I couldn't sleep last night. The thoughts/visions of the deplorable conditions building up in #TheRockaways was enough to keep me tossing and turning all night. A horrific vision of a massive amount of people just falling seriously ill a year from now brought chills over me.

A free subway shuttle service has started operating on the Rockaway Peninsula to assist straphangers who normally use the A train, where tracks from Howard Beach to the Rockways were almost completely destroyed by Sandy.   

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says that while work continues on the damaged tracks, the new H train shuttle service will help improve travel for residents of the Rockaways.   

Homeowners in Breezy Point, New York received notices for "failing to maintain their building," that also threatened legal action against them. The notices outraged homeowners and representatives. According to a spokesperson for the Buildings Department, the violations were a formality issued to document the damage that occurred and do not carry any monetary penalties for the property owner.

http://www.aol.com/video/sandy-victims-receive-building-violations/517543863/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3&pLid=236393

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_launches_new_rail_service_for_GeO3t13FtHapdE8ENSefRK

http://nymag.com/guides/holidays/gifts/2012/hurricane-sandy-volunteer-opportunities/

Big Joe & Meghan Courtney in the Daily News ;)

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/labor-needed-rockaways-article-1.1203431

http://www.startribune.com/nation/179820051.html?refer=y

NEW YORK - Amid the clanging of dump trucks, a crane with a clamshell scoop hoisted a pile of debris as big as a minivan and dropped it onto a waiting barge -- striking evidence that New York City has revived a place it just cannot seem to do without.

The Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, where tons of debris were dumped after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, once again has been enlisted in the aftermath of a disaster, this time to serve as the staging area for the monumental cleanup job underway since superstorm Sandy hit. Again and again, that scoop plunges into a three-story hill of debris and lifts out pulverized drywall, floorboards, furniture, clothing, photo albums.

Location: The Imperial Room, 259 Doughty Blvd Inwood,NY (across the border into the 5 Towns but still close.)

Date: November 22nd

Time: 1pm-3pm

Hosted by Ericka Guerrero-Barner, Daisy Garcia and Viv Lala

If anyone would like to volunteer and/or donate please add/message me so we can discuss specifics.

We are in need of:

Food ( Sides, Turkey, Ham, Desserts, Salad etc)

Beverages ( REALLY in need of this)

Tablecloths

Eating Utensils

Napkins, cups,plates

Decor (Balloons, anything Thanksgiving/Fall themed)

Disposable gloves

Take-out containers ( For folks to take food to where they are staying in case we are unable to seat them)

More volunteers to help out on the day of the event

Please help to spread the word and re-post this information for us. Thank you.

Ericka can be reached at: ***@***.***

BUS SERVICE to Rockaway:

***pickup times may change starting Tuesday,November 20th***

Date: November 19– November 24, 2012

Vehicle: 1- 25 Executive Coach – Passenger

Pick up: Union Square @ 14th Street & 4th Avenue, Manhattan, NY

Pick up times: 7:00 AM

Stop #1: Pearl Street & Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY

Destination: St. Francis de Sale Parish – 129-16 Rockaway Boulevard, Belle Harbor, NY 11694 

Return Time: 7:00 PM

This is April! I got this started and Big Joe found volunteers to take April and her fellow dog to the shelter. Jim, neighbor of St Francis, is mentioned in here. The article says he called for help and two weeks later it came, but actually of course it was me, Joe, and VERT who made this happen yesterday. ~ Janice Dean

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/nyregion/temporary-shelter-opens-for-pets-of-owners-displaced-by-hurricane-sandy.html?_r=0