queens chronicle spring guide 2012

C M Spring Guide page 1 Y K

2012

INSIDE:Spring fun for kids

The Queens arts sceneCommunity gardens

Outlook for the Mets’ season

and more ...

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• Spring fun for kids ........................................ 4

• The Queens arts scene ................................. 6

• Professional performing arts schedule ............ 8

• Outlook for the Mets’ season ........................10

• Community gardens brighten neighborhoods ....13

• New fl ower and vegetable varieties ready for planting ........................................14

• Exercising in borough parks ..........................16

• Growing grapes for wine in Queens ................17

• It’s green spring cleaning time .......................18

• Best desserts for spring ............................. 20

• Day trips close to home .............................. 22

GUIDE

2012

Front page photo: Steve Malecki; Supplement editor: Liz Rhoades; Design: Ella Jipescu; Editorial Layout: Terry Nusspickel

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With such a mild winter,it was hard to tellwhen spring actuallybegan. But now that

event schedules arecatching up to theweather, there’s noneed to leave the

borough to engage children, getthem to unplug from technology andbecome part of their communitiesthis season.

Queens offers a variety of activi-ties for youngsters to take advantageof during warmer days, includingevents for the last weekend of springrecess for New York City publicschools. And many events are free— which will certainly make momand dad happy.

The New York Hall of Science inFlushing Meadows Park offers ahilarious take on something so sim-ple in “BubbleMania: Science, Art& Comedy! with Casey Carle.” Foran additional $5 with the price ofadmission, children will becomeprivy to the science behind creatingsoap bubbles. This special perfor-mance runs April 13 to 15, at 1 and2 p.m.

Didn’t think you could visit withfarm animals in a city? Think again.The Queens County Farm Museumat 73-50 Little Neck Parkway inFloral Park, has organized a “Chil-dren’s Carnival” in its apple orchard.

This event includes hayrides, gamesand a magic show in the barn duringthe afternoon, every hour on thehour from 2 to 5 p.m.

The cost is $10 per person toenter the farm grounds and includescarnival rides at no additionalcharge. This event runs April 14,April 15, April 21 and April 22,from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Youth can cheer on their skilledpeers at the First Regional TalentShow Finale, held at the CentralLibrary in Jamaica at 89-11 MerrickBlvd., on Saturday April 21 at 2p.m. In this free event, winners ages7 to 15, from local Queens libraries,will compete for the top spot of theborough.

Show your support to buddingyoung actors from, “LaMicro Chil-dren’s Theater Workshop” by takingyour kids to a free short play byyouth ages 6 to 9 at the Sunnysidelibrary, 43-06 Greenpoint Ave. Theperformance titled “Sultan the Cat”which incorporates the Sunnysidecommunity into the story, is at 3:30p.m. on April 21.

Expose your young ones to thefun side of learning with a freehands-on history workshop at KingManor Museum, 150-03 JamaicaAve. in Jamaica. “Music, Mozart &The Manor” offers children thechance to discover Mozart, maketheir own musical instrument and

learn how to play Twinkle TwinkleLittle Star, one of the influentialcomposer’s famous classical varia-tions. The workshop, held on April21 from noon to 3 p.m., is designedfor the entire family to participate.

Alley Pond Environmental Cen-ter, 228-06 Northern Blvd. in Dou-glaston is celebrating Earth Day onSunday April 22 at 1 p.m. with alive animal event, “Animal Adven-tures.” Children of all ages are wel-come, with a paying adult, to petand observe at least eight animals,such as a wallaby, a lemur and alarge snake.

Interesting stories and informa-tion on the animals involved will bepart of the celebration. An adult tick-et is $15, $12 for APEC members,and entry for kids up to age 12 is $8.Call to reserve at (718) 229-4000.

Families and children 8 years oldand older are invited to learn aboutfishing and archery in Queens parks.Both activities foster patience whileteaching your youngster to connectto the environment around them.

Skilled urban park rangers havearchery programs to fit all skill lev-els. The event meets on Saturday,April 28 at 1 p.m. at Alley PondAdventure Center, WinchesterBoulevard under the Grand CentralParkway.

Urban park rangers also instructyoung participants how to freshwa-ter fish, which is strictly a catch andrelease program. Be sure to get inon the fun early, as involvement ison a first come, first serve basis.

The program meets at KissenaPark at 11 a.m. on May 12 at theentrance at Rose and Oak avenues.

Kids of all ages can join in onlarger than life play during “PuppetParade” at the New York Hall ofScience. Free with the price ofadmission, participants can use theirarms to puppeteer and interact withcreatures as they’re projected on thewall for interactive entertainment.This creative program runs onweekends from 11- 5 p.m. untilSunday May 6

Discover New York City’s bounti-ful wildlife with “Urban WildlifeAppreciation Day” at CunninghamPark, which borders Fresh Meadowsand Bayside off Union Turnpike.

Informative urban park rangers revealto families the best places in the cityto watch wildlife in their habitats.

This event meets in the park’sparking lot on Union Turnpike and197th Street on Saturday, May 5,from noon to 3 p.m.

Let’s not forget about the tykes ofQueens. The second annual “MamasExpo” is being held at the New YorkHall of Science on Saturday, May 5,10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Little ones up to age6 can participate in hands-on activi-ties and product demonstrations.

Parents can attend workshops, tryout new products and receive give-aways. The event is freewith admission to the hall.

Staycations just gotmore scenic with biking inQueens parks held at Cun-ningham Park. Suitable forthe entire family, urbanpark rangers will introduceriders to breathtakingviews, public artwork,landscape design and localwildlife.

Kids are able to ride at aleisurely pace — but arerequired to bring their ownbicycles and helmets,along with a recommendedlight snack and plenty ofwater.

This program meets on Sunday,May 20 at 11 a.m. in the park park-ing lot on Union Turnpike and 197thStreet.

Fun for the youth of Queens isendless this season. Whether partici-pating with your children or lettingthem venture out with friends, thisselection of events for spring is agreat opportunity to get your young-sters involved in programs through-out the borough.

Encourage them to go offline,unplug from technology and enjoyall that Queens has to offer — closeto home. Q

“Children’s Carnival” at the Queens County Farm Museum, held in the appleorchard. This full day event includes hayrides, games and a magic show.

PHOTO COURTSEY QUEENS FARM MUSEUM

Comic bubble-ologist Casey Carle, “BubbleMania:Science, Art & Comedy!” will be at the NewYork Hall of Science. PHOTO COURTSEY NYSCI

Urban park rangers offer programs to fit all skill levels in fishing and archery inparks throughout Queens. Fans of “The Hunger Games,” for one, might aim foran upcoming event at Alley Pond Adventure Center. PHOTO BY DANIEL AVILA/NYC PARKS

Activities for youngstersSPRING FORWARD,

STAY CLOSE TO HOMEby Maria

Fitzsimons

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This spring, a number of new exhibitsare opening around the borough. Inaddition, the second annual LICArts Open will run from May 12 to

20 and feature a week of eventsincluding open art studios, exhi-bitions and live performances

(visit licartsopen.org).

JEFFREY LEDER GALLERYDonna Levinstone and Demetrius

Manouselis solo shows. Opening receptionApril 15, running through May 6.

LIC Arts Open: Curated group show featur-ing 16 artists, May 15, 6-8:30 p.m.

Long Island City’s Jeffrey Leder Gallery willcontinue its string of solo shows with artistsDonna Levinstone and Demetrius Manouselis;each artist’s works will be featured on a floor ofthe gallery’s two-story brownstone. Pastels byLevinstone on one floor will complementManouselis’ abstract works on the top floor.

After the show closes on May 6, JeffreyLeder Gallery will also be participating in theLIC Arts Open, by staging an opening on thesame day as several other galleries in theCourt Square area on May 15.

For more visit jeffreyledergallery.com orcontact Leder at (917) 767-1734. Address: 21-37 45 Rd., LIC.

SCULPTURE CENTER“Bill Bollinger: The Retrospective,” open-

ing reception April 22, 5-7 p.m., runningthrough July 30.

Surveying works created by American artistBollinger between the years 1966 and 1970,this new show will feature sculpture, works onpaper and one film. To complement the show,the Sculpture Center will offer a panel discus-sion with curators and other events.

For more visit sculpture-center.org or call(718) 361-1750. Address: 44-19 Purves St., LIC.

QUEENS COLLEGE ART CENTER“Rapunzel (in perpetuum: forever II)”

through April 25. Building on a previousexhibit which honed in on how artists influ-ence each other, the center features the worksof over two dozen artists led by Anne Sher-wood Pundyk. For information, visitqcpages.qc.cuny.edu and click on art or call(718) 997-3770. Address: Queens College,Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd.,Flushing.

SPACEWOMB“Distortional Sensibility,” featuring the

work of Jongwang Lee. April 12 throughMay 3; “Symbiosis,” a group show. May 4to 13; Janet Bruesselbach solo exhibit. May18- 31.

For more, visit spacewomb.com or call(917) 670-1342. Address: 22-48 JacksonAve., LIC.

RESOBOX“Art from the Earth,” through April 27LIC Arts Open: Curated group show featur-

ing Japanese artists, May 12. Live musicnight, May 16.

