarian sushi, gave out small portions, while others dished out full meals. Connolly’s Corner’s spread offered a full hot service, with catering trays full of lobster ravioli, calamari, roast beef, baked salmon, and ribs. Lines were wrapped around the outdoor Atlas Common area, particularly when Queens Brewery of Ridgewood started serving up full pints.

“Best beer in town!” shouted one dapper older gentleman, as lumberjack/hipster-looking founder Nelson Rockefeller (yes, his real name) chatted with the crowd. To Rockefeller’s credit, he stopped two underage women who were actually on line for the nearby Vintage Curry of Jamaica. The Curry shop, which just opened recently, gave out delicious chicken tikka, vegetable samosas, shish kebobs, and other traditional Indian dishes, though the menu also includes some Chinese food.

Rodis Santiago, 35, of Jamaica, didn’t know anything about Restaurant Week, but was shopping at the mall when someone told her to check out the kick-off. “If I like the food today, sure, I’ll try something during Restaurant Week,” she said.

Ashley Ortoneda, 19, of Maspeth, had never even seen Connolly’s Corner, but vowed to go after she tried the food. “It’s on Grand Avenue, so I can take my mom there,” she said. She was with her friend Shelby Gashi, 18.

“I’m definitely planning to go back to Connolly’s,” said Gashi. “I love the lobster ravioli.”

State Senator Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) dropped by to say a few words in support of Queens businesses. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

According to the Queens Tourism council, the Borough is “so cuisine heavy that diners need more than a week” to really take advantage of the promotion. (New York City Restaurant Week, a separate venture, lasted over three weeks this summer and featured more than 350 participating restaurants.)

State Senator Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) dropped by Monday’s kickoff to support local businesses and the Tourism Council, calling it a “win-win-win” for all involved.

Considering the significant savings the promotion offers to restaurant patrons, it’s certainly a win for them, if the food is good – and if they arrive hungry. At Connolly’s Corner, the Atlantic Salmon – one of the prix fixe entrée choices – would normally cost $21.95. During Restaurant Week, you can get that, plus an appetizer and dessert, for only $6 more.

Queens Restaurant Week will go from Oct. 12-23, though some restaurants are extending the sale. For a full list of participating establishments, go to itsinqueens.com/RestaurantWeek.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

In recent issues of The Forum, we’ve introduced you to Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local and shared with you some tips on how to search for and take advantage of the best deals offered on those sites. If you’re deal-site shy, starting out small scale by trying a nearby restaurant you’ve never visited might be a good way to test the waters. This week, we thought we’d review a couple of local restaurants currently (and regularly) offering Groupon deals. So, get out of your dining rut and check out these two local restaurants.

Before getting started on any site for the first time, you will need to set up an account either on your smartphone or on your home computer. This is a quick process and only involves entering an address, telephone number, email address, and credit card information. If using your phone, all three deal sites have free downloadable apps that will make the process (and future purchasing) much easier. The next step, to utilize a restaurant voucher, is to make the reservations and mention that you have a Groupon, then bring the voucher with you.

If you’ve never tried Portuguese food, now’s your chance. On 101^st Avenue in Jamaica, O Lavrador offers an elegant setting, fantastic service, and free valet parking. Several nights a week there is live music, making it a great “date night” locale, but there are often children there, too, so it remains family friendly and does offer several menu items kids will like. “O Lavrador” means “the farmer,” in Portuguese, and Portugal is sometimes described as a “garden by the sea.” While steak, chicken, and house-made sausage there are all delicious, seafood is certainly the restaurant’s specialty.

The Groupon prix-fixe meal at O Lavrador is $43 for two people, or $85 for four. (Groupon regularly advertises sales of between 15 and 25 percent off, so you can easily pay less than $20 pp for this deal.) The price includes a shared appetizer among each couple, one entrée per person, and a glass of wine or sangria. Everything is good at O Lavrador, but to highlight some of the best things: try the bread in basket – it’s delicious – but save room for what’s next: the grilled calamari appetizer, in which the calamari are first grilled, then topped with a lemony sautéed onion mixture, and the homemade rustic sausage, flambéed right at your table. For entrées, try the grilled prime rib – actually a thinly-cut ribeye – served with mashed potatoes and vegetables, or the Mariscada Zarzuela, a giant pot of lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, and scallops in a tomato sauce, served with rice. If you prefer potatoes over rice, the Parrilhada de Mariscos is a similar seafood blend, in a lemony garlic sauce, served with a plate of house-made chips. Lagosta Fra Diablo, spicy lobster and seafood over linguine (similar to Italian versions of that dish) and the Bacalhau à Pescador, a giant codfish stew, are each two meals’ worth of delicious food. Everything is fresh, substitutions are accommodated, and the waitstaff are always friendly and fast.

