Margert in the News
Housing Partnership Concludes First Training Program
The Full Story
The Wave, Friday, December 29, 2006....The Housing Partnership, one of the nation’s
largest producers of affordable housing, completed the training of 20 local low
and moderate-income homeowners in its eight week training program.
Offered in partnership with the Margert Community Corporation, a local
non-profit housing agency, the program is funded by donations from Benjamin
Beechwood LLC, the Briarwood Organization, The Hudson Companies, Roslyn Savings
Bank, Ridgewood Savings Bank and HIP Health Plan of New York.
“Many homeowners simply cannot afford to hire contractors. Others feel
threatened because they have heard accounts of shoddy or downright criminal home
repair scams,” said Housing Partnership President and CEO Dan Martin. “This
course has provided enrollees with a skill set for home repair work and
preventative maintenance- to accomplish smaller jobs and to recognize the amount
of work, and estimate the actual cost, involved in a contract job.”
The program, developed to assist homeowners with after-purchase
maintenance and taught by professional home repair expert Walter Mullins, began
in early October. The sessions were held at a custom-fabricated workshop “set”
built within St. Gertrude’s gymnasium on Beach 37th Street in Far Rockaway. The
“hands-on” program provided instruction highlighting basic tool skills, molding
installation, plumbing fixtures and repairs, and safety tips, among many other
topics.
Martin added, “We are committed to maintaining the housing that we proudly
helped to develop throughout Queens over the past 24 years. We are eager to
provide these essential skills to homeowners to help them maintain their
investments. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Margert and the
local community.”
Daisy Remigio and Brenda Montague were among the
20 graduates who completed the Housing Partnership’s eight-week Home Maintenance
course on December 13.
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United Way of
Long Island Re-Launches Project Warmth
The Full Story
New York Nonprofit Press
E-Newsletter
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
United Way of Long Island has launched the 12th year of its heating
assistance initiative, Project Warmth, to help Long Islanders keep their homes
warm during the 2006-07 winter months. Last year, with the support of its donors
and corporate sponsors, Project Warmth helped more than 1,870 families with
heating assistance—a 33 percent increase above the previous year thanks to a
$350,000 grant from KeySpan Corporation and a $110,000 grant from the KeySpan
Foundation. This year, the KeySpan Foundation has increased its commitment to
Project Warmth to $120,000.
Each year, Project Warmth partners with community-based agencies that assist
families in applying for the emergency heating grant. These agencies also help
the families connect with other local resources that can lead to permanent
solutions to their financial difficulties, including connecting the family to
other community resources such as budget/debt counseling, supplemental food
programs or job training services. With these services, less than a quarter of
the families need heating assistance the following year.
With the help of Project Warmth sponsors—KeySpan, KeySpan Foundation, LIPA
and the Long Island Radio Group—United Way of Long Island is working to get the
word out to Long Islanders that their support is needed to help our neighbors in
need this winter. KeySpan and LIPA have included yellow Project Warmth
contribution envelopes in their bills this winter asking their customers to give
to Project Warmth to help their Long Island neighbors in need. Long Island Radio
Group (WHLI 1100AM, KJOY 98.3, B103, Island 94.3, WRCN 103.9 and Love 96) will
be running public service announcements throughout the winter. Contributions to
Project Warmth may also be made online at
www.unitedwayli.org.
Project Warmth grants support families in need no matter what type of fuel
they use to heat their homes. Last year, the average grant was $369.50 compared
to $280 the previous year and most help was delivered within 24 hours. Agencies
began accepting applications December 1.
For more information or a list of the agencies taking applications, please
contact
Margert Community Corporation.
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NYC Home Fairs Help
Residents Learn How to Save Energy
The Full Story
NYSERDA partners with Friends of Gateway and National Park Service to host
free educational events...
New York, NY, January 5, 2007....Owners and residents of one- to four-family
homes looking for ways to save on their energy bills and improve their home’s
comfort will discover plenty of ideas at the free Energy $mart Home Fair on
Saturday January 27 in Staten Island at the Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the
Friends of Gateway (FoG) and the National Park Service will host the event to
highlight a variety of energy-saving programs and tips that can help homeowners
reduce energy use and its effects on the environment. A second Energy $mart Home
Fair will be held on Saturday February 10 at the Floyd Bennett Field on Flatbush
Avenue in Brooklyn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both events will feature speakers,
workshops and exhibits that are free and open to the public.
“From our ENERGY STAR® products and renewable energy programs to Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR and New York ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes, NYSERDA
offers solutions big and small to help New Yorkers improve the efficiency,
comfort, health and safety of their homes,” said Peter R. Smith, CEO and
president of NYSERDA.
The Friends of Gateway partners with the National Park Service to promote
education, recreation and stewardship programs for the Gateway National Area.
Dave Avrin, Gateway’s Staten Island superintendent, says that partnering with
NYSERDA will help FoG spread a message of sustainable living to Staten Island
and Brooklyn families.
For more information about the Staten Island and Brooklyn Energy $mart Home
Fairs call 212-228-3126 or email rsvp@treebranch.com. To learn about NYSERDA’s
residential energy efficiency programs, visit www.getenergysmart.org or call
toll-free 1-877-NY-SMART.
All New York Energy $martSM programs are funded by a System Benefits
Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of Central Hudson, Con
Edison, NYSEG, National Grid (formerly Niagara Mohawk), Orange and Rockland, and
Rochester Gas and Electric. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by
law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the
Public Service Commission.
New York Energy $martSM programs are designed to lower electricity costs by
encouraging energy efficiency as the State's electric utilities move to
competition. The programs are available to electric distribution customers
(residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) who pay into the SBC.
Friends of Gateway is dedicated to protecting, improving and enhancing public
awareness of, and access to, the New York metropolitan area's unique National
Recreation Area. Friends of Gateway works to ensure the preservation of Gateway
National Recreation Area’s significant natural and historic areas, while
encouraging the addition of appropriate recreational, educational and cultural
programs and facilities to serve an urban population that is woefully
under-served in terms of open space opportunities.
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people
so that all may experience our heritage.
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Neighborhood Preservation
Coalition of NYS Holds Annual Board Elections
The Full Story
Neighborhood News, December 2006....Newburgh Community Improvement
Corporation (NCIC) executive director Karen Mallam was elected president of the
Coalition's board of directors at their November organizational meeting.
NCIC is located in Region 6, representing Westchester and the Mid-Hudson area.
Mallam succeeds Gary Beasley of
Neighbors of
Watertown as president.
Elected as vice presidents were Eduardo Leguerre, executive director of
Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs, Bronx; John Denelsbeck,
executive director of GroWest, Inc., Utica; and Dennis Hanratty, executive
director of Mount Vernon United Tenants, Mount Vernon.
Joseph G. Barden, executive director of Margert Community Corporation,
Queens, was re-elected treasurer and Judith Orlando, executive director of
Astella Development
Corporation, Brooklyn, was elected secretary.
Board officers are elected to one-year terms.
Congratulations to all the officers on their election and to those who were
elected to the board at the Coalition's annual meeting in October.
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