NYC Trees Need Your Help - Any Sum Makes A Great Difference!

A common picture of Hurricane Irene's devastation. Photo courtesy of MillionTrees NYC

When Hurricane Irene hit the eastern seaboard in late August 2011, it was responsible for the loss of over 2,000 trees, according to Million Trees NYC.

Backtracking, the tornado in Sept 2010 was responsible for at last 3,100 fallen trees in our borough, not to mention those damaged significantly. Our trees are an aesthetically & environmentally beneficial component, as well as historic component of all neighborhoods citywide. They become members of our extended family.

Fortunately, Million Trees NYC is the face behind an endeavor to raise funding for the replacement of the loss trees throughout NYC's 5 boroughs. Please consider donating to assist NYC street and park trees, or to assist tree planting on private property such as schools, and housing. This is a noble cause, so please take a few moments to also spread the word. Even a few dollars would be appreciated: 

http://milliontreesnyc.org/html/donate/donate.shtml

One of the few remaining historic Elm trees in Central Queens, which survived the tornado but not the hurricane. It sustained a large collapsed limb, which damaged the trunk. Sadly, this 7-story graceful Elm tree, which was at least 60 years old & was loved by many local residents, was taken down within days. All that remains is barely a stump on the corner of the Howard Apts on 66th Rd off the north side of Queens Blvd. Perhaps routine pruning would have paid off, & the tree would have still been around today. Photo by Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council.

The purple oasis of Cherry Plum trees was compromised at Parker Towers along Queens Blvd in Forest Hills. Let's hope these trees will be resurrected. Photo by Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council

 

A once bold Maple tree, which provided much beauty & shade in Forest Hills' Federoff Triangle falls. Photo by Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council.

Forest Hills' historic MacDonald Park was struck again, after losing around 70 trees during last year's tornado. This tree was likely planted by volunteers when MacDonald Park received some upgrades in the 1980s. A tree we will miss. Photo by Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council.

 

 

 

 

 

Tornado Aftermath: A Walk Through Forest Hills With Michael Perlman & Important Recovery Effort Advice

A new compilation of photos has been uploaded to flickr, depicting the aftermath of the September 16, 2010 tornado and macroburst, from a Forest Hills, NY viewpoint. Photos are by Michael Perlman, Chair of Rego-Forest Preservation Council.

The following photoset will be updated over the upcoming days. The images you will see are proof of how we have to be thankful for every day on this planet, and what we had and have in our lives. RIP PA-resident Aline Levakis, and our circa 3,113 precious trees lost in Queens (not including the figure of losses in Brooklyn and Staten Island). Limbs hanging number 3,069. Over 7,000 trees were affected in a significant way. Concerning our infrastructure, 70 buildings were destroyed, and 439 structures were damaged. These figures were compiled by city officials. Sidewalks have also been cracked and uplifted.

Call 311 & our elected officials (such as Councilmember Karen Koslowitz of Forest Hills & Rego Park) with complaints and concerns. This is an eye on the tragedy, and a demonstration of what measures WE THE PEOPLE need to undertake for an efficient recovery process, for a hopeful future:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157624885337407/

Please share your experiences, reactions, and any advice you can offer. Thank you!

Tornado Aftermath: A Walk Through Forest Hills With Greg Godfrey

Community advocate Greg Godfrey of Forest Hills, and President of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park World's Fair Association, has provided the aftermath photos of the 125 mph tornado which hit Forest Hills on September 16, 2010. It was classified as a macroburst, which is more potent. Never has anything so intense struck our "home sweet home." Within minutes, our landscape was forever changed. What we mourn most is our street trees, parks, and privately owned trees that owners treated with TLC. Such beauty was the result of a lifetime, but let's be thankful for what we had and still have. A tree is a blessing. There is no official count yet of trees lost, but the city predicts thousands. Chairman Michael Perlman of Rego-Forest Preservation Council features Greg Godfrey's pictorial documentary, and we extend our gratitude to a dedicated individual and our friend.....

