SO. OZ. PK. TRIANGLE REHAB

Richard Matthew Bratta, (second from left) pictured with his mother (at center), was honored at the last week's Locust Grove Civic Association meeting for his community service. Also pictured are (from left to right) LGCA President Donna Gilmartin, Patricia McCabe from State Sen. Joseph Addabbo's office and LGCA Vice President Doris Petersen. The president of the Locust Grove Civic Association (LGCA) informed attendees at their June 3 meeting at St. James/St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in South Ozone Park that long-awaited renovations to the Locust Grove Triangle, located at the convergence of Lefferts Boulevard, North Conduit Avenue and 118th Street, are finally taking place.

Unsafe conditions at the triangle have long concerned Donna Gilmartin and others, who have often noted that speeding traffic and the lack of protective fencing around the area endangers pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently installed chain-link fences around the triangle, Gilmartin reported; after two or three days, however, they were forced down by vehicles racing along the triangle.

Reportedly, the DOT plans to install pavers and to connect an onpremises fountain to an underground water main. Once completed, according to the civic leader, the renovated triangle will be safeguarded by a guard rail.

"I have no idea how long its going to take them," said Gilmartin when asked to estimate the duration of the current undertaking.

Aqueduct update

Gilmartin also reported on the search for a casino management firm to lease the Aqueduct gaming center.

According to Gilmartin, six companies have expressed an interest in the project, and that community leaders have met with four of the six.

"They know what the community needs and what we want—but I'm not saying we're going to get everything," she stated. "We want to see Aqueduct thriving, not just maintained. We want to see this work."

As was the case in the selection of Delaware North back in November, Gilmartin noted, Gov. David Paterson will have the ultimate decision on which company to choose.

Gilmartin and Community Board 10 Chairperson Elizabeth Braton cautioned civic members not to jump to conclusions if they see a representative of a specific company in or around Aqueduct property.

Each entity participating in the bidding process, they explained, is simply doing its due diligence by performing a complete analysis of the site.

The company that is granted the right to set up shop at the racing facility will reportedly be expected to bring in 4,500 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), along with adding hotel rooms and a food court.

"We don't want just a building with machines. We want an ambiance and an atmosphere," said Gilmartin, who resides in the immediate vicinity of the racetrack.

Police business

P.O. Kenneth Zorn of the 106th Precinct was on hand to announce his command's zero-tolerance stance on fireworks.

Anyone seen lighting any type of pyrotechnic, he stressed, will be arrested.

Officer Zorn also noted that his precinct will assign a weekend "noise auto" to crack down on community members disrupting the peace by playing loud music.

Local noise rules, he added, also apply to block party participants who have already received the NYPD's permission to celebrate.

"Sound permits don't give you the right to blast music. Music must be played at a reasonable level," he advised.

The Locust Grove Civic Association will reconvene in September. The South Ozone Park-based civic organization regularly meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the St. James/St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, located at 119-15 135th Ave.