Japanese gallery Resobox’s new exhibit,focuses on works by Yasumitsu Morito, whowas born in Mashiko, Japan, a village knownfor its pottery. Morito works with clay andceramics, and bowls, sculptures and otherworks are on view.

In addition to the Morito show, Resobox isparticipating in the LIC Arts Open by featur-ing a group show on May 12 which will run

during the fest and beyond, and by hosting alive show on May 16 in conjunction with theClock Tower (LICA), Gotham Center‘sground floor and the Space featuring experi-mental music, modern dance, computergraphics and VJ artists.

For more visit resobox.com or call (718)784-3680. Address: 41-26 27 St., LIC.

FLUSHING TOWN HALL“Interwoven Worlds: Exploring Domestic

and Nomadic Life in Turkey,”through April 30.Organized by Queens College’s Goodwin-

Ternbach Museum and on view at FlushingTown Hall, it highlights textiles from themuseum’s permanent collection with objectsthat would be found in Turkish homes andspaces.

For more, visit flushingtownhall.org/eventsor call (718) 463-7700. Address: 137-35Northern Blvd., Flushing.

MOMA PS1“Lara Favaretto: Just Knocked Out,” May 3

through Sept. 10. Sunday sessions throughMay 13. PS1 presents a survey of LaraFavaretto’s audio, sculptural and kinetic worksfrom the past 15 years, as well as pieces creat-ed specifically for the show at the museum.

Through May 13, the museum will also behosting events every Sunday, featuring lec-tures, light, sound and music installations aswell as special performances.

For more visit momaps1.org or call (718)784-2084. Address: 22-25 Jackson Ave., LIC.

LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGEPhotos and videos of Chile by students,

opening reception May 10, 6-7 p.m.A display of work by students who par-

ticipated in photo internships in Chile willbe displayed in an LGCC gallery. A lec-ture on May 14 will further explain theproject at 1 p.m. at 31-10 Thomson Ave.,room E-500.

For more visit lagcc.cuny.edu/lgcc-chilestudyabroad. The show will take place inthe Gallery of Photographic Arts on the thirdfloor of the college’s “B” building, located at30-20 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City.

TOPAZ ARTS GALLERY“Manuel Ocampo: The 80s,” through May

12, Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Closingreception May 12.

This is a solo exhibition of recent paintingsby Ocampo, a renowned contemporary artistfrom the Philippines, on view at Woodside’sTopaz Arts Gallery every Saturday. The showfeatures a series of his most abstract works,presented unconventionally.

For more visit topazarts.org or call (718)505-0440. Address: 55-03 39 Ave., Woodside.

SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK“Civic Action: A Vision for Long Island

City,” opening reception May 13, 2-6 p.m.Show runs through Aug. 5.

In the fall, four teams led by artists Natal-ie Jeremijenko, Mary Miss, Rirkrit Tiravanijaand George Trakas developed visions for thefuture of Long Island City’s waterfront,which went on view at the Noguchi Museum.Beginning May 13, those visions will be real-ized in part through sculpture, performanceand related events at Socrates Sculpture Park.Events include a “Kite Flight” with Jeremi-jenko, when she will demonstrate how to cre-ate maps using kites on May 19, 11 a.m.-2p.m.; outdoor cinema every Wednesday night,with regional food served out of Tiravanija’sinstallation (July 4- Aug. 22).

For more visit socratessculpturepark.org orcall (718) 956-1819. Address: 32-01 VernonBlvd., Astoria.

QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART“Queens International 2012: Three Points

Make a Triangle” and “Frank Oscar Larson:1950s New York Street Stories,” through May20. QMA’s roundup of 31 artists living in theborough.

As previously covered in the Chronicle,longtime Flushing resident Larson’s trea-sure trove of documentary photographs of1950s New York, unearthed by his grand-son, are well worth a look. This show alsocloses May 20.

For more visit queensmuseum.org/ or call(718) 592-9700. QMA is located in FlushingMeadows Park. Q

A work by Manuel Ocampo, a contemporary artist from the Philippines on view at Topaz Arts inWoodside through May 12. PHOTO BY TODD RICHMOND AND PAZ TANJUAQUIO

Arts sceneEXHIBITS

ABOUND ATQUEENS SHOWS

by PaulaNeudorf

“Cyclone Fence, Leo Castelli Warehouse, NewYork 1968,” will appear at the Sculpture Centerin Long Island City.

PHOTO BY SHUNK-KENDER/ROY LICHTENSTEIN FOUNDATION

New gallery exhibits flourish this spring throughout the borough

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Spring Guide page 8

This spring, Queens venues feature avaried span of international and nation-al big-name artists and new musicalhighlights for culture-craving residents.

Queens Theatre in the Park inFlushing Meadows Park has fourvery different shows on their pro-gram. First, the award-winningdance company Viver Brazil takes

audiences on a journey through Afro-Braziliantraditional and contemporary movement andnonstop percussion and voice on Saturday, April14 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m.All seats cost $46.

The following weekend, the theatre featuresNew York’s own Grammy Award-winning folkmusic legend Janis Ian. Ian performs on April 21at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. All seats are $44. Producer’sCircle is $60

Next the scene is set for the Bronx Wanderers,who will take the audience back to the 1950swhen the soulful, melodic sounds of doo-wopand a new style of music called rock and rollruled the airwaves. That’s on April 22 at 2 and 6p.m. All seats are $35.

And from May 3 through 20, audiences cansee the work of Jack Cole live with the world pre-miere of “Heat Wave: The Jack Cole Project,” amusical tribute to the unsung genius. Cole wasconsidered one of the most important choreogra-phers of the 20th century, producing classics like“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” which madeMarilyn Monroe a superstar; “There’s No Busi-ness Like Show Business” and “Les Girls.” Tick-ets run $42, on weekdays and $49 on weekends.

Queensborough Performing Arts Center inBayside presents “Mr. Las Vegas” on April 29 at3 p.m. In his only New York appearance, audi-ences can experience Wayne Newton, the mosttalked about Las Vegas showman, with more than25,000 concerts in his past. All seats are $55.

The same venue provides a good laugh andmusic all in one. On May 6 at 3 p.m. the actorand comedian Mal Z. Lawrence is performingaccompanied by The Four Preps, the group whowon eight gold singles and three gold albumsthroughout the 1950-70s, and who will besinging everything from doo-wop to Tin PanAlley standards. All seats are $40.

Kupferberg Center Performances at QueensCollege also pays a tribute to Broadway withNeil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway” on Satur-day, April 14 at 8 p.m. The first New York Cityshow and a Queens exclusive, “100 Years ofBroadway” recreates the greatest moments fromthe finest shows of the century. The cast and theband take the audience on a trip down memorylane and back to the present with popularnumbers from Broadway’s latest hitshows. Tickets run $15 to $28.

On a quieter note, KupferbergCenter also hosts Turkishpianist Zeynep Ucbasaran onApril 15 at 2 p.m. Ucbasaranwas twice a prizewinner in theLos Angeles Liszt Competi-tions. Tickets range from $15to $36.

Finally, Kupferberg Centerwill be hosting the final concertof the 2012 Arts & Music Festival,the world premiere of “1001Voices — a Symphony forQueens,” including a 190-voice choir comprised of theQueens College Choral Society& Queens College Choir. The event is on April29 at 3 p.m. and is free.

See the full program for the 1001 VoicesFestival, which runs April 14 to 29, atqueenssymphony.org

Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts atFlushing Town Hall has avaried spring program. Itbegins with the virtuosoplayers of Chinese FolkMusic on April 14 at 7p.m. The virtuoso is estab-lished by master perform-ers from the Departmentof Fine Arts of ChinaOcean University in Qing-dao, China. Highlyacclaimed, this group per-forms not only traditionalChinese music, but alsomodern and contempo-rary Chinese folk music.Tickets are: $10 to $20.

Next an intercultural experience is April 20 at8 p.m. when the venue hosts Queens SymphonyOrchestra featuring contemporary works by liv-ing composers George Tsontakis and JusticeChen. The event is free.

On April 28 at 7.30 p.m. bassist andcomposer Ben Allison and his band

take over the stage. Known for hislyrical melodies, inventivegrooves, and inspired arrange-ments, Allison draws from thejazz tradition to rock, folk andworld music and blends theminto a cinematic, cohesive musi-cal experience that has so farresulted in 10 albums and sever-

al awards. The concert is free.York College Performing Arts

Center in Jamaica has L’Aprile Con-centrate on their program onApril 20 at 7 p.m. Featuredsinger is April Lynn James, alyric mezzo-soprano.

Specializing in 18th-centurymusic and operas composed by women, sheenjoys playing the gallant young men featured in18th- century Italian opera, some of which shewill be singing at the performance.

Next in York’s program is the Clifton Ander-son Quintet on April 28 at 7 p.m. Anderson’scareer reflects work with diverse musical giantssuch as Frank Foster, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Won-der, Dizzy Gillespie, The Mighty Sparrow, LesterBowie, Paul Simon, WyClef Jean, and DionneWarwick. Tickets are $10 to $20.

Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside cele-brates spring with the variety and richness ofSpanish and Latin music. The venue will offer“Caribe,” starring Anissa Gathers, who will per-form Caribbean songs from Cuba, Puerto Ricoand the Dominican Republic on April 28 st 8p.m. Tickets are $25.