MacDonald Park, Forest Hills...absolutely destroyed. 85% or more of the trees are down. This historic park, named after WWI veteran, Captain Gerald MacDonald, is in the midst of bustling Queens Blvd featured a most impressive tree canopy. It was a retreat and a foliage lover's dream.

MacDonald Park, Forest Hills...absolutely destroyed. 85% or more of the trees are down. This historic park, named after WWI veteran, Captain Gerald MacDonald, is in the midst of bustling Queens Blvd featured a most impressive tree canopy. It was a retreat and a foliage lover's dream.

Forest Hills Gardens, south of Station Square. Greg Godfrey explains "People were weeping, and 100 year old trees are gone. Massive damage. Emotional and physical. What was most moving was how many people were just walking around emotionally stunned by the amount of trees; the amount of 'our living neighbors' we lost. The smell of sap and chopped wood and leaves was everywhere."

Forest Hills Gardens: Trees occasionally fell against early 20th century homes, or into the road throughout the neighborhood.

Greg Godfrey states "People kept gathering and talking about the loss of their sylvan towers. It was like a funeral."

Forest Hills Gardens: Circa 101 year-old tree uprooted in park.

Forest Hills Gardens: Trees plunged, holes in roof, door blown off.

Forest Hills Gardens: Minor damage to these historic trees, considering the scale of others in Forest Hills.

Forest Hills Gardens: Burns St off Ascan Ave facing park. The unheard of!

The signature Kennedy House on Queens Blvd, Forest Hills. Massive windows were shattered and doors blown in.

The Landmarked Ridgewood Savings Bank on Queens Blvd & Continental Ave. The beautiful pine tree is a shadow of itself. Historic and iconic amber windows were shattered and being replaced 24 hours later.

Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills: A disaster!

The Continental Apartments on Queens Blvd. This was an inspirational mature tree like the one on the right, but snapped at its trunk. The trees likely dated to the 1920s when the first Continental Apts was on site, or earlier.

70th Road, Forest Hills: Virtually all the trees are down. They dated to the 1920s or prior. A frequent site throughout the neighborhood is crushed cars.

Queens Blvd towards 70th Rd. This was once a tree-lined block. The few trees that remained received a massive pruning. The Continental Apts lawn on the right had a huge pine tree, likely planted in the 1960s. We always remarked about its beauty. It was one of few in Forest Hills.

Yellowstone Blvd off north side of Queens Blvd. This building had full trees in front. Now there are none.

The Weeping Willows on 108th St in front of famed architect Philip Birnbaum's series of presidential buildings was an ICON of Forest Hills. It was planted circa 1940s, & gave a pastoral setting. It inspired local artists. Heartbreaking how such a healthy tree was uprooted. It was 1 of a pair in front of this building's circular driveway. Greg Godfrey states "This was my favorite building on 108th street, and it had a magnificent Weeping Willow... now gone. Many people paid their respects, and recounted how this was their favorite tree."

Greg Godfrey states "My old building had massive trees surrounding it. Now all the apartments will have bright light." The award-winning Kelvin Apts were designed along with other 1920s buildings on 108th St, & one of their key features were the communal gardens and their trees.

Where there were trees, there are now none. This is outside PS 303 in the Cord Meyer section, which was settled in 1906, predating the Forest Hills Gardens by 3 years. Some of the trees were presumably that old.

A downed traffic light & lamp post arm on 108th St.

"David's Garden" at Flushing Meadows - Corona Park. Greg Godfrey states "I personally removed all of the debris on the road and in the garden till about 9 PM last night. Luckily, Flushing Meadows - Corona Park did not have the scale of damage found at Forest Hills, although it is still very emotional."

Tornado in Forest Hills: Full series of aftermath photos by Greg Godfrey

Tornado 2010: A Personal Account by Michael Perlman: 

http://regoforestpreservation.blogspot.com/2010/09/torando-2010-personal-account.html

Tornado 2010: A Personal Account

I feel your pain...

