WRBA Publishes July/August Newsletter

The July/August edition of The Voice of Woodhaven -- the WRBA's newsletter -- has been published.  Check it out by downloading the PDF here.  You can also read the newsletter in a new interface by visiting this page on Project Woodhaven.

Woodhaven Protected by Cease-and-Desist Rule

After prolonged efforts by the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association and the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, Woodhaven has been named one of only seven Queens neighborhoods in which homeowners can choose to prevent solicitations from real estate agents.

New York's Secretary of State renewed Woodhaven's status as a "cease-and-desist zone," meaning that Woodhaven homeowners can be placed on a list to ensure that they receive no real estate solicitations -- including phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door visits -- to sell their properties. To be placed on the list, the required form can be submitted electronically at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lcns/cdform.asp.

"This represents a real victory for the people of Woodhaven," said WRBA Director Maria Thomson. "Cease-and-desist zones protect property owners from intense real estate solicitations. With Woodhaven now covered, we are a step closer to ensuring that avaricious real estate agents do not target Woodhaven and spoil its character."

Through the work of the WRBA and the GWDC, Woodhaven had previously been designated a cease-and-desist zone. The designation expired after five years, however, thus requiring renewal by the Secretary of State for another five-year period.

The WRBA urges all homeowners to fill out the very simple form, so that they can enjoy the benefits of Woodhaven's cease-and-desist coverage. Woodhaven residents who would like a paper copy of the form mailed to them should call the WRBA office at (718) 296-3735.

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Contact:

WRBA office: (718) 296-3735
www.woodhaven-nyc.org

WRBA Works To Save Library

The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association is contributing to efforts to save the Woodhaven Library from potentially devastating cuts.

A large crowd of supporters -- including numerous children -- gathered at the library for a rally on Thursday, June 3.  With the Queens Library system facing dramatic budget cuts, Woodhaven has mobilized to demonstrate how important our local branch is to our community.  The rally was sponsored by the Local 1321 Queens Library Guild.

The centerpiece of the rally was a "Tree of Knowledge" -- a paper tree created by the Library staff, consisting of people's memories and supportive words written on the leaves.  The WRBA, in partnership with Project Woodhaven, took the Tree of Knowledge digital by encouraging friends of the Woodhaven Library to share their thoughts via e-mail and other online forums.  This Virtual Tree of Knowledge, which includes contributions from dozens of supporters, was presented at the rally.  It enabled many who were unable to attend -- including former residents of Woodhaven who benefited from the Library in years past -- to add their voices to those who were physically present at the rally.

"The Woodhaven Library has played an extremely important role in our community for decades," said WRBA President Edward K. Wendell, who presented the compilation at the rally.  "The Virtual Tree of Knowledge shows how widespread the support is for our library.  If you close the library in Woodhaven, the impact will be felt in every community where today's Woodhaven residents might live in the future."

A PDF of the Virtual Tree of Knowledge can be viewed here.

"It was a moving addition to our Tree of Knowledge concept and made it more inclusive," said Assistant Community Library Manager Kendra Hoaas.  "It was especially poignant because when Ed Wendell talked about it at the rally, he was surrounded by children whose lives are shaped by the Library -- just like the Library has shaped the lives of those adults who contributed to the Virtual Tree of Knowledge."

A copy of the Virtual Tree of Knowledge will be mailed to the office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

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Contact:

WRBA office: (718) 296-3735
www.woodhaven-nyc.org

Attachment:

Photo - Dozens of supporters rally outside the Woodhaven Library on June 3.  Photo by Josephine Wendell.

Woodhaven Continues Memorial Day Traditions

The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association is proud of the Memorial Day traditions that have endured in the neighborhood for decades, and it encourages area residents to participate in them.

The WRBA thanks American Legion Post 118 for the "Garden of Remembrance" -- a memorial garden containing nearly 700 crosses or Stars of David, each adorned with an American Flag and a Red Poppy flower, representing a local veteran who is no longer with us.  The garden will be up for about the next 10 days.

The Legion members themselves used to put the garden together, but as they grew older and the number of crosses expanded, it became increasingly difficult for them to continue.  However, the ROTC from Franklin K. Lane stepped up and took over this solemn duty.  This past weekend, they were readying the garden for next week's Memorial Day ceremony.

The ceremony will take place on Monday, May 31 at 11:00 a.m., on the corner of 89th Avenue and 91st Street.
"Each and every cross that you see in Woodhaven's Garden of Remembrance represents a veteran, as well as a former resident of Woodhaven," said WRBA President Edward K. Wendell. "We are very grateful to the American Legion and Franklin K. Lane's ROTC for continuing a wonderful tradition."

The Franklin K. Lane ROTC and American Legion Post 118 will also team up with the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation for a memorial ceremony on Thursday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. This ceremony will take place at the memorial at Forest Parkway just off Jamaica Avenue.

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Contact:

WRBA office: (718) 296-3735

http://www.woodhaven-nyc.org/

Photo 1 - A member of Franklin K. Lane's ROTC program puts an American Flag and a red poppy flower on one of the nearly 700 crosses or Stars of David in Woodhaven's Garden of Remembrance.  Photo by Josephine Wendell / Project Woodhaven.

Photo 2 - Franklin K. Lane's ROTC led by Chief Master Sgt. Jose Silveira (at right).  Photo by Joseph A. Virgona.

Photo 3 - One of the nearly 700 crosses or Stars of David in Woodhaven's Garden of Remembrance, each representing a local veteran who is no longer with us.  Photo by Joseph A. Virgona.

WRBA Publishes May/June Newsletter

The May/June edition of The Voice of Woodhaven -- the WRBA's newsletter -- has been published.  Check it out by downloading the PDF here.  You can also read the newsletter in a new interface by visiting this page on Project Woodhaven.