At Golden Grill in Richmond Hill, try the chili chicken, one of the appetizers available through its $20 Groupon meal deal. Photo Courtesy of yelp.com

Golden Grill, a catering hall with a restaurant add-on in Richmond Hill, is a simple, clean space serving authentic Indian food. Groupon offers a shared appetizer, one entrée per person, a shared dessert, and two sodas for two people at the low-low price of $20 per couple (we paid $16, shopping the sales). Naan (flat Indian bread) and rice are extra. For an appetizer, try the chili chicken, crispy fried chicken with peppers, onions, and broccoli in a spicy chili garlic sauce. The entrées are not huge, but they are delicious. The “Roghan Josh” stew mixture is tasty, with ginger, garlic, onion, and tomato sauce. You can have that with chicken or lamb. Chicken Korma (also available with other meats) is roasted chicken cooked in a cashew nut sauce. If you’ve never had cooked cashews, we strongly recommend this dish, as cooking the nut brings out all of its flavor. There are plenty of good vegetarian options at Golden Grill, too– the best one we tried being Dal Tarka Black, slowly simmered black lentils with ginger, garlic, onion, tomato and Indian spices in a creamy, blended sauce.

Both restaurants are right around the corner, and, by offering such great deals via Groupon, they are practically paying you to try them. So go for it.

Golden Grill, 718-554-0405, is located at 120-23 Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill, open from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and does offer delivery. O Lavrador, 718-526-1526, is open from 11:30 to 10:00 Sunday through Thursday, one hour later on weekends. They are located at 13840 101^st Avenue in Jamaica.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Last week we introduced you to deal sites that allow customers to purchase vouchers to restaurants, spas, and other businesses at a discounted rate. The three most popular sites (which also have affiliated smartphone apps) are Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local. All three have something to offer, and since they’re competitive, seem to constantly be in a race to set themselves apart from the others. Groupon, with its every-other-day discount codes, tries to give you the best price; LivingSocial sells a unique “experience” and has a warm customer service approach via social media; Amazon Local…well, Amazon sells everything else, so why not vouchers to local establishments, too?

Indeed, we have seen that Groupon often offers the best prices. A recent look at the same exact gel manicure deal at M&M Studio in Manhattan showed a Groupon price of $22 before a 15 percent off code was applied, while LivingSocial was selling it for $29. Even with a special “frequent buyer” LivingSocial discount of 25 percent off, Groupon remained the “best price” winner. When asked about this specific comparison, LivingSocial’s Senior Communications Manager Christie Ly said, “The pricing really varies and is based on a number of criteria, including the merchant’s marketing or business objectives.”

While it’s not clear how M&M’s marketing objectives would cause the base price to fluctuate by $7 between Groupon and LivingSocial, this discrepancy does seem to be an exception to the rule. Generally, the base prices are exactly the same. But Groupon can be quicker on the discount-offering draw, with theme sales such as all fitness deals for 15 percent off one week, all Groupon goods (merchandise to order) at 10 percent off the next. Codes are also sent to select frequent buyers, and app users sometimes get special deals just for ordering via the app.

The two diamond rings shown here were purchased on Groupon and received within 10 days of placing the order. The larger of the two, set in silver, was 39.99, and the smaller, set in 10K white gold, was about $50. Gel manicure (one week old) was also purchased via Groupon for less than $20. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

LivingSocial, while it carries many of the same local restaurant and spa deals, is more likely to have something the other two sites do not. For example, a recent search for “wine class” for a would-be sommelier yielded a number of online course offers on Groupon, and a wine making class on Amazon Local, along with several wine tasting options on both – but LivingSocial was the only site to actually offer in-person wine classes taught by sommeliers or other experts. As previously mentioned, LivingSocial is by far the most customer service oriented of the three. And of the three, it was the only site to respond to requests for press information for this series.

If you’re looking for something in particular, it’s best to keep your options open and check all three sites. You can buy almost anything at a discount (found recently: flower bulbs and iPhone chargers), and you can also leverage deal prices to get bargains directly from merchants. Say you check Amazon Local, and a haircut in Forest Hills is $25. Call up the salon and offer $20. We’re not saying it will work – but it might, because the salon will actually make more money than if they have to give 50 percent or so to the site. If you don’t need a cheaper price, paying the (already discounted) $25 gets you the protection from Amazon Local, who will ostensibly protect your purchase if something goes wrong. Then, if you like the service and no longer need the third-party liaison, offer to buy a package at a price you’re comfortable with. Everybody wins.

Get on the mailing lists of the sites, and you can expect to be sent offers from time to time, even if and sometimes because you never make a purchase. Every site has an appeal. On LivingSocial, the first deal you click on is almost always available – for ten minutes only – for ten percent off.