On April 29 at 4 p.m. the audience can enjoybeautiful arias and duets from the best-lovedSpanish operettas, and the most popular romanticLatin American songs in “Zarzuelas andBoleros.” Tickets are $25 or $44 for both.

Thalia also presents a bilingual premiere of“La Callas & Medea.” The great soprano MariaCallas encounters her most famous character,Medea, in this dream-like drama about two leg-endary Greek women, famed for their capacityto love and fall victim to betrayal. It will beperformed alternate days in English and inSpanish from May 18 to June 24. Tickets are$22 and $25.

Dance Entropy Inc. in Long Island City pre-sents the Green Space Blooms Dance Festival,featuring the work of 40 choreographers on sixevenings at 8 p.m. on April 14 through 22. Tick-ets are $15 and $20.

Frank Sinatra School of Arts presents a jazzensemble concert with the grammy-winning sax-ophone giant Joe Lovano in the Tony BennettConcert Hall on April 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are$10 and $15.

Susan McKeown and her band performtradi-tional folk songs and contemporary adult rockfrom past and present at the Main Hall at NewYork Irish Center on April 28 at 8.30 p.m. Tick-ets are $15 and $18.

Venues featured in this piece are listed below.Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.;

(718) 463-7700 ext. 222.Kupferberg Center at Queens College, 65-30

Kissena Blvd. in Flushing; (718) 793-8080.Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Mead-

ows Park; (718) 760-0064.Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-

05 56th Ave. in Bayside; (718) 631-6311.Queens Symphony Orchestra Off ice at

Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing,NY 11367, (718) 570-0909

Thalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 GreenpointAve. in Sunnyside; (718) 729-3880.

York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica; (718)262-3750.

Green Space, 37-24 24th St. #301 LongIsland City (718) 956-3037.

Tony Bennett Concert Hall, 35-12 35th Ave,Astoria (718) 361-9920

New York Irish Center, 10-40 Jackson Ave,Long Island City, (718) 482-0909 Q

The award-winning dance company Viver Brazil takes audiences on an inspiring journey throughAfro-Brazilian dance and music on April 14-15 at Queens Theatre in the Park PHOTO BY JORGE VISMARA

Kupferberg Center hosts Turkishpianist Zeynep Ucbasaran onApril 15 at 2 p.m. COURTESY PHOTO

Take a trip down memory lane with Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway,April 14 at 8 p.m. at Kupferberg Center. COURTESY PHOTO

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The Mets are understandably promisingto make a big deal of their goldenanniversary as a baseball franchise.Given how things have gone for the

local major league team the pastfew years, you can be sure thatthere will be comparisonsbetween the 2012 Mets and their

1962 forebears.The good news is that given the dilution of

talent in the big leagues, combined with the wearand tear of the travel and other hindrances thatcome with a 162-game season these days, it isextremely unlikely that this Mets team will lose120 games as the first one did. The bad news isthat a 100-loss season is a very real possibility.

One relief for Mets fans is that they won’thave to hear about the specter of Bernie Madoffhovering over their team’s operations. Unfortu-nately, as pointed out back in December, Metsownership still has serious debt issues.

It’s precisely those mounting liabilities thatprecluded Mets Chief Executive Officer FredWilpon and General Manager Sandy Aldersonfrom even making a token contractual offer toretain their very popular shortstop, Jose Reyes,who wound up being the National League bat-ting champion, which ironically was the firsttime a Met ever won that title. Reyes, of course,has taken his talents down to South Beach, tech-nically downtown Miami.

While the Mets’ dispiriting handling ofReyes deflated their fans, they have a verycapable replacement at shortstop in RubenTejada. While he doesn’t possess Reyes’s speedand power, nor his outgoing personality, Tejadais an excellent fielder and a very good contacthitter. He hit .284 last year, and you can be suremanager Terry Collins will be ecstatic if he canrepeat that in 2012.

His four-hit game last Sunday against theBraves certainly brightened Collins’s spirits.

The Mets made news last fall when theyannounced that they would be moving in their out-field fences. Management’s fervent hope is that

the shortened dimensions will improve the psy-ches and statistics of third baseman David Wrightand leftfielder Jason Bay especially. The bad newsis that the Mets won’t be able to move the fencesback when the opposing team is hitting.

Wright has long been the face of the franchiseand has stated that he would like to remain a Metfor his entire career. He has a $16 million optionin his contract that will kick in if he is on theMets roster in 2013. It is that stipulation, howev-er, that may lead to his departure before the July31 trade deadline.

He certainly looked like anall-star last weekend andeven delivered a fly ballto score the Mets’ firstrun on Sunday.

While it would beeasy to criticize Metsownership for eventhinking of dealingWright, the reality isthat if you are going topay any player that kindof money, he’d better pro-duce. In the last coupleyears, Wright has made a num-ber of throwing errors on routineplays, and has also shown a glaringpropensity to strike out, especially when there isa runner on third base with less than two outsand a mere fly ball would score a run.

The Mets do have some pop in their lineupthanks to Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis. Murphyis a very accomplished hitter but his defensiveskills have been lacking. The Mets are hoping hewill be a passable second baseman and that hecan finally complete an entire season withoutwinding up on the disabled list.

Davis has proven to be the best first basemanboth defensively and offensively for the Amazin’ssince Keith Hernandez was in his prime. But, likeMurphy, Davis has also been a habitue on the DL,and everyone is keeping their fingers crossed thathe can stay healthy as well. Earlier this spring, he

was diagnosed with valley fever, a common ail-ment for Arizona residents, of which he is one. Sofar he has remained symptom-free, thankfully.

Last year, rookie outfielder Lucas Duda cameup from the Mets’Triple-A farm club, the Buffa-lo Bisons, and displayed respectable power aswell as hitting nearly .300. If the Mets can getsimilar production from him this year, Citi Fieldwill be a brighter place.

Alderson has made very few trades so far inhis tenure as general manager. He did send cen-

terfielder Angel Pagan, an accomplishedfielder and hitter, to the Giants for

Andres Torres, an older versionof Pagan with far less upside.

Although it was clear thatAlderson was not enamoredof Pagan, primarilybecause of rumors that hewas sullen in the club-house and was not afavorite of Collins, thistrade was a head-scratcher.

Sure enough, Torres misseda good chunk of spring train-

ing with a leg injury. His injuryhas opened the door for White-

stone native Mike Baxter to get someplaying time in Flushing.

The Mets’ pitching staff is a big questionmark. The good news is that ace Johan Santana,who missed all of 2011 recovering from aplethora of arm ailments, made it through springtraining without getting hurt and was able to getopposing hitters out for the most part.

Ageless knuckleballer RA Dickey was 8-13last year but he was done in by a lack of runsupport. Dillon Gee started out last year with a7-0 record but ran out of gas in the second halfas he settled for a 13-6 record with a pedestrian4.43 earned run average. Jonathon Niese hasbeen the textbook definition of mediocre, com-piling a 22-23 record in two-plus seasons as aMet starter with a nondescript 4.39 lifetimeERA.

Of course no starter is a bigger enigma thanMike Pelfrey. After being named the Mets’ acelast year by Collins in light of Santana’sabsence, “Big Pelf ” came up very small. His 7-13 record and 4.74 ERA only begin to tell thesad story. More often than not, he was badlywhacked around by opposing hitters.

This past March the same thing was happen-ing. According to numerous sources, Metsexecutives were thinking of releasing him justas they did Oliver Perez last spring. Pelfrey wason the Opening Day roster but it’s clear that heis on a very short leash.

Even the most ardent Mets fan can’t beblamed for asking “Who are these guys?” whendiscussing the Mets bullpen. The Mets had tosign former Blue Jays closer Frank Francisco toa two-year, $12 million contract when bothBobby Parnell and Ozone Park’s own PedroBeato proved unable to hold any late-inningleads after Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez wastraded to the Milwaukee Brewers last summer.

Frank Francisco was completely ineffectiveduring spring training, which certainly had tocause Alderson some agita although he didearn a save in each of the Mets’ f irst threegames. Other newcomers joining the Mets reliefcorps are Ramon Ramirez and Jon Rauch.

Adding to the Mets’ woes is the fact that theyare in arguably baseball’s most competitive divi-sion, the National League East. The Philliesmay be aging but they still have the best startingstaff in the game. The Miami Marlins andWashington Nationals have both considerablyupgraded their rosters. The Atlanta Bravesalways have a very talented team.

Even Collins downplayed unrealistic expec-tations about his team’s fast start out of the gate.“We have a long way to go,” he said at his post-game press conference last Sunday.

If nothing else, Mets fans can enjoy the funand tasty cuisine of Shake Shack and theAcela Club this year. Lines should not be aproblem in 2012. Q

METS EXPECT LITTLE; SO DO THE FANS

by LloydCarroll

Baseball

Lack of new players, loss of Reyes lead to low expectations this year

Ike Davis Johan Santana David Wright Ruben Tejada

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Spring is the season of growth andrenewal, and nowhere is that betterdemonstrated than at the many com-munity gardens in Queens. In most

cases they began as plots ofempty land until concernedresidents rolled up theirsleeves and started planting

— the result, peaceful green spaces in an oth-erwise concrete jungle.

