Some homeowners really want to get in there and get their hands dirty, but it is not always a good idea. Some jobs just aren’t DIY friendly, and you cannot figure it out as you go along. It is not like paint that you can always just cover up if it does not turn out […]
As the weather turns cooler, many people try to tough it out before turning on their heat for the winter. They may be trying to save a few bucks, or may just be in denial about the upcoming cold weather, but some people enjoy turning on their heating system. If you are looking for an […]
No homeowner wants to be faced with a potential plumbing issue. However, when you do have the need to call a quality Forest Hills plumbing company, you may be interested to know that they could save you money in the long run. Here are some ways a knowledgeable plumbing company like Kew Forest Plumbing can […]
Businessowners and homeowners in the Northeast tend to have concerns about keeping their buildings warm during the long, harsh winters. While there are many options available, nothing can make a building feel cozier than radiant heat. Radiant heat provides ideal temperature conditions, at approximately 75˚ F at floor level, which declines to around 68˚F at […]
In many parts of the world, the summer is uncomfortably hot. When temperatures start to rise, many people quickly turn to water consumption to help them cool down. When you start to notice a breakdown of important elements in your plumbing that give you more trouble than you can handle, calling a Richmond Hill plumber […]
If you are in the process of planning on building a new home, you might be thinking about hiring a general contractor and letting him, or her do all of the hirings. However, for the plumbing work that you need for your brand new home, you may want to do your research to ensure that […]
One of the most common arguments among co-workers has to be the temperature setting. It is not unusual for some people to feel extremely cold, while others are comfortable, and still, others think it is too warm. If you are one of the former, you most likely keep a sweater handy, but why are you […]
Reducing home water use not only lowers your monthly water bill but also helps conserve your community’s vital water supply. With so much of the nation facing record heat and chronic drought, water conservation has become a way of life. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that switching to high-efficiency plumbing fixtures would […]
Ben Stiller’s multi-million dollar luxury condo in New York City’s West Village is a spectacular residence, full of all the amenities that a celebrity could want. Every detail has been attended to, right down to the master suite bathroom. With a spacious double sink vanity, glass-enclosed shower and deep soaking tub, it is to die […]
When you are in need of a plumber, you need one right away. But it is also incredibly important that you find a plumber you can trust. Cloggs, leaks and other plumbing problems will wreak havoc on your home and pocketbook if they are not addressed quickly. However, how do you know which plumber to […]
Wendy has over 10 years of experience in customer service and has been with Kew-Forest Plumbing since early 2020. She holds the position of Administrative Assistant and takes care of the accounts receivable collections. Her other duties include customer service: answering calls, scheduling jobs, filing, and assisting where needed. She’s also responsible for organizing service calls and the associated paperwork for Local Law 152 gas pipe inspections. Wendy is bi-lingual and is a great asset in communicating with our Spanish-speaking clients. Wendy is kind and courteous ensuring a happy customer, is a repeat customer.
Sharon DeCoursey
Office Manager / Bookkeeper
Sharon is proud to be an integral part of Kew-Forest Plumbing’s team since 2001. She has over 30 years of experience in customer service and prides herself on her career with Kew-Forest starting as an administrative assistant and working her way up to Office Manager and Bookkeeper. Her daily responsibilities include: overseeing the administrative office staff, AP and AR, benefits, banking, human resources and payroll. Sharon also handles some of the larger accounts, and takes care of invoicing for the certified payroll accounts. She provides support to both Darren and Paul in making sure the business runs smoothly and is the back-up support for customer service and setting up service calls. Sharon brings to Kew-Forest her strong work ethic, kindness and desire to help others making it a pleasant and positive work environment.
Michelle Gutierrez
Administrative Asst. / DOB Liaison
Michelle has over 21 years of customer service experience. She has worked in the plumbing field for more than 18 years, and has been with Kew-Forest Plumbing for almost 10 years now. Michelle has experience with various office duties, ranging from dealing with customers to scheduling appointments for service work and organizing annual RPZ testing and boiler inspections. Michelle is also our DOB liaison. She handles job filings, sets up inspections, and manages paperwork & knowledge of the DOB electronic filing system in order to obtain permits for various jobs, such as new construction, renovations, & conversions. Michelle also deals with the NYC DEP for cross connection-related work & water meter permits. Through her diligence, professionalism, & overall caring attitude, Michelle ensures that a Kew client is always treated respectfully and courteously in every aspect of her job.