Open each deal up so that you see if the merchant has anything else. For example, if you search “kickboxing” and an offer comes up for $15, don’t purchase it without looking at the details. Actually, it’s two possible deals: in Howard Beach or Ozone Park, for example, you can buy five kickboxing classes for $15, or you can buy 10 for $25. Pay attention to expiration dates, because some are shorter-term offers than others, and refund policies. Bear in mind also that not everyone labels things you the way you might; putting in “gel manicure” might not turn up deals for “shellac” manicures, which are the same thing. Keeping your searches broad will increase the likelihood of finding the best options for you.

Gina’s Dance Studio’s of Ozone Park offers 20 mix-and-match fitness classes for $53 via Groupon. Wait for a (frequent) sale on the site, and the deal can be had for 15 to 25 percent off. Photo courtesy of groupon.com

For more information about Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local, and reviews of specific deals, check out next week’s issue of The Forum.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Twice every year the Affordable Art Fair, an international show founded by the U.K.’s Will Ramsay in 1999, makes a home in New York for a few days, displaying and selling works by hundreds of artists across the globe. This fall’s fair was held from Sept. 10-13 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea and featured works from 71 galleries and collectives.

Many gallery representatives agreed that the average cost of artworks was higher than usual, and some mentioned hearing murmurs from attendees about whether the artwork on display could logically be classified as “affordable.”

“The euphemism is ‘there’s something for everyone,’” said Manhattan-based Art Angler founder Jason Dick cynically, his enthusiasm for the fair nonetheless evident.

Dick was showing some impressive mixed media pieces by an artist named Aurelio Ayela that were priced around $500, but he explained that, actually, Ayela’s larger, more costly works generally sell better, even at a venue called the Affordable Art Fair. Art collecting novices with spendable cash might buy a few key pieces in their color palette when a decorator tells them they need something to accent home furnishings — not because they genuinely love the work they’re buying.

Even though the prices had gone up, there was indeed something for everyone at the fair, and several smaller original paintings (subject matter ranging from dark and abstract to more traditional landscapes) between $200 and $500. The Art Fair’s website features a sign-up page for free personal shopping sessions, tips on framing and collecting, and even definitions of art terms. It also displays this enlightening quote from its founder:

“Buy a painting because you like it, not because you think it’s what you should be buying,” says Ramsay.

Uprise Art, based in Manhattan, displayed these original works — ranging in price from $420 to $600 each — by Jessica Simorte. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

Beyond framing postcards (a great way to add pizzazz to a humid, non-art-friendly bathroom) or mass-produced posters of iconic paintings, starting a legitimate art collection is well within the grasp of the un-wealthy art ingénue. Many artists will take a table at a flea market or set up impromptu street sales, hawking original pieces for under $25. Naturally, smaller works tend to be less expensive, because there are fewer materials and less labor involved in creating them. Frame a row of smaller pieces for a similar effect to that of hanging one large showstopper. If bigger pieces are a “must,” start by buying numbered and signed limited edition prints or photographs. Works on paper should not be placed in exposed rooms, as over time sunlight will wreak havoc and degrade the paper, causing fading or other damage. At the fair, framers were on-site to handle professional, archival matting and framing for those shoppers who purchased unframed works but wanted to leave with them ready-to-hang.

The spring Affordable Art Fair will be held March 30 – April 3 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18^th Street. For more information and plenty of how-to advice, check out affordableartfair.com.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Part One of a Series

Everyone likes to save money, and some of us are better at spending it than others.

Whatever your situation, by now you must have heard about online or app-based deal sites that allow you to purchase things at a discounted rate, then take your voucher to the store and redeem it for goods or services. Here in New York – and more specifically, in south Queens – there are plenty of deals to be had via this method.

In 2008, Andrew Mason came up with the concept: group + coupon = Groupon. Basically, if, say, a restaurant wanted to offer a prix fixe meal for half of its normal cost to a limited number of customers between September and December, his deal site, Groupon, would purchase those meals for approximately half of the sale price and then offer them (for a limited time) to its customers to snatch up before the Groupon clock ticks down. The restaurant, in this scenario, makes a quarter of what it normally would, but the special sale (which Groupon promotes) brings new customers in the door and rakes in reviews through normal media outlets, Yelp, and on Groupon itself. In addition, nothing prohibits a Groupon customer from purchasing additional food on top of the voucher offer. Therefore, if a couple brings their child and purchases him a kid’s meal, that additional purchase gets added to the check. Maybe the drinks that come with the meal aren’t enough, and they add on a bottle of wine. More money for the restaurant. Tips (and usually, tax) should be assessed on the voucher’s pre-discounted value, not on the actual cost.

The customer ostensibly gets a nice meal for half of what it would normally cost. Groupon makes money by acting as a liaison. Here is where customer service is absolutely key. If the customer has a bad meal or is treated inappropriately in the restaurant, Groupon must in most cases negotiate an appropriate solution.

