New York Aquarium to Partly Reopen in Spring

New York Aquarium to Partly Reopen in Spring - NYTimes.com

(Excerpt)
The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the aquarium in Coney Island, said Tuesday that about half of the aquarium would soon be open to the public, including exhibits in the Main Hall and the outdoor area of Sea Cliffs, which features walrus, sea lions, harbor seals and penguins.

“We know that all efforts to reopen the New York Aquarium are vital to the rebirth of Coney Island,” Cristian Samper, the society’s president, said in a statement. “This partial reopening will ensure that the aquarium can help all of New York City experience a strong comeback from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.”

After Superstorm Sandy, seniors forced to start over

Veets Pawlowicz, second from right, is aided by
 a gang of family, friends and even volunteering
 strangers as they clean up his mother-in-law Kathleen Campbell's
 house on Nov. 2, 2012, in Breezy Point.
David Friedman / NBC News file

After Superstorm Sandy, seniors forced to start over - Vitals<== (click for full article)

(Excerpt)
Campbell’s lifestyle is one of the many casualties of Superstorm Sandy, which sent floodwaters surging through homes when it hit Oct. 29, damaging more than 2,000 homes and starting a fire that burned more than 100 houses to the ground. The beachfront village, whose population plummeted from 12,000 in the summer to around 4,000 the rest of the year, provided a way of life not often seen in the sprawling suburbs of most cities. Generations of the same family jealously guarded their modest homes, and they took care of their own.

A Living, Lurking Threat in Sandy-Hit Homes: Mold

A Living, Lurking Threat in Sandy-Hit Homes: Mold - ABC News

(Excerpt)
Three months after Superstorm Sandy, mold lurks in once-waterlogged buildings, hiding below subflooring, under foundations, and in door and window frames. Sometimes it mottles walls in plain sight. And it can make dwellers sick, another blow to people still recovering from the October storm that sent the Atlantic surging into homes in New Jersey and New York.

Mold is flourishing in homes that never completely dried out, where the owners may have waited to make repairs or could not access the house for weeks because of safety concerns. Other flooded homes remain vacant and unheated.

But even some who quickly chucked saturated belongings, ripped out soggy wallboards and carpets and scrubbed walls with cleaners and bleach are still finding mold, because the home didn't fully dry, treatment did not work or unscrupulous contractors didn't actually kill it.

PS 288 in Coney Island finally reopens

Minus desks, internet and phones, Coney Island school reopens | The New York World (full article)

(Excerpt)
“Welcome back,” a man said as he passed Joelene-Lynette Kinard, the principal at the Shirley Tanyhill School.

Kinard said that while Monday had been “wonderful,” the last couple months had been anything but. Flooding during the storm released the contents of oil tanks in the school’s basement, bringing oil and water up to the first floor and damaging seven classrooms, the cafeteria and the school nurse’s office, she said. Extensive repairs were required before the school could welcome back its students.

“It was such bad damage I didn’t even know if we would open this soon,” Kinard said.

While the school was closed in November and December, its nearly 500 students, from pre-K to 8th grade, were taken by bus to I.S. 228 David A. Boody school in Gravesend, Brooklyn, three miles away.

Coney Island Eatery Celebrates New Year With Free Meals For Sandy Victims

Coney Island Eatery Celebrates New Year With Free Meals For Sandy Victims - NY1.com
(Video)

Tom's Restaurant in Coney Island served hundreds of free hot meals on Saturday to local business owners and neighbors who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Restaurant management collaborated with the ConeyRecovers initiative, the Mayor's Fund, the Met Council and other charitable organizations on the event to help celebrate the new year with the Brooklyn community that has eaten there for three generations.

"We do what we can. We're a family place and we worry about the community," said Billy Vasilios, the manager at Tom's Restaurant. "One hand washes the other."

Dozens of diners enjoyed breakfast staples like pancakes, eggs and french toast and then those who came for lunch enjoyed burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks.

Struggling after Sandy in Coney Island

Steeplechase pier is off limits

Manned park vehicle posted at entrance to damaged Steeplechase pier.

As reported earlier significant damage is present because of a shift of the cement blocks that supported the pilings holding up the deck during Sandy.