Paul Vallone needs to hire a better writer

This ad was printed in the St. Andrew Avellino's 100th anniversary commemorative book. You'd think Paul Vallone would have placed an ad as council member for the district where St. Andrew's is located instead of for the family law firm which he allegedly left to work full-time as an elected official. Also note the spelling of "anniversary". Now that's class!

He's also managed to reduce the Poppenhusen Institute to "one of NYC's first jail systems" in this video which our tax dollars paid for:

Poppenhusen Institute to be restored

From the Queens Courier:

The historic Poppenhusen Institute‘s foundation sits on sand and its façade deteriorates with age. After 30 years of weathering wind from the bay, the College Point cultural center is going to be restored.

The city granted funds to the historical landmark building in order to complete overdue repairs to its exterior and to also build an elevator for the three upper floors, according to city documents. The last time the building’s exterior was working was in 1980s.

Executive Director Susan Brustmann believes the repairs and construction will cost $10 million but the city has only approved $5 million. The two major jobs will begin in early 2015 and will last for at least a year, according to Brustmann.

At a time when the nineteenth century building is in danger of closing down, the city grant is a welcome relief, according to Brustmann.

“We’re facing the most challenging time in our history,” she said. “So we’re very grateful that the city has given us money. The construction will be a great thing once it’s done.”

When the repairs are completed, Brustmann hopes to attract new revenue sources like getting the HBO show “Boardwalk Empire” to come back and film another scene in the building’s party hall.

As the last season of Boardwalk Empire is scheduled to start in a few weeks, you'd best find another show to have filmed there...

Poppenhusen in dire straits

From the Times Ledger:

The Poppenhusen Institute in College Point has been a fixture in the community for 143 years.

But even the oldest, most historic structures are often no match for an economic maelstrom, and the institute has fallen on hard times along with much of the rest of the nation.

The situation is becoming critical as the institute’s exhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifecutive director, Susan Brustmann, estimates that it needs to raise about $40,000 to $50,000 by next June in order to stay open.

So Brustmann is being proactive in order to ensure the best chances for the beloved site’s continuing to serve future generations as a museum and living piece of the area’s history. The institute, which is on the National Register and is landmarked by the city, raised $8,000 in July and August, and it has been awarded capital improvement for exterior renovations as well as the installation of elevators and handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

But the issue is bringing in money to pay for programs and operations and to foot the gas, electric and insurance bills.

They are toying with the idea of selling their roof as ad space.