Among the groups behind these oases is theBrooklyn Queens Land Trust manages 34 com-munity gardens in 10 different neighborhoods— six of them in Queens. The organizationensures that the gardeners can work in a safeenvironment that is permanently protected fromdevelopment.

In 1984, the founders of the Dunton Blockand Civic Association Garden took a blightedlot that was the site of illegal dumping andturned it into a beautiful green space where resi-dents get fresh produce and learn how to growtheir own.

“When we see what we have been able toaccomplish, we feel proud,” said SharonSmith, one of the garden’s founders. “This isour community, and we want our communityto look decent.”

The garden, located at 143-01 Shore Ave.,has cabbage, carrots, kale, zucchini, squash,collard greens, bok choi, tomatoes, lettuce,potatoes, corn and more, including an apple treeand a blueberry bush.

They give away about 75 percent of whatthey grow, according to Smith. People can stopby and pick up a pound or two of produce. Theyalso offer programs on how to garden for youthand adults, something Smith said is especiallyimportant.

“Children need to learn where producecomes from,” Smith said. “It doesn’t come fromthe supermarket, or from a can. It comes fromseeds and the earth.”

The garden is open to the public beginningon Arbor Day, April 27, when members willhave a celebration from noon until 4 p.m. withworkshops on composting, creating all-naturalsoaps, and collage-making, along with plantingclasses for youth and a free lunch.

The season will extend through Decemberand the garden is open on Mondays andWednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Weekendhours vary depending on what events are sched-uled. Smith said they hope to offer free concertsthis year. For more information, contact Smithat (917) 224-8217.

The Back To Eden Community Garden at 144-27 Lakewood Ave. in South Jamaica was startedin 1984 by gardeners Ella Heron and her husbandPercy, who dedicated 21 years to improving thequality of life in their neighborhood.

Since reopening in the summer of 2004, thegarden has been tended to by dedicated mem-bers and volunteers. They grow all kinds of veg-etables from asparagus to zucchini; flowersincluding marigolds, African violets, roses and

tulips; herbs such as basil, oregano,and cilantro; and fruits such asraspberries, strawberries and blue-berries. The group tries to giveaway everything it grows.

“It’s important to know whereour food comes from — to eathealthy fresh foods and help ourcommunity,” said garden co-Presi-dent Sabriyah Abdul-Qaadir. “I’m aGod-fearing woman and beingclose to the earth makes me feelmore a part of life and nature.”

Back To Eden will be collabo-rating with the Dunton gardenmembers on their Arbor Day cele-bration. Abdul-Qaadir hopes to cre-ate an International Day event withmusic, dancing, food and martialarts, to celebrate the many cultures

of the people who live in the community. “Weare trying to make this a safe place for every-body,” she said.

Those who would like to join the garden canstop by the green space and pick up an applica-tion. There is a $24 membership fee and thosewho join each get a small plot of land or gar-dening box at the site, if there is one available.For more information, call Abdul-Qaadir at(347) 885-3217.

Founded in 1980 by a local development cor-poration as a community beautification project,the Merrick-Marsden Neighbors AssociationGarden at 118-18 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaicameasures 40-by-100 feet with raised beds forvegetables, flowers and fruit trees.

This garden is located across the street froman early childhood development center and thechildren often visit, according to recently retiredmember Moses Smith.

“It’s fun to watch the various things grow,”Smith said. “And to see people’s faces light upwhen they see everything come to maturity.”

Smith said the group, which has approximate-ly 16 members, is trying to collaborate with theQueens Botanical Garden to hold gardeningworkshops in the future. For more information,Smith can be reached at (347) 400-8551.

At the Malcolm X Garden at 33-02 112 St. inCorona, children can grow flowers and vegeta-bles. There are also community picnics and bar-becues. Founded in 1980, the group growsbeets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins,string beans, sunflowers, tulips, petunias, pears,peaches, crab apples and more.

“People seem to really like it,” said longtimemember Dominique Edwards. “People can sitoutside and they can watch the children workingin the garden.”

They also offer workshops on making driedflowers and potpourri, among other classes. Formore information, Edwards can be reached at(718) 651-7880.

Founded in 1978, the McIntosh Neighbor-hood Association Garden at 25-16 McIntosh St.in East Elmhurst is a large site with more than20 beds for growing vegetables, flowers andfruit trees.

“We grow herbs, vegetables, lettuce, toma-toes, cucumbers, squash — you name it,” saidAda Smothers, one of the garden’s founders.“It’s an outlet. It’s a place where you can just sitand relax. It’s made my life more enjoyable.”

Smothers is proud of how far the garden hascome over the years, from a vacant lot that wasa blight on the community to a beautiful spacethat all residents can enjoy. Smothers said oneof the garden’s highlights is its large fig tree.She has recently planted raspberry and blueber-ry bushes, but she said they are still small andhaven’t born fruit yet. For more information,Smothers can be reached at (718) 639-4934.

The 227th Street Cambria Heights Commu-nity Garden was founded in 1974 after a mem-ber of the area block association mentioned at ameeting that civic groups could obtain landfrom the city to start their own gardens, accord-ing to long-time member Robert Jurgens.

The members grow tomatoes, peppers, col-lard greens, rhubarb, and string beans, alongwith Jurgens’ favorite — sweet potatoes. Theyhave apple and peach trees, but they don’t yieldmuch fruit. The members typically grow whatthey plan to eat, but they will give away produceto passersby who ask for it.

Jurgens has always loved gardening. Hisgrandfather owned a farm, and his familyalways had something growing in their back-yard. “I enjoy growing plants, especially someof the more exotic stuff,” he said. “I also enjoyeating fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The garden is open 20 hours per week, butthe schedule varies depending on volunteeravailability. For more information, call Jurgensat (718) 527-2144. Q

PRODUCE ANDFLOWERS CLOSE TO HOME

The McIntosh Neighborhood Association Gardenin East Elmhurst has lots of vegetables, flowersand mature trees.

by AnnMarieCostella

Community Gardens

The 227th Street Cambria Heights Community Garden wasfounded more than three decades ago.

The Dunton Block and Civic Association community garden in Jamaica offers a myriad of fresh fruits andvegetables as well as classes on gardening and special events. PHOTOS COURTESY BROOKLYN QUEENS LAND TRUST

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The unusually warm springweather is giving thosewith a green thumb theitch to begin planting, but

experts warn that cold-er evening tempera-tures are still possible.

So as much as gardeners want toget their hands in the soil, it’s moreimportant than ever to find out howhardy seeds and plants are beforesetting them out.

This year, plant enthusiasts havea lot of new choices in flowers,bushes and vegetables — many insmaller sizes, which work well inoften tiny Queens gardens.

If you’re looking for more color-ful flowers, try the zinnia sunrisemix, which features red, yellow andwhite blooms throughout the grow-ing season. And zinnias are easy togrow from seeds. Just sprinkle themin dirt and wait for the results.

Echinacea or coneflowers havebecome popular over the last fewyears for their interesting pink flow-ers that resemble inverted daisies.Now there is a white variety knownas powwow white. The PanAm SeedCo. recommends leaving some spentblooms on the plant in the fallbecause their seeds provide winterfood for finches and other birds.

If you like beach grassfor an accent but don’t havethe room, try the new bur-gundy bunny miniaturefountain grass. It only grows12 to 16 inches tall and itsstems turn scarlet in the fall.

Another miniature is theLo and Behold ice chipbutterfly bush, also knownas the buddleia. Yes, theydefinitely do attract butter-flies, but this one onlygrows to two feet and haseither white or lilacblooms. It can even begrown in planters.

Looking to plant a veg-etable garden but have lit-tle yard space or only apatio? The seed companiescan help you out.

The Burpee catalogue isfeaturing peas in a pot this

year. The 10-inch plants yield fourtimes that of larger plants.

Renee’s Garden, another seed cat-alogue, is featuring a container zuc-chini called Astia. It’s a bush varietydeveloped for container growing orin small gardens. It has compactvines and bears fruit early.

Also new this year from Renee’s isits wasabi arugula. This leafy saladgreen has the flavor of spicy wasabipaste. Like most greens, it can begrown in the early spring or fall.

For many plants, remember: don’tplant until the chance of a frost isgone. However most flowers arehardy enough to be planted now,especially pansies, petunias, snap-dragons, primrose and sweet alyssum.

Early vegetables that can go inthe ground now are peas, lettuce,onions and radishes.

More delicate vegetables such aseggplants and tomatoes are safe toplant by Mother’s Day, May 13,when the soil is much warmer.

And don’t overlook planting herbs.They grow equally well in planters orin the ground, between your othercrops or flowers. Some favorites arebasil, parsley and mint that go greatin salads, soups and other dishes.

Once your garden is in, be sure togive it plenty of water. One inch ofwater a week is adequate for most

plants. Consider using soak-er hoses or drip systems.Add fertilizer during the

growing season and read thepackage label instructions carefullybecause you can kill a plant with toomuch fertilizer.

For those planning on containergardening, f iberglass and resinplanters are lightweight and retainmoisture well. Be sure the contain-ers have drain holes and set them onbricks or blocks to allow for properdrainage and aeration.