Today the Chicago-based Groupon is in over 45 countries with a reported 2014 revenue of nearly $3.2 billion, offering discounts on everything from foreign getaways to botox injections. The name Groupon has become synonymous with savings, and, at least while Mason was still CEO, with the style of humor that Groupon infuses into a lot of the writing on the site. (A recent deal for all-you-can-eat sushi includes this nugget in its deal’s description: “In the past, farmers simply plucked naturally grown algae from the sea, cleaned off all the mermaid hairs, and dried it into nori.” The “mermaid hair” reference is subtle in what is otherwise a fact-filled description of how sushi is made. When you purchase a voucher, you often get this message: “Congrats on your shiny new Groupon! Thanks for your purchase! Like a timid ghost or a 1997 text message, your Groupon may take a few minutes to appear, but we’ll email you as soon as it’s ready.”) The creativity behind Groupon – from the initial concept to the jokester writing – is unmatched by any other online shopping site that this writer has visited.

LivingSocial’s customer service is unparalleled. Here is an actual exchange from a Facebook message with the deal site. LivingSocial prefers to handle customer service inquiries via social media. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

That being said, LivingSocial, Groupon’s main competitor – around since 2011 – is giving the company a run for its money in other areas. While LivingSocial’s site promotes a similar product, it has fewer deals, giving it a selective feel, is less gimmicky, and seems to concern itself more with figuring out how to make the customer happy.

“Our customers are always looking to try new adventures and unique activities – whether it’s planned weeks in advance or is spontaneous,” said Christie Ly, LivingSocial’s Senior Manager of Communications.

With a focus on selling an “experience” rather than a bargain, LivingSocial has made leaps and bounds in setting itself apart from Groupon – a larger company that, as it gets bigger, emphasizes the deal more than the customer. In Groupon’s earlier days, emails to support@groupon.com were responded to quickly, and personal attention was made to an individual’s customer service needs. These days it’s difficult to get a response within a couple of days, and often those responses ignore the actual problem. LivingSocial, on the other hand, responds to Facebook messages within a couple of hours. And it’s a company that still apparently believes that the customer is always right. When Groupon returns your money, it is often with reluctance or a belittling tone.

A recent inquiry into a package that was never delivered yielded, after many exchanges, the following response: ‘‘… according to your tracking number, it appears the product was delivered. I would recommend checking with your neighbors or others who might have accepted the package on your behalf to see if one of them has it. If you’re unable to locate the package, you can try contacting the shipping service, in this case USPS, to see if they can provide you with a signature confirmation or more specifics regarding where the item was delivered. They may be able to help you track down the delivery, or provide another solution.” In other words, Groupon wanted its customer to go door to door in search of the product it had sold, rather than simply issue a refund of $30 (even in Groupon credit) for the item. Conversely, there are 13 possible reasons on the drop-down menu on LivingSocial’s “request a refund” tab, the last one being simply “buyer’s remorse.”

In 2012, Amazon decided to join the fray after giving money to fund LivingSocial.

Olga’s Unisex Salon & Nail Spa in Rego Park currently offers a mani/pedi package on Amazon Local for $24. For three dollars more, the same package at the same salon (minus a foot massage) is offered on Groupon. Photo Courtesy of Amazon Local

Their site, Amazon Local, offers many of the same deals offered by Groupon and LivingSocial, at similar prices. But did you even know it existed? One Ozone Park couple, both longtime Amazon.com customers with separate accounts and spending histories, reported that Amazon Local had offered one of them discounts to get started with the new subset. The other, however, who even maintains an Amazon credit card, heard not a peep from the company about Amazon Local and didn’t even know it existed until her husband took her to a restaurant in Brooklyn with an AL voucher. A quick visit to Amazon Local’s site reveals enticing sample deals in Queens: A gyro meal for two in Forest Hills for $11 and a gel manicure, spa pedicure, and 10 minute foot massage for $24 in Rego Park.

For more information about specific deals (and reviews on local businesses offering them) from Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local, stay tuned to next week’s Forum.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

As the weather begins to cool down and seasonal clothes are going back to the attic, it’s a good time for a closet clean-out. But one (wo)man’s trash is another’s treasure, so why not have a yard or garage sale? Not only will you get your significant other off your case for your hoarding ways, or for taking up all the space in the attic/closets/basement, but you will also – if you do it properly – make a chunk of tax-free cash.

It’s all gravy. This is money earned for things you weren’t using. It’s money for things you didn’t even remember you had. And in some cases, it can be money made for things you are tired of seeing around. We’re not recommending you go behind your spouse’s back and sell his old X-Box, but…well, it is an option.

Here are some tips for having a proper, money-making yard sale.

First, the bigger the better. Go in with a neighbor for even more to sell and/or more space to display things. Invest in or borrow some cheap clothing racks (use them after in the attic for off-season items) and folding tables. Make sure items are spread out so that buyers can peruse comfortably and see everything without having to dig through gigantic piles. Boxes can be flipped over and stacked to display things, also. Very few people will want to bend over and sort through boxes of your old junk.

