Overhaul for World's Fair Marina

From the Queens Chronicle:

Plans are in place for the World’s Fair Marina to receive a $32 million makeover, including a complete reconstruction of one of its piers.

The improvements to the marina, located on Flushing Bay in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, will focus on the deteriorating Pier 1. The pier, which is closed to the public, will be demolished and completely rebuilt under the plan.

Officials from the Parks Department told Community Board 3 at its Nov. 15 meeting the pier is “in pretty bad shape” and “in need of reconstruction.”

The Parks Department was in front of the community board looking to secure a letter of support before it puts its plan in front of the city’s Public Design Commission. Due to the snow that fell that day, the board did not have the required number of members present at the meeting to vote.

The construction budget of $32 million includes funding from City Hall as well as federal dollars designated for Hurricane Sandy repairs. The World’s Fair Marina was battered during the 2012 hurricane and suffered considerable damage.

Homeless camp along bike/jog path

"On one of my early evening bike ride on Joe Michael's mile I saw a homeless "camp" under the 28th Ave overpass. I don't how many people are living there but this is not a good situation. I would like this attached picture to bring attention to this matter."

- The Queens Sentry

Baby seal causes a stir in Bayside

From Eyewitness News:

Don't let the emergency service unit, or crime scene tape around the boat slip at the Queens Bayside Marina fool you.

A baby seal stranded on the boat slip gathered quite the audience on Sunday afternoon, many pulling out cameras to get a shot.

"I saw Eyewitness News, I stopped to see what was happening, and then I heard it was a baby seal," says Suann Dugan.

Park services believe the seal may have become stranded after the tide went back out, leaving it about 100 feet from the water. At one point the baby seal started to moved towards the water, but took a break right at the edge.

Why College Point stinks

He'll go down with the ship, if necessary

From the NY Times:

On Sunday morning, as New York City was feeling the brunt of what had become Tropical Storm Irene, Billy Drankwater, 57, was leisurely buttering a piece of white bread, in the cozy, dry cabin of his 33-foot wooden boat, docked off the north shore of Queens, in Flushing Bay.

“Some hurricane,” he said. “Not a drop in here.”

Mr. Drankwater lives on this old fishing boat year-round, with barely the cabin space to extend his long, taut arms, or stand erect at his natural 6-foot-2 inch height.

As hurricane warnings grew, over the past few days, Mr. Drankwater ignored friends who urged him to batten down and move out.

“I said, ‘No, I’ll go down with the ship if I have to,’ ” he said.

Well, it looks like we dodged a bullet this time.

Although there were quite a few trees that didn't make it, and if you believe the news reports, there are 32,000+ people in Queens without power.

The other side of the city

From the NY Times:

Kayaking on the tranquil waters of Jamaica Bay on a summer afternoon feels like a faraway vacation. It’s easy to forget your proximity to Wall Street, or even to Cross Bay Boulevard, which slices through the water to the island community of Broad Channel, Queens. Along the canals that run like side streets through this tiny neighborhood, people are quick with a smile and a wave. As the disco classic “Funkytown” blasted from a party on one porch, a duck, a goose and a great egret calmly observed from a nearby railing.

While Broad Channel has long had a reputation as a place wary of outsiders, you’re treated like a lifelong neighbor when you return your rented kayak to the Sunset Marina.

The marina — the only place in the five boroughs I could find to rent a kayak without having to join a club or a tour — is the kind of place where you can grab a beer and pull up a chair.