Because fertilizer will wash outwith watering in a pot, it is impor-tant to add a diluted liquid fertilizerwith every other watering. Water afew times a week or daily in hot, dryweather.

But the beauty of pots is that theycan be moved whenever necessaryto bask in or hide from the sun.

If you’re new to gardening andwant to learn the basics, there areseveral Queens institutions that offer

programs and workshops thisspring. Here are just a few:

Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing will hold aNational Wildflower Week gardentour on Thursday, April 19 at 1 p.m.,free with garden admission. OnApril 22, celebrate Earth Day from1 to 4 p.m. Learn to plant seeds andmake floral creations. It’s free withgarden admission.

On April 29, an arbor festivalwill run 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.There will be workshops, gardenspecialists, entertainment andmore. Free with garden admis-sion. And on May 6, meet theQBG master composters and learnhow to help the earth at an EarthDay fair at the CentralYM&YWHA, 67-09 108 St., For-est Hills. It’s free.

At the Voelker Orth Museum,149-19 38 Ave., Flushing, whichfeatures a bird sanctuary and Victo-rian garden, horticulturist UrteSchaedle will hold a workshop onenvironmentally friendly gardeningthat will include a lesson on soil,sowing seeds and mulching onWednesday, April 18 at 2 p.m.

On May 9, Schaedle will discussand demonstrate growing herbs incontainers. Each class is $10. Callto register (718) 359-6227.

The Queens County FarmMuseum , 73-50 Little NeckParkway, Floral Park, will hold acelebration on May 6 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring sheepshearing, compost projects,tours, and the sale of seedlingflowers and vegetables. Admis-sion is $5.

And don’t overlook your neigh-borhood garden centers that willprovide lots of ideas and choicesfor planting your garden. Q

Gardeners can get lots of ideas and tips byvisiting the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing.

PHOTO COURTESY QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN

A new variety of seagrass calledburgundy bunny miniature fountain issmall enough to be grown in a container.

PHOTO COURTESY WAYSIDE GARDENS

GardeningREADY FOR PLANTINGSEASON

by LizRhoades

The new sunrise mix zinnias producebright flowers and are easy to grow.

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU

This miniature buddleia or butterfly bush will remain compact with lots offlowers throughout the growing season. PHOTO COURTESY WAYSIDE GARDENS

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Fitness is all the rage in New York Citynow. As the sun stays out later and thedays get warmer, many people like totake the time to get in shape without

having to pay increasingly highgym membership fees. Fortunate-ly, the New York City ParksDepartment has provided many

facilities where people can tone and buff upfor free in a public park.

Queens alone is home to more than 30 fitnessstations, all of which are located in parks andrecreation areas throughout the borough. ForestPark, Flushing Meadows Park, Kissena Park andCunningham Park have multiple fitness stations,but smaller parks throughout the borough alsohouse similar facilities. Fitness equipment areasinclude gear with which people can do chin-ups,sit-ups and other toning exercises, as well asfree-movement areas and long-jump equipmentlike sand pits.

While these locations don’t have the expen-sive amenities and glitz of the modern-day fit-ness center, some Queens residents prefer thepark fitness areas to gyms. Unlike other parkstrength training programs, park fitness equip-

ment does not require a permit or membershipobtained from the Parks Department; just showup and start working out.

“I just found out about the spot by myhouse at Victory Field,” said Alex Ariza, 24, ofRichmond Hill. “It’s great to have here; it’s somuch cheaper than having a gym member-ship.”

“I’m not alone here, either,” Ariza added.“This place is always crowded on the week-ends.”

Public fitness equipment is approved by theParks Department for use by children. Howev-er, parents are encouraged to take extra precau-tions in making sure that their youngsters exer-cise on the equipment in a safe manner.

Queens is also home to four fitness paths,areas set aside by the Parks Department forpeople to partake in running and cardiovascu-lar activities. Unlike full-purpose race tracks,fitness paths are designed more for fitness,rather than for competitive sport. The fitnesspaths, located in Juniper Valley Park in Mid-dle Village, Kissena Park in Flushing, Phil“Scooter” Rizzuto Park in Richmond Hill andSt. Albans Memorial Park, take the place of

larger-scale tracks, which are for public usebut are occasionally rented out by sportsteams with a Parks Department permit, whilestill providing park patrons with the opportu-nity to get in shape.

Getting fit outdoors does require some pre-cautions in the warmer weather. Be sure towear sunscreen as well as lightly-colored,light-fitting clothing to prevent heat exhaus-tion and always carry water or a sports drinkto stay hydrated while working out. Also, payattention to any possible symptoms of exhaus-tion, including light-headedness, fatigue, andmuscle cramps.

Working out on strength training equipmentdoes involve some precautions. People usingthe equipment are asked to be careful to doexercises like sit-ups and push-ups properly,as mistakes made while exercising can lead toserious injury. Take care to be safe while get-ting fit.

To find the nearest set of fitness/strengthtraining equipment in your area, visit theBeFitNYC page on the Parks Departmentwebsite at nyc.gov/parks and cl ick onQueens. Q

Parks Department offers fitness stations in more than 30 locations

Andrew Korber stays in shape by working out atVictory Field in Woodhaven. PHOTO BY KEVIN KORBER

Let’s get physicalGET IN SHAPE THIS SPRING FOR FREE!

by KevinKorber

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Spring Guide page 17

Walk through the 2-acre vineyardat the Queens County FarmMuseum with Gary Mitchell andthe talk invariably turns to time.

Time spent hand-pruningthe vines; a growing seasonthat can vary greatly due tosmall changes in rain and

temperature; and the months or even years itcan take for grapes to go from the fields inFloral Park to buyers dinner tables.

Mitchell, director of operations at the farmmuseum, said the growers are used to the timethat must be invested — and to exceedingexpectations.

“We planted our first vines in 2004 and hadgrapes two years later, which is about twoyears earlier than usual,” he said.

On a recent walk, almost half the vines hadbeen pruned back, with the rest still waiting.They combine grape-growing wisdom devel-oped over thousands of years with moderntechniques.

While they have grown various types of redand white grapes singe 2004, the 2012 vintagewill be a merlot.

“There are as many opinions about wine asthere are people,” Mitchell said. “But I thinkthe consensus is that the Merlot grapes arebest suited for Long Island soil.”

Vintners have been using trellises — theframes upon which the vines climb — for mil-lennia, though those in Queens have somemodern characteristics, such as wire, spacedat exactly measured intervals.

“Canopy management,” he said. “If we gettwo or three buds on a shoot, we’ll pare offtwo so the plant produces better fruit. Youwant them growing about waist level sothey’re easier to harvest by hand.”

The concept of wine from vineyards onLong Island is a relatively new one for peopleaccustomed to those from Italy, France andCalifornia. And Mitchell says people still aresurprised to learn that the farm’s vineyard —the only one in New York City — exists andproduces commercially marketed wine.

Though in a suburban location, Mitchell saidvineyards traditionally are planted away fromthe trees that thrive on and around the 47-acrefarmstead.

“With woods nearby you run greater risk ofthings like fungus and diseases, because wegrow everything organically,” he said. “There’salso the birds.”

But he also said nature knew what it wasdoing more than 10,000 years ago when the lastice age ended, with glaciers leaving a mammothpile of rock and soil that would come to beknown as Long Island in their wake as theyretreated northward.

“Over by that tree line is where the glaciersstopped,” Mitchell said recently, standing amidrows of vines being readied for spring. “Theyleft some rich soil on Long Island.”

Steve Bate, executive director of the LongIsland Wine Council, said nature also blessedvintners here with a good climate, where sum-mers are tempered by Long Island Sound andthe Atlantic Ocean on three sides.

He said the soil drains well and makes for aflavor and composition more similar to Frenchand other European wines than those of theirAmerican cousins from California.

“They’re extremely food-friendly and versa-tile,” Bate said. “Long Island white wines gowell with our abundant local seafood. The redsgo well with any number of dishes, includingour famous Long Island duck.”

The first vineyard was the idea of Jim Trent,founder of the farm museum.

Getting the first state permits, Mitchell said,was a task.

“First, it was New York City,” he said. “Andthey never had an application from a nonprofitbefore. And we weren’t a winery.”

And Mitchell said despite the early and

repeated success and generally good condi-tions, they are as susceptible to mother natureas any farmer.

“You don’t want too much rain,” Mitchellsaid in a tour in late March. “There’s a sayingthat the vines don’t like to have their feet wet.Perfect weather for us would be for a droughtfrom now to September, though the rest of thefarmers wouldn’t like that.”

He said too much water can mess with thedelicate balance of water, sugar and acid that areessential for plump, abundant fruit.

“Even last winter, which was terrible, wasn’tbad for us,” he said. “All we need to worryabout now is a late frost. But last summer andspring, with all that rain ...”

He said the pruning and dry conditions,known as stressing the plants, make the vinesput all their effort into producing good grapes ina few large bunches.

And even when winters look to be tough,they cover the base of the plants with an organicmulch. All the mulch is produced on site, mostof it in the pens of the cows and other animalswho call the museum home.

When the weather is just right, the Queensgrowing season can range well into the fall.

