FHGC Monthly Newsletter

Forest Hills Gardens Corporation

Monthly News & Updates

February, 2025

Board Votes in 2025 FHGC Officers

The FHGC Board met on January 15, 2025 and voted in the following officers:

President: Anthony Oprisiu; 1st Vice President: Rob Webb;

2nd Vice President: Felicia Bradshaw; Secretary: Sid Rose; Treasurer: Bob Lehrman.

Congratulations and thank you for your service to our community!

FHGC Board Update

on the Concert Litigation

The Board of Directors issued an update on the concert litigation with the West Side Tennis Club (WSTC) and Tiebreaker Productions LLC regarding the Board's efforts to protect the Gardens private-property rights and mitigate the harm to residents from concerts at Forest Hills Stadium. It was issued on January 9, 2025. In case you missed it in your inbox, it can be accessed via this link.

2025 Parking Decals Now Required

Just keep in mind that 2024 Parking Decals are no longer valid and must be removed and replaced with 2025 decals. To help the booting agent identify current decals, be sure to remove all old decals from previous years. Should you have any questions or require guidance on the proper placement of the new decals, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Gardens office.

Get a Jump Start on Your Spring and Summer Home Improvement Plans

Now is the perfect time to gather your paperwork for those exciting home improvement plans—whether you're dreaming of a fresh coat of paint, a new paved driveway, or sleek window replacements come spring or summer! Our dedicated Architecture Committee, made up entirely of enthusiastic volunteers, is here to help.

We all know that reviewing requests and assisting homeowners in selecting just the right materials takes time, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly committee members. They are your go-to guides for navigating the application process and making those all-important construction decisions. But don’t wait until the warm weather hits and vendor availability becomes scarce—get a head start and tap into our resources now!

And if you're feeling a little overwhelmed about when to kick off your project, fear not! The Architectural Committee's approvals are valid for a generous twelve months, giving you the flexibility to plan without the pressure. So let's get started on making your home the envy of the neighborhood!

Gardens Crew Braving the Cold

Winter Notes

In December, 1935, the FHGC newsletter (available on the FHG Foundation website) provided the following tips regarding snow removal. The same applies today!

"Use salt sparingly, if at all, to remove ice from sidewalks and steps. It not only kills the adjacent grass roots but it causes mortar to crumble in a brick or slate walk. Fine, shifted ashes are better. Coarse ashes, if thrown near a lawn, will wreck the blades of lawnmowers. (Sounds of "Hear! Hear!" from the Upkeep Committee and the Treasurer who pays for repairs to our own lawn-mowing equipment.)

Remember the Gardens Corporation only has one tractor to remove snow. On our 14 miles of sidewalks we do our best, but we cannot get to every sidewalk simultaneously or as soon as we or you would like, nor can any mechanical plow clear a sidewalk completely. There is always a film of snow left after the plow has passed. Under the City Ordinance, the resident is responsible for clearing ice and snow from the sidewalk in front of his property. Moral: get on the old gloves and galoshes and out with the shovel."

While residents now longer have ashes from coal burning furnaces on hand, snow removal remains a team effort by everyone in the community!

Mystery solved: Old Postal Posts

Have you seen me on Burns Street and wondered if I was a survey marker? Maybe an old fence post?

Well, I'm actually the remnant of a U.S. Postal Service post-mounted mail box. There have been many iterations in the style of letter box that was once affixed to this pebblestone post. (Yes, even the mail box posts were made with pebblestone concrete to match the Gardens aesthetic back in the day!)

Over time, the hanging letter box was abandoned and removed to make way for the collection boxes of today. Just another example of the history and charm all around our neighborhood! (FYI: The photo above was taken on Burns; another post remains on Greenway South and Ascan Avenue.)

Red mailbox with flat colored letters in the style of doodles. Envelopes are sent to the mailbox_ messages are forwarded. Isolated mailbox with envelopes. Vector illustration. Lovers correspondence

Gardens Gets A Crossing Guard

As of March, 2024, PSQ 101 The School in the Gardens has a school crossing guard stationed at the intersection of Ascan Avenue and Russell Place. Juan Carlos Marin manages the crosswalk from 7:00-9:30AM and again from 1:00-3:30PM on school days, rain or shine. He is seen and often heard greeting both children and parents as they arrive and leave from the school building.