Advertise. Put a classified ad in at least one local paper (for example, The Forum, which lands on every doorstep in Howard Beach). If you are selling any unique items, list them in the ad. Other words, like “huge” or “multi-family” or “low prices” will be compelling to a potential yard sale-goer.   Make signs with big black lettering, preferable on neon posterboard in a uniform color. (All signs should be alike, so that people will look for that particular sign when trying to locate the sale.) When the sale is over, pick up ALL your signs. No one likes to go out of his way even a couple of minutes only to find that the yard sale ended the day before and no one took down the signs.

Have a rain plan. If you can do it “rain or shine,” advertise accordingly.

Price everything in advance, preferably using general, logical prices. For example, all books 50 cents, all clothing $2. It’s okay to go a bit higher, but then you should let people know they can bargain. Don’t bother trying to sell something you’re not actually ready to part with; you’ll ask too much money for it, and a yard sale is not the appropriate venue to sell high-end or sentimental items. Price to sell, and sell you will. Mark prices clearly. If using individual stickers (as opposed to signs) to indicate the prices, make sure they are the kind that won’t melt in hot sun and leave an annoying and difficult-to-remove residue. Masking tape is usually not a good idea.

You might want to offer buy-in-bulk prices, and have a 10 cent box and/or a box of free items. There will be kids that pick things up out of sheer boredom. Make the gesture and give something away. Parents will appreciate that and take more time to look.

If it’s a hot day, sell water or other drinks. More money! But don’t charge too much. You’re not Barclay’s.

Whatever is left unsold at the end of the day, GET RID OF IT and move on. Arrange in advance to have (one of many) local shelters or charitable organizations pick up the leftovers. If that doesn’t work for you or you have bulk items, Craigslist.com has a free section where you can get rid of almost anything within hours, as does freecycle.org.

Happy selling!

By Eugénie Bisulco    eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Young Howard Beach mariner students have come home from their summer training voyage aboard the Empire State VI, a vessel first launched in 1961 as a freighter, sold to the Maritime Administration and converted into a training vessel in 1990, and now under the command of State University of New York’s Maritime College.

Founded in 1874, the College was the first of its kind in the United States and is the largest of seven accredited degree-granting maritime academies in the country. Located in the Bronx, Maritime College enrolls over 1850 students, 1250 of which are pursuing licensure with the United States Coast Guard and thus are members of the Regiment of Cadets.

Andrew Scalice of Howard Beach recently returned home from a training voyage aboard the Empire State IV. Photo courtesy of Lisa Scalice

Every summer, the Empire State heads out in a three-month European voyage that carries nearly 700 cadets through Italy, Ireland, Croatia, Spain, and other countries. Each cadet is required to take three training “sea terms” in the course of their study, each with progressively greater responsibilities. Third-class cadets are rising sophomores and take one of two possible 45 –day terms. First-class cadets take the full 90-day journey and have the most senior responsibilities, which for all cadets are divided into deck and engineering disciplines.

The students attend Maritime College with diverse career goals. Some hope to work in commercial maritime fields, while others transition smoothly to military accession and training. According to the online mission statement, the College “educates leaders to excel in the global maritime environment through an interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate and graduate studies in engineering, maritime studies, global maritime business, security and supply chain management, and environmental science.”

Ashleigh Santaliz of Howard Beach, a rising sophomore and third-class cadet at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, recently completed a 45-day training voyage aboard the Empire State. Photo courtesy of Lisa Scalice

Cadet third-class Ashleigh Santaliz, one of four Maritime College students from Howard Beach, enjoyed her Empire State training voyage – her first time on a large ship – and said that she hopes to become an engineer on a passenger cruise line such as Disney or Carnival.

“What stood out for me the most about this trip was being with my friends in another part of the world. It helped me to build stronger friendships as well as forge new ones,” said Santaliz.

Despite its less-than-glamorous accommodations, the Empire State has been a haven and a saving grace to many. In the wake of major storms Katrina, Rita, and Sandy, the ship was loaned by the College to house first responders, AmeriCorps, FEMA, and port workers as they worked to rebuild destroyed areas in Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York.

By Eugénie Bisulco  eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

In an ongoing effort to overhaul New York’s nail salon industry, Governor Cuomo announced this week that salon owners will be required to secure a wage bond within the next 60 days or face new penalties, to include business closure. In addition, salon workers will now have available to them free specialty training programs.

The wage bond requirement will depend on the number of hours of nail services provided by each practitioner. For example, if a business employs two to five full-time individuals who provide “nail specialty services,” the liability insurance required will be at least $25,000. A calculator to determine the required bond amount is available to salon owners at dos.ny.gov/licensing/nails_wage_calc/wagebondcalc.html. The website also contains a downloadable copy of the Department of State’s approved wage bond, which can be printed and brought to an insurance agent.