“We don’t harvest until September, unlessthere’s going to be a lot of rain,” Mitchell said.“And sometimes we can wait until November togive the grapes more time to ripen.”

Once the grapes are picked, they are rushedthat day to the Premium Wine Group in Matti-tuck, LI, which has the presses, barrels and stor-age space. Then the Queens vintners follow thegrapes to do the work.

“They don’t make the wine,” Mitchell said.“They will consult, and will provide some ser-vices for a fee, but we make the wine. We sup-ply our own bottles and the labels.”

The bottles’ shapes and colors depend on thewine they will contain, and, he said, havebecome fairly standard over the years.

Then there is the choice of real or artificialcork or screw caps.

Despite the appeal of cork, Mitchell said it

can have problems with leakage.“I think screw caps can actually leave less

chance for things to get into the wine,” he said.“And many good wines are now being sold inboxes.”

Mitchell said white wines, such as chardon-nay and sauvignon blanc, age in large steeltanks, and can go from the press to wine glassesin six to eight months.

The reds, such as cabernet sauvignon, andpinot noir, are a little more time-consuming.The 2012 merlot, for instance, which will bepressed in November, could be years away fromthe most patient consumer.

“We still haven’t released our 2008 Merlot,”Mitchell said.

Mitchell and Bate said red wines begin inwooden barrels, and can be left to age there for18 months or longer.

“And then they age in the bottles, whereanother 18 months or more also is not uncom-mon,” Bate said.

All bottles are $20 and are available at themuseum’s gift shop. Q

The ar t of winemaking is relatively new togeographic Long Island. But grapes grown inthe soil of the Queens County Farm Museumalready have produced vintages that are gracingtables and satisfying sophisticated palates.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON

Gary Mitchell, director of operations at theQueens Farm Museum, examines the vines thatwill produce the museum’s 2012 merlot thiscoming November. But it will age for years inbarrels and bottles before ever heading tomarket for sale.

The 2012 vintage is still several years away, butvisitors to the Queens Farm Museum still havea wide range of wines to which farm museumstaff and Mother Nature have devoted the nec-essary patience and time.

Fine wines

by MichaelGannon

QUEENS COUNTY FARMMUSEUM GEARING UP

FOR ITS 2012 VINTAGE

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The days are longer, the sun’s shiningbrighter, but the only thing to beseen is the dust flying aroundhomes and apartments.

After most spring cleaningrituals the only smell lingeringis not refreshing, but chemical,including a faint hint of ammo-

nia — but not this year.Executing your spring cleaning in an envi-

ronmentally conscious manner is healthierand more convenient than ever.

‘Green’ spring cleaning should always startinside the home and the first step can be takenwith smart recycling.

Instead of making frequent garbage trips tothe curb, some of those items can be sparedwith easy strategies that save time, energy andyour local environment.

Using old T-shirts or mismatched socks as ragsare perfect for dusting or cleaning. They also pre-vent wasting tons of paper towels or disposablewipes of any kind. Americans throw away 83,000tons of disposable towels per year, which is thesame weight as a standard cruise ship.

So ditch those tree-killers and instead useold newspapers and coffee filters for washingwindows. And, this method causes less streak-ing than store-bought window cleaners andwipes.

Drastic changes can be made in the airquality of your home by using these simplerecipes for healthier cleaning solutions.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT1 Fels Naptha soap bar5-gallon bucket with lid1/2 cup of Borax1 cup of Arm and Hammer Super washing soda8 drops of lavender oil

Grate the soap bar. It doesn’t have to begrated super fine, just enough for it to dis-solve in the next step.

Heat 4 cups of water over medium to highheat and dump the grated soap into the water.Stir frequently with Borax and baking sodauntil the soap is completely dissolved. Thistakes about 10 minutes.

Fill your 5-gallon bucket up with warmwater half way.

Mix with lavender oil for scent and store,indefinitely.

Skipping the dryer cycle in the never-ending laundry process also saves 16.8gallons of water per use, benef it ing ahousehold by cutting out a whopping 22.7percent of daily water use. Whenever pos-sible hanging a clothes line outside will dothe job of drying, only extending theprocess by an average of 20 minutes. Andyou can use twine sitting in the junk draw-er to do the job.

With the popularity of the “green” move-ment, homemade recipes for cleaning sup-plies are becoming more common and forgood reason. For one, they reduce temporaryailments like heavy breathing, headaches anddizziness that chemical-ridden products cancause while the cleaning is going on.

They also reduce long-term cancer effectsfrom exposure to chemicals like bleach, andcancers that are caused by water runoff sincealmost none of the traditional store brandsare biodegradable. They are also muchcheaper.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda2 cups hot waterA few drops of environmentally-conscious liquid soapUse a sponge or reusable rag for application.

WINDOW CLEANER1/2 teaspoons of environmentally-conscious liquid soap3 tablespoons of white vinegar (soda can be used to avoid vinegar smell)2 cups waterUse coffee filters to reduce streaking

OVEN CLEANER1 cup baking soda1 cup waterDrop or 2 of environmentally-conscious liquid soap

Apply on all surfaces and let sit overnight.Wipe clean in the morning and repeat ifstains remain.

FURNITURE POLISH1/2 teaspoon oil (olive or jojoba)1/4 cup of vinegar or lemon juiceDab on reusable rag to use. Just add warmwater to use this on wooden floors, as well. When bottling this recipe, it lasts as longas you keep it.

PORCELAIN AND TILE CLEANEREqual parts baking soda and waterDust surface with dry baking soda, then

scrub with moist reusable rag. Add kosher salt for tougher grime

CARPET AND RUG CLEANERClub soda or cornmealBeat dust off rug outside. Blot soda on any new stains. For bigger carpet messes, cover problem

areas with cornmeal and let sit for 15 minutes,or 30 to eliminate odors

CLOGGED DRAINS1/2 cup baking soda1/2 cup vinegarSpoon the baking soda down the drain. Add the vinegar. Flush with at least 2 cups of boiling water.

MOLD KILLER2 teaspoons tea tree oil2 cups waterShake well in bottle and spray it on. Do not rinse.

DISHWASHER SOAP1 cup borax1 cup baking soda1/4 cup salt2 packages of lemonade-flavored unsweetened Kool-Aid.Mix all the above in a reusable container .

Add a tablespoon into each cup of your dish-washer.

Another benefit of using homemade prod-ucts is that most of these ingredients are com-monly found in households, therefore, costingless. At greencleaning.ny.gov/Products.asp,the website for New York’s Green CleaningProgram, a cost calculator is provided so peo-ple can figure out how much they spend oncleaning products in a year, compared to mak-ing them at home. Q

ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY CLEANING

Go green at home for better health and financial benefits

by NatashaDomanski

Green solutions

A simple mixture of bakingsoda, hot water and envi-ronmentally-friendly liquidsoap can be used as anall purpose cleaner.

PHOTOS BY NATASHA DOMANSKI

Coffee filters work best to get rid of windowstreaks.

CLEANINGCHECKLIST

Green spring cleaning is such a simpleway to reduce your carbon footprint

that there is actually a checklist for it.1. Start in the kitchen. To clean the refrig-

erator combine salt and club soda. The bub-bling action of the club soda combines withthe abrasive texture of the salt. Scrub this onwith any leftover materials that are abrasive,ideally, an old piece of carpeting.

2. To get rid of lime buildup around thefaucet lay paper towels over the fixture, soakit with vinegar and let it set for one hour.Removal is easy after deposits have settled.

3. Clean screens with a scrap of carpeting.It makes a powerful brush that removes allthe dirt.

4. Clean windows with a rag and soapywater, and then dry them with coffee filtersto reduce streaking.

5. In the kitchen or the living room, toclean drapes, take them out of the window,remove the hooks and hang them with a wettowel on a clothes line (to draw off the dust)for 45 minutes. Hang them back in the win-dows immediately to avoid wrinkling.

6. To clean hardwood floors, use boilingwater and two teabags. The tannic acid intea creates a beautiful shine for hardwoodfloors. Let two teabags steep in the boilingwater for a few minutes. Pour the tea into abucket. Take a soft cloth and wring it out inthe tea. This will enable the floor to dryquickly. Wash the floor and be ready to beamazed by the shine.

If there are scratches that stand out aftercleaning the hardwood floor, take a crayonthe color of the floor and rub it on thescratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer onhigh, heat the area where the crayon wasapplied and buff it with a soft cloth.

7. Clean vinyl floors by mixing borax ina bucket of warm water and wash the floorwith scrub brush.

For a clean smell in your home, ditch thetoxic room air fresheners and use vanillaextract. Just damp the corners of your cur-tains or sheets at home to keep thingssmelling fresh. Flowers are another idea,since they look great and it’s a wonderfulway to bring that spring feel into a newlycleansed home. Q

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Upcoming Events 2012Upcoming Events 2012

The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House1820 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood, NY 11385 • 718-456-1776

(Corner of Onderdonk Ave.)

Lots of Family Fun!

Photo: Ellen Brody-Kirmass, 2005

New short-term exhibitREFLECTING THE PAST,

PROMISE OF THE FUTURECelebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting.Exhibit runs through April, 2012

GENEALOGY LECTURE SERIESwith Anthony Lauriano.

