Howard Beach Affordable Housing Project Moving Forward: Details of Plan for Former Fineson Center Unveiled by Eric Yun -Forum News

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Affordable senior housing is on its way to becoming a reality at the old Bernard Fineson Developmental Center on Crossbay Boulevard in Howard Beach. Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens was awarded the contract in June 2009 to renovate and rebuild the center for senior apartments.

John Tynan, Director of Housing for Catholic Charities, gave a presentation to the Howard Beach community about the status of the building Wednesday night at St. Helens.

The new complex will feature 96 housing units. Twelve of the apartments will be set aside for the developmentally disabled, and there will be a live in super. This leaves 83 units for seniors, which are broken down into 27 studio apartments and 56 one-bedroom apartments.

The facility is designed for independent living. “It is not a nursing home or assisted living facility,” Tynan said. However, Tynan understands that “once in a while seniors will need some help” because of sicknesses or injuries. He is confident that in these circumstances the integrated services at Catholic Charities will help provide the necessary assistance.

Seniors who wish to get a unit at the new center must follow the application process, which was explained in detail. Six months before the completion of construction, Catholic Charities will advertise that the applications will be accepted. Applicants must write a letter requesting an application, and finished applications will be reviewed to ensure the senior meets the age, disability and income eligibility. Finally, there is an interview session to determine if the prospective candidate is the best fit for the apartment.

Seniors living in the Community Board 10 district will get priority. “For the lifetime of this project Board 10 will have a 50 percent preference,” Tynan said. That means at least 42 of the 83 units will be filled with seniors from the district.

Catholic Charities is hoping to get development underway by June. However, there is still a budget deficit to overcome. The expected cost is $29.415 million, and Catholic Charities has received $18.855 million from tax credits and city and state officials such as Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park), City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Queens Borough Hall President Helen Marshall.

Another $7.31 million is anticipated through grants, private loans and state subsidies. This still leaves a budget gap of $3.25 million, but Tynan is confident that it can be overcome and no further delays are necessary.

As the process continues to move forward, Tynan and CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton assured the audience that they would know everything that is happening. “We will continue to disseminate information like we have been in the past,” Braton said.

The community seems ready to turn an unused site into a worthwhile building for seniors. “I feel very good about this. I want to get an apartment,” one member of the audience said.

Dad Returns Stolen Chalices to Queens Church, Prompting Son to Confess by Oren Yaniv - NY Daily News

Read original...Stolen chalices were returned to St. Helen's Church in Howard Beach. Barcelo for News

Two stolen chalices were returned to a Queens church by a man whose son was then charged with the burglary that shocked the parish two weeks ago.

Thomas Kurplewski told the Daily News his 20-year-old son Theodore confessed a few days ago to swiping the prized items - and that he and his friend wanted to give them back.

"Remorse was immediately felt," Kurplewski said of his son. "He's a good Christian man."

When the elder Kurplewski and his buddy showed up at the rectory of St. Helen's Church in Howard Beach on Tuesday night - holding a plastic bag with the loot - they told a different story.

The Rev. Alfred LoPinto said Kurplewski claimed he'd just bought the cups outside a nearby housing project.

LoPinto called cops, who questioned Kurplewski and eventually arrested the son. Theodore Kurplewski was awaiting arraignment Wednesday night.

The chalices were stolen, along with $150 from the poor box, in the Feb. 26 break-in. One worth $1,000 was given to LoPinto during a visit to Rome. The other, valued at $13,000, belongs to the vicar, the Rev. Robert Keighron.

It was an ordination gift from his parents and is supposed to be used for the rest of his life.

"That's why I'm so overjoyed it has been returned," Keighron said. "More than the monetary value, it has a tremendous amount of sentimental value.

"Whoever did it, in my heart, is completely forgiven," Keighron said. "But justice, in whatever way, also has to be done."

Catholic School Crime Spree - Burglars Steal Cash from 7 Sites in 4 Months by Leigh Remizowski - NY Daily News

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THIS CRIME spree started at the Gate of Heaven, but whoever is responsible may be heading straight to hell.

A burglar, or burglars, have ransacked seven Catholic schools in Queens during the past four months, using similar methods to break in and making off mostly with cash, police said.

The unholy spree began at St. Mary Gate of Heaven School in Ozone Park on Nov. 22, when an undetermined amount of cash was looted from the administrative office, police said.

The most recent burglary was on Feb. 10 at Holy Family School in Flushing. The school's safe was carried off.

"The safe had to have weighed three to four hundred pounds," said Principal Mary Scheer. "Needless to say, it was a little shocking."

Because the safe was so hefty, Scheer believes the heist was the work of more than one burglar.

The safe contained $2,000 to $3,000 cash and more than $16,000 in tuition checks, she said. Parents were notified immediately and told to cancel the checks, Scheer said.

Hours earlier, thieves had broken into Our Lady of Lourdes School in Jamaica, but nothing was stolen, police said.

Each time, the burglar or burglars break in through a window or door, police said. All of the heists have occurred during late night or predawn hours.

Our Lady of Grace School in Howard Beach was hit twice, police said. The burglars stole cash from the main office on Dec. 14, said Principal Barbara Kavanagh. The second break-in occurred Jan. 15, but no money was taken.

"The worst part wasn't missing a few hundred dollars," Kavanagh said. "It was the damage that was done and the mess that was left."

Since the burglaries, Our Lady of Grace has installed surveillance cameras.

Sunday Porcelli, a mother of two students there, said she has received memos assuring parents there is no cash kept in the school.

St. Helen School in Howard Beach, Sacred Heart School in Glendale and Our Lady of the Snows in Floral Park also were burglarized.

Porcelli said she hopes this is "a wakeup call to the Diocese" to keep schools secure. But her biggest concern is that the culprits be caught before they disrupt more schools.

"There is a special place in hell for people who rob churches," she said.

Arnie Mig Orchestra Concert Thursday, July 24, 2008 - St Helen's Church 7pm - 9pm

Arnie Mig Orchestra in Concert

Thursday, July 24, 2008

7:00 to 9:00 PM

Saint Helen’s Church

Parking Lot

Located at

84^th Street and 157^th Avenue

Howard Beach

FREE EVENT

Sponsored by Councilman Joe Addabbo

Photo Courtesy of : Frizzi Lazzi