All salon owners are encouraged to review the details of this requirement. Evidence of the coverage must be accessible in the nail salon at all times that the business is open.

Applications for the free nail specialty trainee program are available in 10 languages at dos.ny.gov/licensing/nails/traineeregis.html. The license received through the program is a one-year with an option for one renewal. During the program, the trainee must work under the supervision of a licensed Nail Specialist and be employed by a licensed salon or “Appearance Enhancement Business,” and paid at least the minimum wage. After the initial year, the trainee can upgrade the license by completing a 26 hour course and passing both the written and practical exam.

In May, Governor Cuomo created the Nail Salon Task Force to reform the industry in the state. Following that announcement, Mayor de Blasio announced a “Day of Action” on May 21 which involved the outreach of 500 volunteers and city staff travelling throughout the five boroughs to distribute information about worker rights, proposed reforms on the use of formaldehyde and other chemicals, and employer obligations such as the Paid Sick Leave Law. Approximately 1000 salons were visited that day, and nearly 3,000 received information via mail.

In January, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Council member Rafael Espinal, chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs, announced legislation on a new letter grade system for Appearance Enhancement Businesses throughout the five boroughs. The proposed system would assess these types of establishments with a letter grade, as does the existing system that evaluates New York City restaurants.

The Department of State will enforce the wage bond requirement as of October 6, 2015 – the 60^th day following issuance of a letter from the Department of Financial Services certifying the ready availability of the bond.

By Eugénie Bisulco    eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

When Portland-based pianist Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994, he called it a “little orchestra,” as the band’s multilingual and multi-musical-styled sound is possibly otherwise undefinable. It is apt that the 12-musician band played last week with the New York Pops, the largest orchestra of its kind in the United States. Steven Reineke conducted his Pops to form-fit Pink Martini’s broad style(s). The matchup was spectacular and the Forest Hills Stadium setting (the Pops’ new summer home) ideal for the sound.

In creating Pink Martini, Lauderdale wanted specifically to perform “soundtracks for political fundraisers” on behalf of causes such as the environment and education. Mission aside, what he made was masterful, evident not only in the pop-loungy-Latin-ballad mix of songs performed Friday night, but also in the age range of the audience. Kids who lined up for the free “Kids in the Balcony” tickets sponsored by the Pops, and die-hard orchestra aficionados in the 70+ range, and Pink Martini 30- and 40-something fans, all enjoyed the diverse music. Some joined a conga line, and one couple celebrating their anniversary even performed a swing.

China Forbes, lead singer of Pink Martini, performs as Steven Reineke conducts the New York Pops orchestra at Forest Hills Stadium last week. Forum Photo by Eugénie Bisulco

China Forbes, who joined the band a year after its founding and writes a lot of its songs, stole the show with her elegant style and a wide vocal range. Forbes has a way of pronouncing her cantations (in every language she sings in) in such a manner as to harken to spoken word performance. She is a magnificent singer. Storm Large, with her even bigger stage persona, is another powerhouse in the group. She became the guest vocalist during Forbes’ leave of absence in 2011 and continues to tour and perform with the band. A third guest showwoman, the cabaret-and-cute Liza Minelli-esque Meow Meow, wearing a single glove and a lot of sequins, also performed a few songs using a couple of guys she picked out of the audience as stage props. Pansy Chang, (possibly the best-named cellist in existence) was also a standout of the night.

Here’s hoping that Friday’s performance wasn’t just a star-aligned one-time event and that Pink Martini and the New York Pops will collaborate again in the very near future. In the meantime, we’re going to buy more Pink Martini downloads on iTunes.

By Eugénie Bisulco   eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

The September 15 deadline to claim your un- or underpaid Sandy insurance flood funds is right around the corner, and this week’s Forum-sponsored Town Hall meeting to show you how to do so is not to be missed.  Bill Kelly, a Manhattan-based attorney who has been successful in helping homeowners reclaim thousands of dollars in flood insurance claims, will highlight “16 different ways” that home insurance carriers have underpaid their clients.

“Those people have millions that they are not collecting on flood claims. I guarantee it,” said Kelly, whose firm has been the most successful in recovering funds for Sandy victims.

On the program for Thursday night’s event: 1) the multiple ways flood insurance companies have underpaid you, 2) how to maximize your claims, 3) specific common pitfalls to look for (Was sales tax included in your payout check? Did FEMA adjusters recommend your sheetrock be replaced just past the water line, or all the way to the ceiling?) 4) how can grant repayment issues be resolved, and 5) what are your specific questions and concerns?

Kelly, whose firm offers free claim reviews and is paid only if you are, will even do quick checks of paperwork and make preliminary recommendations that night.

“Re-opening your claim is usually a no-brainer,” he said.