April 21st, May 19th, July 21st

SPRING CLEANUPSunday, Monday April 22nd, 23rd

Sign up through our Facebook.

FLEA MARKETSaturday, April 28th.

Sign up through our Facebook.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL &VINTAGE CAR SHOW

Sunday, June 10th

The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society

These programs are supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NYC Council, Diana Reyna and Elizabeth Crowley, Council Members

Look for updates on website: www.onderdonkhouse.org and a link to our Facebook.

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Spring is here and what better time to try adelicious, rich dessert than before the hotweather arrives? Below are six varied

recipes, all tried and all wonderfully flavorful.Bon appetit.

BEET CHOCOLATE BUNDT CAKE

1 cup butter softened, divided1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar3 eggs1 ounce semisweet chocolate2 cups pureed cooked beets1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking soda1/4 teaspoon saltVanilla icing or confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)In a mixing bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and brown sugar. Add

eggs; mix well. Melt chocolate with remaining butter; stir untilsmooth. Cool slightly. Blend chocolate mixture, beets and vanil-la into the creamed mixture, which will appear separated. Com-bine flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture andmix well. Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch fluted tubepan. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpickinserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutesbefore removing to a wire rack. Cool completely. Before serv-ing, dust with confectioners’ sugar or vanilla frosting.

CHERRY MINT PUDDING

1 large loaf brioche bread6 cups pitted frozen cherries1/2 cup dark brown sugar2 bunches mint sprigs1/4 cup waterpinch salt1 pint whipping cream

Line a 6-cup glassbowl or a deep serv-ing dish with a largepiece of plastic wrapto cover the bottomand sides of the bowl.This will make it easyto unmold the pud-ding. Remove thecrusts from thebrioche and cut it intoabout 1-inch thickslices. Arrange thebread slices in theprepared bowl, cut-ting as necessary, tocover the bottom andsides. You should havesome leftover slices.

In a heavy bottomed saucepan, over medium heat, combinethe cherries, sugar, 1-3/4 bunches of fresh mint sprigs, waterand pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat andsimmer until the cherries begin to soften and release theirjuices, about 20 minutes. Spoon about half the cherry mix-ture into the prepared bowl. Put a layer of brioche slices ontop of the cherries and press down gently. Spoon more of thecherry mixture over the brioche layer. Reserve a little of thecherry liquid for the sauce. Look at the brioche slices at thebottom of the bowl. they should be nicely colored with theliquid but not too saturated or too wet.

Cover with the last layer of brioche slices and add more of

the cherry mixture. If you run out of brioche slices, you canalways use your crust trimmings.

Tightly wrap the whole pudding and bowl with plastic wrapand put a plate, smaller than the top of the bowl, on top of thepudding to weigh it down. Put a heavy weight on top of theplate to compress further, such as heavy canned goods or evenan iron skillet. Refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.

Simmer the reserved cherry liquid in a small saucepan overlow heat. Reduce the liquid by half, then discard the mintsprigs, cool down and store in the refrigerator until ready toserve. When ready to serve, whip the cream in a large bowluntil soft peaks form, then add a teaspoon of the reduced cher-ry syrup. Whip to incorporate.

Unmold the pudding onto a serving plate. Brush some ofthe syrup over the pudding to add a nice sheen. Cut intowedges and serve with dollops of the flavored whipped cream.Drizzle some of the syrup over each serving and add a garnishof fresh mint sprig.

KUMQUAT CREAM PIE

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk8-ounce container whipped topping, defrosted1/2 cup lemon juice2/3 cup kumquats, pureed9-inch baked pie shell or graham cracker crustWash the kumquats. Cut them in half. Remove seeds. Place

kumquats in food processor. Process. Can add 1/2 cup sugar, ifdesired. In a separate bowl, combine sweetened condensedmilk and whipped topping. Beat until completely combined.Stir in lemon juice and kumquat puree and pour into preparedcrust. Refrigerate pie overnight or for at least 2 hours.

WATERGATE CAKE

1 package yellow or white cake mix1 package instant pistachio pudding1 cup vegetable oil3 eggs1 cup club soda1 cup nuts, chopped fine (optional)Mix all ingredients together then beat for four minutes.Grease and flour a Bundt or angel food pan. Bake at 350

degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan for 20 minutes. Turnout on plate and when cool, frost with icing.

Watergate (Coverup) Icing2 packages Dream Whip 1 box instant pistachio pudding1/4 cup milk(If you can’t find Dream Whip near the pudding aisle, substi-

tute with a large container of whipped topping and 1/3 cup milk.)Blend together and beat until light and fluffy. Spread on

cake and refrigerate.Editor’s note: This cake was developed in the 1970s during

the Watergate case. It’s unclear who named it.

MERINGUE NESTS WITH ICE CREAM AND RASPBERRY SAUCE

4 egg whites, at room temperature1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar1 cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup chopped pecansBeat egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar and vanilla.

Continue beating until doubled in volume. Mix in sugar a table-spoon at a time until meringue is stiff and glossy. Fold in nuts.Form meringue nests by dropping about 2 tablespoons onto a

cookie sheet lined with brown paper. Hollow out center with backof spoon. Bake 50 minutes at 275 degrees. Turn oven off and leavein for 10 minutes. Remove, cool and store in airtight container.

Raspberry sauce 2 tablespoons cornstarch2/3 cup sugar2 pints fresh raspberries or 2 10-ounce packages frozen raspberries2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix cornstarch with sugar in double boiler over simmeringwater. Add raspberries and gradually stir until thickened andshiny. Add lemon juice. Refrigerate. Serve meringue nests witha scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with sauce. Serves eight.

QUEEN BONA’S DESSERT

8 ladyfingers, split1/3 cup sherry, rum or brandy1/3 cup toasted blanched almonds1/4 cup butter1/2 cup sugar2 squares unsweetened chocolate1/4 cup milk1 egg yolk1 teaspoon vanillawalnut halvescandied cherriesPlace ladyfingers on large platter and sprinkle them with

sherry. Don’t overdo as they will fall apart if oversaturated.Grind almonds fine. Cream butter and sugar together untilthoroughly blended. Melt chocolate in top of double boilerover hot water. Beat together milk, egg yolk and vanilla. Addmixture to chocolate in double boiler. Cook over simmeringwater until smooth, stirring constantly. Blend in butter-sugarmixture. Remove from heat. Beat with rotary beater untilsmooth. Then cool. With a broad spatula, place half of theladyfinger halves on serving dish, taking care not to breakthem. Carefully pour a thin layer of chocolate cream overladyfingers. Cover with remaining ladyfingers. Then coverwith remaining chocolate cream. Decorate with nuts and cher-ries. Chill thoroughly.

Editor’s note: The cake is named after Queen Bona, an Italianprincess who married the king of Poland in 1518. She is respon-sible for bringing the Italian cuisine to her adopted country. Q

Watergate cake was popular in the 1970s and is still a hit today.PHOTO BY SARAH CASEY

Cherry mint pudding is a refreshingchange of pace. PHOTO BY NATASHA DOMANSKI

DESSERT SPECIALS TO PERK UP TASTERecipes to try this spring

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Though it’s easy to find plenty to do inQueens with the arrival of warmerweather, residents should considergathering their families, grabbing a

camera and venturing out toexplore what the other boroughshave to offer this spring — andthere is plenty for everyone.

Whether it’s a family history game show atEllis Island, art gallery tours at Wave Hill inthe Bronx, or a ferry ride to Staten Island, thisseason’s lineup of activities provides plenty ofincentive for everyone from Queens’youngest to oldest residents to take a day out-side the borough.

Ellis Island will host its family history gameshow on Thursday, April 19 at 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m.and 2 p.m. at its Learning Center. Staff willintroduce participants to treasures from theNational Archives and Records Administration,which stores information about the 12 millionimmigrants who came through Ellis Islandbetween 1892 and 1954, through an interactivegame. For more information, go toarchives.gov/northeast/nyc/public/workshops.html#gameshow.

National Park Week will kick off Saturday,April 21 with the opening of a children’s exhibiton Ellis Island’s first floor, and children ages sixthrough 12, as well as their families, are invitedto gain a better understanding of the immigrantexperience a century ago through an array ofinteractive learning stations.

Throughout the week, children ages seven to12 are welcome to participate in the Junior

Ranger Program at Liberty Island, on which theStatue of Liberty stands. The family-friendlyprogram will give participants an opportunity tolearn more about the statue through a number ofactivities led by National Park Service staff.

For more information about these, and otherevents, visit nps.gov/STLI or nps.gov/ELIS.

Also in Manhattan is the Intrepid Sea, Air &Space Museum, located at Pier 86 at 46th Streetand 12th Avenue on the West Side. The militaryand maritime museum kicked off its “Women inAviation: World War II” exhibit on March 1, andit will run through July 8. The exhibit exploresthe accomplishments of women aviators duringthe Second World War, as well as the contribu-tions of female pilots during the 1920s and 30s.

Mothers will be able to pay the same priceas their kids on Mother’s Day — Sunday,May 13 — provided that they bring acoupon downloadable at the museum’s web-site, intrepidmuseum.org.

