FOCA: Help Clear Catch Basins

Members of the Farmers Oval Civic Association discussed the state of local catch basins and train traffic during their Nov. 20 meeting at Ridgewood Baptist Church. Maintaining local catch basins and responses to calls made by residents to 311 topped the agenda at last Thursday's Farmers Oval Civic Association meeting at Ridgewood Baptist Church.

The president of the civic group, Gerald Wilkat, warned residents living near catch basins on their street to make sure the devices are kept clear in advance of winter weather that could cause sewer backups.

Citing an example, Wilkat stated that a catch basin located at the corner of Shaler Avenue and Cypress Hills Street is "plugged up" during every rain event. Though residents and the civic group have contacted the city regarding the situation, he noted that the Department of Environmental Protection has found no evidence of a problem.

Nevertheless, he and FOCA Secretary Alice Kokasch advised homeowners to remove any leaves or debris observed at catch basins on their block, noting that whatever can be done would help reduce the chances of potential flooding problems down the line.

Kokasch also informed residents that the city has yet to take action to remove a tree that recently fell along 68th Avenue between 62nd and 64th streets. In a call made to 311, she stated, the operator told her that someone would be on site to look at the tree between one and eight days of her call, and that it would take an additional eight to 45 days to have

-SEE FOCA ON PG. 70- the fallen timber removed.

"The termites will take it by then," she lamented.

Trains on track

Community Board 5 has written to the president of New York and Atlantic Railway asking that appropriate actions be taken to reduce the stench of refuse stored in open container cars that were recently left along the CSX rail line near Mafera Park, Wilkat said.

As reported, residents living near the playground and Christ the King Regional High School administrators complained in August and September about odiferous garbage stored in the open train cars and left idle for several hours on the tracks.

In the letter sent by Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano, Wilkat said, the NYA was asked to store any raw garbage in sealed containers. The civic president observed that he hoped the situation would be further investigated by the community board.

In a related note, the civic group was recently informed that the NYA will soon remove a number of trees along its tracks. Wilkat noted that the trees are being timbered to reduce the potential risk of accidents similar to the fall of a tree in August at the intersection of Fresh Pond Road and Myrtle Avenue that critically injured a woman.

The Farmers Oval Civic Association will not meet in December; their next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Ridgewood Baptist Church, located at 64-21 Catalpa Ave.