The Town Hall meeting will be held at the auditorium of Ave Maria Catholic Academy on the parish grounds of Our Lady of Grace, 158-20 101^st Street, Howard Beach and will begin at 7:00 pm. All are welcome!

By Eugénie Bisulco

eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Let’s hope this isn’t a true swan song.

Mute swans have been in this country for over 100 years, brought over in the late 19^th century from Europe for their aesthetic value, but they are classified by the State as non-native and invasive — often displacing other native species with their aggressive nesting-season behavior.

In New York, the estimated population of the mute swan is currently about 2,200. In 2014, the Department of Environmental Conservation released a draft proposal to completely eradicate the creature here – resulting in a backlash from both animal welfare leagues and the general public. The revised plan, released earlier this year and available at www.dec.gov/animals, focuses on the impacts of mute swans rather than the “specific methods that may be used to minimize those impacts.” Non-lethal control of swans (such as egg addling: the removal of eggs from nests) is promoted whenever “practical and timely,” due to public opinion on killing the birds.

Sexually adult at two years old, mute swans produce an average of six eggs per nesting period, and about half of all cygnets (baby swans) survive. The DEC plan states that “in the absence of management, wild mute swan populations will expand throughout New York State and could reach numbers in excess of 5,000 birds within 20 years.”

Dan Mundy, President of Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, said he would have understood the original DEC proposal had it been merely to control the population, rather than completely eradicate the majestic birds.

“Everyone loves the swans,” he said.

Mute swans are named such because they are less vocal than other species, though they do grunt and hiss when provoked or when defending their nests. In addition to territorial behavior toward native water fowl and humans alike during the spring nesting season, the mute swan’s impact on aquatic vegetation can often be devastating. Compared to other species, the birds are huge – the largest in New York. They weigh 20-25 pounds and have wing spans of up to seven feet – and can consume up to eight pounds of vegetation daily. Often, they uproot more plants than they eat. Their nests are also large, at up to five feet in diameter.

In the spring of 2014, a mute swan couple was observed in the marshy nook by the Howard Beach/JFK train station. They were building a nest. During subsequent observations the nest remained visible, as did the lone couple of swans nearby protecting it. If “Cribs” had a fowl version, these swans would surely have showcased theirs, as they seemed to have complete domain over the ‘hood. The only other bird in the vicinity (on more than one sighting) was a sleek white heron – always present in their midst, harmoniously integrated into the family like an adopted stepchild or the friend borrowing the couch who never leaves.

Mute swans tend to mate for life, and both parents raise their young. Pairs are often formed with swans of the same gender. The sex of the JFK train swans is unknown; cobs (male swans) and pens (female) are difficult to discern even by experts. The point of observation was too far away to determine whether or not the nest contained any eggs, and no cygnets were ever observed thereafter.

Don Riepe, Director of the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society, said there was a population of 100 swans in East Pond until the bay froze last winter and they had to leave. While the birds don’t generally migrate great distances, they might move around in summertime, he explained.

Mute swans, their eggs, and nests are protected by the State’s Environmental Conservation Law and may not be touched without DEC authorization.

In the 14 months that have passed since the initial sightings of the swan couple at the station, a single swan now floats down Hawtree Creek seeking handouts from neighbors. The “family” heron is still nearby, a sort of guardian.

By Eugénie Bisulco

eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Last weekend’s car wash to benefit Our Lady of Grace and its soccer program was once again declared a success as scores of cars lined up to get clean for a cause. Dr. Jerry Antonino, the Athletic Director for OLG’s Soccer Program, has been running a successful summer camp for kids aged 5-14 for over 20 years. “This year, we have over 100 children participating, and a lot of our trainers are alumni of the program,” he said.

The fundraiser kicked off the summer camp, which ends on Friday the 17^th. Volunteers on hand to wash cars included parents, other community members, and the young soccer players themselves.

For future events, to donate, or to participate in one of the programs, visit olgsoccer.com or like them on Facebook. Registration for the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 OLG Soccer Travel Teams, as well as the Instructional Teams (for those children at the pre-K and Kindergarten levels) is currently open.

By Eugénie Bisulco

eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Ragtime Gourmet Supermarket is this month celebrating 38 years as a bedrock-presence in the community, with Gurino at the helm for the more than 30 of those years. Quintessentially a “mom-and-pop” operation, Ragtime’s previous owner was Gurino’s father, John; his wife, Ann Marie, helps run the store; and other family members manage the website and handle social media. The manager, Joey Williams, has been there since the beginning.

From Superstorm Sandy to the changing clientele and competition from local businesses, there have certainly been ups and downs during Gurino’s venerable tenure. He said he’s “tried a lot of different things,” including diversifying his methods of advertising, to roll with the punches that come with operating a specialty store in an ever-changing market. Compensating for downward trends comes with the territory — but is nonetheless daunting.

“After Sandy, shopping changed,” Gurino explained. “People watch every dollar they spend now. There is no more overspending.”