I was coming home from an outing in Rego Park on September 16, 2010 around 6 PM, and just when I walked into my building lobby, I noticed a swirl, and then the skies turned pitch black. Then I heard a snap. Everything unfolded in no time. It is hard to believe that we experienced a tornado, but my senses interpret it as such. After it subsided, I surveyed the damage on my block, and huge branches of 3 mature trees were snapped off. One tremendous branch was blown half a block away, alongside an SUV. The corner of Public School 175 on 102nd St was roped off, due to 1/3 of a mature tree on the ground.

A mature tree by Forest Hills Jewish Center, looks like it received a massive pruning. I was just remarking on this blog earlier this month, how Forest Hills Jewish Center deserves kudos for maintaining that 60 year-old tree very well. Across the street is MacDonald Park, where trees have plummeted on top of benches and tables, and in the road. Cars are smashed too. Long-term business, HB Chevrolet had part of its glass front blown off, and the "HB" of its sign blew away. MacDonald Park, Burns St and Continental Ave in the Forest Hills Gardens, and Yellowstone Blvd off the north side of Queens Blvd seems to have suffered the worst, from what I have seen so far.

The sirens were ongoing during the evening, and the extent of the damage in some parts of the neighborhood and elsewhere in the boroughs is very disheartening. The neighborhood and beyond seems to have experienced a war, but of nature. My heart goes out to the family of the victim on the Grand Central Parkway. RIP! It proves that we have to be thankful for every moment. I also must say RIP to the countless precious trees that have gone on the wayside! They take decades to mature, but in moments, some were uprooted. It all came to an end, but may we make repairs efficiently, and coordinate a campaign to replant some of the missing trees.

Let's reflect upon our experiences, but try not to let it become an obstacle towards our future. The moral is to be more respectful of our lives, your neighbors, and all that our community has to offer, including its natural wonders. <3

Photos & an account from my friend's "Edge of The City: A Forest Hills, NY Blog"
http://edgeofthecityblog.com/2010/09/16/devastated/
http://edgeofthecityblog.com/2010/09/16/more-pictures-of-the-devastation/
http://edgeofthecityblog.com/2010/09/16/and-more-images-of-the-storms-destruction/

- Michael Perlman

Eyewitness of 4-Alarm Fire in Forest Hills: May 23rd around 8:15 PM - 10:30 PM

To The Media:

Our heart goes out to the community and local business owners. On Sunday, May 23rd, around 8:15 PM, a 4-alarm fire began on the corner candy/convenience shop of 99th St and 66th Ave, and extended to the other 99th St shops towards 66th Rd in Forest Hills, NY. Firefighters were also observed on the Queens Blvd frontage.


A number of long-term "mom and pop" businesses which are dear to the neighborhood, such as a candy/convenience store, laundromat, a barber, a fruit store, and a dress shop amongst others were affected on the 99th Street side. The 4 corner businesses were completely destroyed. These have been shops since the 1939 World's Fair, and some are owned by immigrants who established their business from the bottom up. The same development wraps around the corner to Queens Blvd, but fortunately Trylon Liquors, Trylon Vet Care, and Danny's Antiques were spared from the extensive damages. The historic former Trylon Theater, which has ties to the 1939 World's Fair (now a Russian community establishment), has suffered smoke damage and a partial ceiling collapse. The famed Tower Diner, which was formerly Emigrant Saving Bank with its Colonial clock tower, also suffered smoke damage. Thankfully, no one was killed, and at least 1 cat or other pets from the vet are believed to be rescued. 

I witnessed the bulk of the fire until 10:30 PM. I grew up in Forest Hills for the past 27 years, and have never seen such a potent local fire. There was way over 150 local residents at the scene, and nearly 200 firefighters. It felt as if a majority of the neighborhood came out to observe and mingle with their family and friends. Citizens united in solidarity. I observed tears and shock.

I captured 129 photos from the early stages. Feel free to feature the photos in your stories, as well as my personal account, and grant credit to "Preservationist/Photographer Michael Perlman." Please cover and investigate this catastrophe. Although hope is grim in times like this, we hope the infrastructure and businesses will recover.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157624123080640/

- Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair

http://regoforestpreservation.blogspot.com/
unlockthevault@hotmail.com