The area known today as Maspeth was chartered by Dutch and English settlers in the mid-17th century. The Dutch had purchased land in the area known today as Queens in 1635, and within a few years began chartering towns. In 1642 they settled Maspat, under a charter granted to Rev. Francis Doughty. The name “Maspeth” is derived from the name of Mespeatches Indians, one of the 13 main Indian tribes that inhabited Long Island. It is translated to mean “at the bad waterplace” relating to the many stagnant swamps that existed in the area.
A September 11 Memorial has been erected at 69th Street and Grand Avenue to commemorate the local firehouse’s casualties from the World Trade Center, which were the largest of any FDNY unit. The monument, adjacent to the sunken Queens-Midtown Expressway is oriented towards the WTC site, where the Freedom Tower is now visible from Maspeth. An annual memorial ceremony is held at the monument on September 11th. [courtesy wikipedia.com]
By the mid-nineteenth century, Fresh Ponds was a thriving German farming community. In 1860, George C. Schott, a developer, was given a large amount of land in Fresh Ponds as repayment for a debt. He renamed the land Glendale after his hometown in Ohio. Nine years later, one John C. Schooley, a real estate agent, bought a substantial amount of property and also called it Glendale.
Glendale was renowned for its many authentic German restaurants, namely Zum Stammtisch (The Family Table), Von Westernhagen’s, and Hans Gasthaus. However, in the last decade all but Zum Stammtisch have closed doors for good. Stammtisch can be found highly regarded in most New York City tour guides even though it is located in an outer borough. [courtesy wikipedia.com]
The area was settled around 1816 by people of English descent and was named in the early nineteenth-century for its location as the midpoint between the then towns of Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens on the Williamsburgh and Jamaica Turnpike (now Metropolitan Avenue), which opened in 1816.
Four national historic districts were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983: Forest-Norman Historic District; Grove-Linden-St. John’s Historic District; Seneca-Onderdonk-Woodward Historic District; and Woodbine-Palmetto-Gates Historic District. [courtesy wikipedia.com]
Originally, Ridgewood was part of the Dutch settlement Boswijk (Bushwick) and was later incorporated into the village of Breuckelen (Brooklyn).
A legacy of this past stands today; Onderdonk House, which was erected in 1709. The house is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City. Also located at the Onderdonk House site is Arbitration Rock, which was a marker for the disputed boundary between Bushwick and Newtown and essentially Brooklyn and Queens.
Ridgewood has also served as location shoots for numerous major motion pictures, including The French Connection, The Wanderers, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Jerky Boys: The Movie, Beat Street and Cop Out. In addition to these movies, scenes for The Sopranos were filmed on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood on March 9, 2006, when a hookah bar next to the neighborhood bar, Glenlo’s Tavern was detonated. [courtesy wikipedia.com]
Darren Lundin
President
Darren is a fourth-generation New York City master plumber and has over 38 years of plumbing, heating, and sprinkler experience. He is a graduate of New York institute of Technology with a BA degree in Industrial Engineering. Darren is an active member of the New York City Master Plumbers Association and is currently on the board of directors. Darren was raised with a strong work ethic, and he now applies those values to his company. He has carried on his family’s legacy and has continued to build his business based on honesty, reliability, and excellent customer service.
Paul Lundin
Vice President
As a fourth-generation New York City master plumber, Paul has been working in the plumbing and heating industry himself for over 34 years. New York City Licensed Master Plumber #1806. New York City Licensed Master Fire Suppression Contractor #935B. New York State Certified Backflow Prevention Device Installer/Tester #3428. Paul, also being raised with a strong work ethic, continues to apply these values to his company. He has also carried on his family’s legacy and has continued to build his business based on honesty, reliability, and excellent customer service. From the smallest repairs to the largest plumbing/heating/sprinkler projects, he is ready to serve with pride.
William Wagner
Assistant Vice President
Bill, a New York City Licensed Master Plumber (#1498), has been working with Kew Forest Plumbing and Heating for over 42 years now. Bill is a job estimator for large commercial and residential jobs in New York City. He has a detail-oriented, specialized knowledge of the residential and commercial plumbing industry.