Ragtime was one of the first businesses on Cross Bay Boulevard to reopen after Sandy hit, though repairs totaled around $150,000, none of which came from insurance or FEMA. The store became something of a beacon of hope for residents who’d lost their homes and more to the storm, even giving out free food to those customers who came by. Gurino said that, financially, he hasn’t bounced back from Sandy’s myriad effects. In addition, the store owner explained, New York City’s various governmental departments’ increasing regulations and inspections processes have proved challenging for area businesses.

“Everything in New York is different now. Stores are getting abused by the City’s Health, Tax, Labor, and Consumer Affairs Departments, one after the other,” said Gurino. “They’ve buried half the businesses around.”

On the plus side, Ragtime offers products that other stores simply do not have. For starters, they stock over 100 salads made fresh in-house every day.

“That is the only tuna that I will eat anywhere, including homemade,” said Susan Jackson, who’s been going to Ragtime since it first opened. “When I used to work in Brooklyn, we’d come all the way back to Ragtime for lunch. When you order a sandwich there, you get a sandwich.”

Jackson also mentioned the “phenomenal cheeses” and fresh produce section, which, according to Gurino, is hand-selected daily.

“Their basil, sage, and vegetables are all top-quality. You can’t find half those things in other places,” Jackson emphasized.

Boasting the biggest volume of Boar’s Head fresh cold cuts in the neighborhood (totaling as much as 3,500 pound a week), fresh semolina three times a day, numerous specialty oils and vinegars from all over the world, an experienced butcher and meats of the utmost quality, and items that appeal to both the everyday and gourmet markets, Ragtime is indeed in a unique category of grocery stores. Yet it’s been hard to stay above water – almost literally – and Ragtime continues to look for means to avoid cutbacks and layoffs.

“My clientele base has shrunk over the years. I used to have regular customers from Ozone Park, City Line, Richmond Hill, and elsewhere. Now they’re just from Howard Beach,” said the owner, who admitted to being slightly disheartened about the current situation. Gurino, who works at least 13 hours a day, added that it’s not only other, bigger grocery stores that are taking away his business – it’s Rite-Aid, CVS, and local gas stations, too, many of which offer convenience items during the few late- night and early-morning hours when Ragtime isn’t open.

“There’s not enough [sales] to go around. I can’t compete with their prices,” he said. “We really depend on loyal customers to support small businesses like ours.”

And there are those who will continue to frequent Ragtime ‘til the proverbial cows come home.

“It’s well-recognized as the premier deli in the area, especially for lunchtime sandwiches,” said Mike Giove, a longtime local whose work takes him often through JFK. “Whenever I mention where I’m from, everyone at the airport says that’s the place they go.”

“I see Angelo every morning at 6:15 a.m. hosing the sidewalks in front of the store. That’s what I think of when I think about Ragtime: cleanliness,” said Howard Beach resident Charlie Mielo. He went on to explain that, while Ragtime’s prices could be lower, he believes that he’s paying for outstanding customer service and high-quality products.

Mielo and others touted the “incomparable” generosity displayed by Gurino, his family, and their business. Supporting local schools, civics, churches, and Scout troops has been only the tip of the iceberg for Ragtime. According to one neighborhood fan, they’ve also given toward juvenile diabetes research, Wounded Warriors, the local chapter of New York Families for Autistic Children, and numerous other charities.

“They never say no,” she said. “Maybe it’s time the community pays them back.”

Ragtime is located at 157-48 Cross Bay Boulevard and is open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 9:45 pm. The store can be followed on Facebook and Instagram. Place orders by phone at 718-845-4582, online at ragtimegourmet.com, or via text to 718-208-0450.

By Eugénie Bisulco

eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com

Ragtime sets itself apart from other businesses by offering top-quality meats and over 100 salads made in-house. Photos courtesy of ragtimegourmet, Instagram

The new muni-meters currently being rolled out citywide allow motorists to pre-pay for their parking one hour before meter regulations begin. In other words, if payment is required beginning at 9:00 am, a patron can purchase a receipt as early as 8:00 for paid parking beginning at 9:00 am onward. The convenience will prevent motorists from having to return to vehicles when the regulatory time begins. Motorists must observe all other parking regulations before meter hours begin.

So far, Borough Park, Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, East New York, Coney Island, Brooklyn College, Flatbush, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, and Bedford-Stuyvesant have all gotten the upgraded meters, and the DOT estimates that all muni-meters citywide will be enhanced by mid-July.

Last summer, muni-meters were updated to deactivate automatically outside of regulatory hours, thereby disallowing New Yorkers from paying for parking unnecessarily. City Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) had introduced the legislation on both meter upgrades in 2013, and the city was given two years to implement the changes. Greenfield proposed other legislation earlier this year that would take muni-meters out of service when alternate-side parking is suspended due to banks of snow.

By Eugénie Bisulco

eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com