From May 23 to 28, the Intrepid Museumwill celebrate Fleet Week, when active militaryships recently deployed in overseas operationsdock in New York, as well as a number of othermajor U.S. cities.

More details on this, as well as other events,are available on the museum’s website, or bycalling (212) 245-0072.

For residents who may have already fre-quented Manhattan’s sites, it may be time tocheck out a more hidden gem — Wave Hill inthe Bronx’s Riverdale neighborhood. Locatedat 675 W. 252 St., Wave Hill is a 28-acre estateoverlooking the Hudson River and the New

Jersey Palisades and includes a botanical gardenand an art gallery. The Wave Hill House wasbuilt in 1843 and was rented by Theodore Roo-sevelt’s family in 1870 and 1871. Additionally,Mark Twain leased the estate from 1901 to1903, during which time it is said that he set upa treehouse parlor in the branches of a chestnut.

Wave Hill will host free art gallery toursevery Tuesday and Saturday at 2 p.m., begin-ning April 21 and running through Aug. 18.The tours will give individuals a chance tostudy the numerous pieces in the estate’s show,“Tending Toward the Untamed: ArtistsRespond to the Wild Garden,” includingpaintings, photography, animation, sculptureand installations by artists Gary Carsley,Chris Doyle, Julie Evans, Isabella Kirkland,Janelle Lynch, Rebecca Morales, Erik Sannerand Anat Shiftan.

On Saturday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m., award-winning choreographer Merian Soto will pre-sent one of the four dances she is presentingthroughout the year at Wave Hill. Soto, who isparticipating in a one-year residency at WaveHill, will work with five dancers on the piece,as well as a percussionist, for the piece thatexplores humanity’s connection to nature.

The estate is offering many more events,including cooking classes and garden walks,throughout the season, all of which are listed atits website, wavehill.org. Wave Hill’s telephonenumber is (718) 549-3200.

At the Bronx Zoo, families can catch the“Animal Tales Extravaganza,” which includesrainforest creature parades and a full line-up of

family entertainment, including Nickelodeon’sDora and Diego, PBS’s Sid the Science Kid, andmore. Shows are held every weekend from Sat-urday, April 21 through Sunday, June 30. Visitbronxzoo.com for a detailed schedule of show-times and appearances.

The zoo is located off the Bronx River Park-way at exit 6, can be accessed by the 2 or 5 sub-way lines and the Q44 bus line, and can be con-tacted by calling (718) 367-1010.

If you don’t feel like jumping into the car oronto the subway, consider glimpsing some gor-geous views of the city on the free Staten Islandferry. Once in Staten Island, there’s plenty to do,including a visit to the Historic Richmond Townat 441 Clarke Avenue. The site, founded in1728, will host a number of Saturday concertsthis spring, also well as other events that can beviewed at the group’s website, historicrich-mondtown.org.

Meanwhile, the Staten Island Zoo will host anumber of musical theater events for childrenand an Earth Day celebration on April 22 at1:30 p.m.

Visit statenislandzoo.org for additionalinformation. Q

This spring, there is a variety ofactivities for everyone in the family

A trip to the Statue of Liberty is alwayswor th it, especially once the weatherbecomes a little warmer.

PHOTO COURTESY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Individuals can take tours of Wave Hill’s art gallery in the Bronx, giving thema chance to study such pieces as Rebecca Morales’ “Seral,” shown above.

IMAGE COURTESY WAVE HILL

Ellis Island will host a number of events thisspring, including a family history game on April19, when children can learn more about the12 million immigrants who came through thesite between 1892 and 1954.

PHOTO COURTESY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan is running anexhibit exploring the accomplishments of women aviators during WorldWar II this spring. COURTESY PHOTO

Day tripsEXPLORING THE

CITY, FROM ELLISISLAND TO THE ZOOS

by AnnaGustafson

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Iris Escobar is a coupon clipper, proud to be frugal. But you don’t usu-ally clip coupons for home improve-ment, so when she and her husband, Victor, decided to remodel their home, she had to find another way to save.

But Iris didn’t have to look far. The answer arrived in her mailbox one day last summer: a card advertis-ing the Housing Rehabilitation Assis-tance program.

Thanks to the HRA, the Escobars are getting a world-class makeover to their kitchen, dining room and downstairs bathroom, along with a new roof and energy-efficient win-dows — all without spending a dime in cash, and without increasing their mortgage payments a penny. Tak-ing advantage of the program is let-ting them save thousands of dollars on a project that would have cost $103,000, and thanks to refinanc-ing, they’re making the same monthly payments they were before on their Baldwin home — but now $200 each month is going toward the principal.

They couldn’t be happier — not about the savings, not about the work that’s being done, and espe-cially not about the full range of ser-vices HRA is providing as their home is transformed.

“It’s been a great ride,” Victor said. “I can’t say enough about the HRA pro-gram. I can’t say enough about every-body involved with the program.”

His wife agrees. “I’m excited, I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m glad I met this team; they’re great!” Speak-ing to Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, she added, “I told my sister about you, I told my coworkers about you — I tell every-one about you.”

What Iris is telling everyone is how the HRA guides clients through every step of the home remodeling process, from helping decide what

work should be done to how it will be financed, from securing finan-cial assistance to overseeing the work and making sure the contrac-tors are not paid until the home-owner is satisfied.

A fan of “The People’s Court,” where she sees a lot of irrespon-sible contractors sued over jobs that weren’t done correctly, Iris said she was especially glad that the HRA holds clients’ money in escrow until they certify that they’re satisfied.

Carlos described how he starts a project with clients like the Escobars: “I explain to them what HRA does and show them the different options for how we can accomplish what they want to do to reach their goals, help them get financing and a reduced interest rate on their mortgage.”

“Af ter the f i rs t 10 minutes speaking to him, I was sold on the program,” Victor said. “All through this, he’s been great.”

An HRA administrator explained the program’s basic approach: “The services offered by the HRA extend beyond just financial assistance for home improvement projects. We have implemented numerous processes to ensure that projects completed by HRA-approved contractors are done to the homeowner’s satisfaction.”

Just take a look at some of the program’s requirements for contrac-tors. They all must be:

• l i c e n s e d , b o n d e d a n d insured for at least $100,000per incident;

• registered with the Better Busi-ness Bureau, with a rating of an A or higher;

• in business for at least 10 years;

• able to provide the names and addresses of eight clients they have done home improvement projects for in the past year; and

• able to perform four test proj-

ects for the HRA prior to working for any clients.

With that kind of screening, it’s no surprise that only the best contrac-tors get to do HRA-sponsored jobs.

At the Escobars’ house, it’s a big job that’s underway. First the roof and windows were replaced, and new gut-ters and leaders installed. The couple is thrilled with the result. There’s a stunning new bay window in the din-ing room that measures about 8 feet wide by 5 feet high. The kitchen fea-tures a garden window, an especially deep one with a glass shelf so their plants can be surrounded by light from all sides.

Next the interior of the kitchen and bathroom were completely gut-ted, with everything from new gas lines and plumbing to new Sheet-rock and insulation going in. The door to the basement was moved from one wall to another to make room for all the cabinetry surround-ing the garden window.

The new kitchen is going to feature only the best equipment and materi-als, including a six-burner stove with a pot-filler faucet, double sink with pullout faucet, beautiful real-wood cabinets, granite countertops and floor tiles.

A new two-level peninsula with a granite top will serve as a bar, or just another place for family and friends to gather.

There will even be a tilt-out drawer for sponges and brushes in front of the sinks.

“I’m a hoarder,” Iris said. “They’re giving me lots of drawers and shelves to put away my stuff.”

Even more of her and her hus-band’s “stuff” will go in the new pan-tries that will be built in an area just off the kitchen. Those will be done in the same deep finish as the kitch-en cabinets, and feature modern conveniences like pullout drawers

behind the doors.The bathroom also will be all -

new. The shower wi l l feature a bench and a modern rain shower head. The tile walls will be accented by a mosaic design running around the whole room. The hardware will be bronze, and the contractor even found a toilet in Mexican sand, a cream-like color, that will comple-ment the decor perfectly.

I n t he f ron t o f t he house, the contractor replaced al l thewindows in the foyer and added insulation. Not only will the Esco-bars earn tax credits for energyef f iciency, but Iris says she felt the difference immediately. Drafty for years, the foyer is now cozy,she said.

After all the interior work is done, the project will go back outside, as a new deck and patio get installed.

Iris likes to entertain, but for the last three years hadn’t bothered because she wasn’t happy with how the house was looking. But now she’s looking forward to holding a big bash in June, to show off the renovations made possible by the HRA program and to celebrate the couple’s 10th anniversary. The timing couldn’t have worked out better.

To find out if you qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program, just call the HRA toll-free at 866-791-6302. Tell them you read about the Escobars’ job, and they’ll give you the same level of excellent service.

Iris Escobar shows off the new tiling that will be going in her bathroom.

Iris and Victor Escobar are getting rich wood cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom, and got to see how various colors would look on their walls before choosing. The bathroom will get a carved stone sink. Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, has become a friend as well — they’ve invited him to a party they’re planning to celebrate their 10th anniversary — and their newly remodeled home.

What an anniversary present!Happy couple is remodeling their home andsaving money too, thanks to the HRA program

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