A member of the NYPD and on assignment from the 112th Precinct, Juan Carlos previously worked as a guard on Metropolitan Avenue and has helped direct traffic at JFK airport. He first became interested in working as a crossing guard during the pandemic when outdoor work was preferred and children were returning to schools. He has an academic background himself. Marin has a PhD and taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in Archeology and Ancient History in Ecuador and Spain. According to him, his English is not strong enough for him to pursue teaching as a career in the U.S., but he holds great respect for the education system and those who teach.

As a 101 school parent himself, he enjoys seeing the children each morning and has a genuine concern for their safety. With traffic, parking, and drop-offs taking place along Ascan Avenue during the school year, we all will benefit from having a crossing guard stationed and a friendly face to greet us.

"Cleopatra"

Fun Fact of the Month

The Gardens replaced independent contract workers and their horses with its inaugural snow removing machine (to be used by Gardens employees) for the first time in 1935.

Affectionally called "Cleopatra," it was simply a tractor with a snow plow attachment.

It was a necessary move towards modern ways since it was noted the horses frequently got caught in snow drifts and delayed snow removal.

Hmmm, do Gardens residents have creative or fond names for our current snow removal equipment?

Seed Germination Tips

Dreaming of warmer days surrounded by flourishing gardens? Now is the time to finalize your seed selection and begin to gather necessary planting materials.

If you would like to get a head start on the garden season by germinating your own flower and vegetable seedlings indoors, it’s best to start around mid-March. Please note that you will achieve the best results if you use

high-quality seeds, well-drained soil and ensure adequate light. It is ideal to

grow seeds in a sunroom or on a sunny windowsill, though be careful not to ever let the soil dry out.

Perennials that are easy to grow from seed include Columbine, Purple

Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Tickseed and Salvia.

Vegetables that are easy to grow from seed include lettuce, onions, beans,

zucchini, peppers and chili peppers.

A variety of different containers can be used to grow seeds including flats

or trays. Fill the individual containers with peat free seed compost to within

an inch of the top. Water the soil thoroughly and allow to drain before planting the seed approximately one-half inch deep. Place the container in

a tray of water and when the surface becomes wet, remove the tray. Watering from below prevents washing the soil off the seed. Continue to water daily or as needed, ensuring the soil never dries out or remains sodden. The containers can be covered with plastic wrap to promote warmth and growth until the sprout shoots.

The seedlings will be ready to transplant outside once they are at least a few inches tall and there is no possibility of frost. Please make sure your garden soil is high-quality and well aerated. This is important to allow the roots to spread quickly and provide nutrients to the growing plant. After the seedlings are transplanted take special care of them for a few weeks, ensuring they are watered regularly and by adding a water-soluble fertilizer a few times a week until the plants are well established.

Happy Growing!

Neighborhood Tree Challenge:

can you identify this tree? (answer below)

Security Corner

January Update

(1) On Olive Place, a home was broken into through a back window. Luckily, no one was home or hurt. Video footage and photographs are available in the Gardens office and were shared with the police, Excel Security and our booting agent.

We urge all residents to remain vigilant and observant of any unusual activity and call 911 and Excel Security immediately.

It may also be a good idea to review the security of your home. If interested, the 112^th Precinct has offered to give residents a home security review and to make suggestions for improvements.

(2) Excel Security received a report of a car break in on Burns Street, with the glove compartment rummaged through but nothing taken.

(3) Additionally, we continue to get reports of an individual walking down driveways and checking car and rear home doors. This activity was observed on security cameras as occurring around 2-3 am in the vicinity of Markwood and Deepdene Roads, but we should assume this activity is occurring throughout the community. Please be sure all doors are locked!

(4) Package thefts continue with reports of a man in a hoodie and face mask, carrying a book bag, stealing packages from front doors. Please be sure to be home for deliveries, request signature deliveries, or deliver to a secure location if at all possible.

Whenever you see suspicious behavior, be sure to call 911 first, followed then by Excel Security. While Excel Security is not authorized to act as law enforcement, it does coordinate with the 112th Precinct, and along with our residents, serves as our neighborhood's eyes and ears.

Please save Excel Security’s phone number

212 239 8086

in your phone today.

Neighborhood Tree Challenge Answer: Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) During the heart of the growing season, one might be confused by this Puritan Avenue tree’s appearance as leaves are often reddish purple in the spring to blackish purple by the summer – far from the copper color found in its name. But come the fall, the leaves often turn a showy copper hue more befitting of its name. Some people refer to it as an "elephant tree" since the trunk is knobby and grey like elephant legs.