For many families and businesses, water conservation is important. Not only does it help the planet, but it saves some money on the water bill. While things like using efficient washers and low-flow shower heads certainly help, many people do not think of the one thing that uses the most water in many households. If […]
As parents, there are certain milestones we watch our children go through. First words, first steps, and the first day of school are all met with smiles and pictures. Then, there are some of the less common things that every child does, but every parent dreads. Like when those little hands get a hold of […]
As a premier radiant heat contractor, we know that modern radiant heat systems are gaining popularity for a variety of reasons. Radiant heat is 25 percent more efficient than forced-air systems, researchers from the Kansas State University and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have found. This is partly due to reduced […]
Many households deal with a fickle toilet that runs on and off. Not only is it annoying, but it can cause financial strain too. A running toilet is like flushing good money down the drain. If you need help with a running toilet, Kew Forest Plumbing, a Richmond Hill plumber is available to help. It […]
Most experienced landlords are familiar with the IRS’ rules for depreciating the cost of building upgrades. The best plumbing companies in NYC also konw that instead of deducting the cost of an upgrade when you pay for it, you have to depreciate the cost of the upgrade over as many as 27.5 years. By the […]
When thinking about your home’s plumbing, it can be a little daunting. Those pipes are lurking within the home, and some of them could be very old. You hope they hold up, because if they do not it could mean a disaster. If you need an expert opinion on whether your pipes need to be […]
When starting a renovation project, the most important predictor of success is putting together a strong team or experienced contractors, sub-contractors, and tradesmen. You want to make sure you have the right people for the job, who will do the work with the highest skill level. If you are starting a renovation project, whether it […]
Plumbers are often seen as an unfortunate necessity, someone to call when there is a clog in a drain or a leak that must be fixed. In reality, the best plumbing companies in NYC can make your life easier and save you money. Everyday plumbing problems like leaky faucets and running toilets can cost property […]
Most people think of plumbing in terms of repair, they call a plumber when they see a leak or something goes wrong. However, an improvement to your existing plumbing system can be a source of cost savings that puts money back in your pocket. In this plumbing before and after case study, we examine improvements […]
When you have a need for plumbing work at your home, you probably don’t consider it to be a life and death decision. Many homeowners get recommendations from friends and neighbors and often skip a detailed review of the plumber’s credentials. Recent events in Manhattan show the importance of hiring a licensed plumber. The explosion […]
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
