CALM HERE IN BLACKOUT

With traffic lights still out of service Friday morning after last week’s blackout, a police officer directs the few cars that passed though the usually busy Rockaway Parkway/Seaview Avenue intersection. Neil S. Friedman

By Charles Rogers & Neil S. Friedman

Deputy Inspector Robert Johnsen, commanding officer of Canarsie’s 69th Precinct, had nothing but praise for his officers and Auxiliary officers and the "entire community" regarding their deportment during the Blackout of ’03.

"We were able to deploy just about all of our troops to various crucial points very shortly after the blackout started," he said. "Thanks to the voluntary Auxiliary officers, who replaced our regulars not only at different points directing traffic but also at desk positions in the station house, thus relieving our officers for other duties, we were able to handle things smoothly."

Police Officer Margaret Palazollo, who is in charge of the local Auxiliary Unit, heaped praise on her officers.

Slow Going On Darkened City Streets At the onset of dusk last Thursday, hours after the blackout began, cars proceeded slowly through this intersection at Remsen Avenue and Kings Highway as traffic signals citywide were out of service. More blackout coverage on pages 2 and 3. Exclusive photo by Tyrone DeCoteau

"They were fantastic," she said. "You must keep in kind that they are all volunteers, and they worked from 5 p.m. Thursday, a few moments after the blackout took place, through Friday and into Saturday, when things cleared out and got back to a regular pace."

Johnsen cited only one "serious" blackout-connected incident, where two men entered the CVS Pharmacy on Rockaway Parkway posing as police officers and, after being allowed to enter the store because they were wearing what appeared to be NYPD uniforms displayed handguns and robbed the store of an undetermined amount of cash.

The police department’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident because it involves a report of officer impersonation, a police spokesperson said.

The precinct commander said patrols of local areas during the blackout determined the area to be "especially calm."

"It was good to see many people join in the spirit of togetherness here," he said.

Some store owners along the Avenue L shopping strip, between Rockaway Parkway and Remsen Avenue, reported brisk sales and good business after the blackout began.

Sal Beneduce, who has owned and operated Big John’s Department Store for seven years, and opened Big John’s Restaurant a year ago, had to close the latter for two days, noting they are usually his busiest nights. Beneduce says he was forced to toss out "a few thousand dollars" worth of perishables.

Within hours after the blackout hit, his department store completely sold out its stock of batteries, flashlights, candles, soft drinks and bottled water.

The store owner said he tried to accommodate as many people as he could. "My customers seemed very appreciative that I could help them," he said.

At the Lin Wang Chinese Restaurant down the block, a manager said on Monday that they closed down when the power went out. They subsequently purchased a gas-powered generator that allowed them to reopen Friday afternoon. The eatery’s large freezer kept most the food fresh and "less than $1,000" was lost.

Paul Hybe, who opened his Golden Taste Caribbean-American Restaurant a year ago, stayed open until late in the evening last Thursday as customers kept coming in. "I was able to sell them food that would have been wasted." Nevertheless, he said he threw out approximately $1,300 worth of fish and chicken. When he reopened after the lights came on Friday evening, Hybe said business was good.

An employee at the Canarsie Theater said business was "very busy when we opened Friday night." She said that most moviegoers opted for the new horror movie, "Freddy vs. Jason," which was the weekend’s top grossing movie nationwide.

Marty’s Pharmacy owner, Marty Niedleman, who has been on Avenue L for a number of years, said he remained closed on Friday and reopened Saturday. "Business was good," he noted.