The Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation (GRRC) has just completed their 21st year of its very successful graffiti cleaning program.
Due to severe budget cuts, staff hours were reduced and the graffiti cleaning program had to go from five days a week to only two days a week, but the program still managed to remove graffiti from 110 sites.
Ridgewood had the bulk of cleanings done by the GRRC at 50 percent, followed by Glendale at 19 percent. Middle Village and Maspeth each had 13 percent. The GRRC also did a few cleanings in Elmhurst and Woodside.
The GRRC did not clean any buildings in Bushwick. This was not because there was no graffiti in Bushwick, but because the GRRC has had a difficult time getting the homeowner’s permission to clean the graffiti.
“It is imperative that we get the building owner’s authorization to clean their building and in the coming cleaning season we will make a concerted effort to sign up owners in the Bushwick area, along the Brooklyn/ Queens border,” said Angela Mirabile, the executive director of the GRRC. “If you know someone that has graffiti on their building, please urge them to sign one of our waivers. They are available online at our website (www.ridgewoodrestoration.org), by mail or you may drop by our offices at 68-56 Forest Ave..”
The GRRC’s community liaison specialist, Peggy O’Kane, has retired after 21 years of service. She was instrumental in starting a graffiti cleaning program that began with volunteers in 1991.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff we wish Peggy O’Kane a happy, healthy retirement,” Paul Kerzner, the president of GRRC, said. “Her presence at GRRC will surely be missed.”
Joann Schauer has been named the new community liaison specialist. She has been with the GRRC since 2006.
“I look forward to a renewed effort to remove and maintain graffiti free locations in our community,” Schauer said.
If you wish to have graffiti removed or to make a contribution to the program, contact GRRC at 1-718- 366-8721 or write them at 68-56 Forest Ave., Ridgewood, NY 11385 or visit their website at www.ridgewoodrestoration.org.
