Blacking out Soon in a Borough Near You

Just when we thought the local TV news feeding frenzy over the Queens power failure was winding down, it seems the fest is back in business. As of 4:15 this afternoon, several neighorhoods in Staten Island from the Verrazano to the ferry and along the South shore including Dongan Hills, Rosebank and Tomkinsville, among others, are suffering without electricity. We can't comment on the extent of the outage, so we're hoping to hear from any of you who might be able to update us.

Free Fish To A Good Home

Our exceedingly friendly and happy goldfish (and possibly 1 koi) had babies and many have survived. Now we have too many so we are offering free fish to a good home. Your pond must be at least 3 feet deep (to discourage raccoons) with clean water, a filter, and lots of vegetation. We are protective of our babies. Contact us by clicking "Feedback" above.

Prodigal House For Sale Pick - $650,00 (St. George)

A gorgeous historic building but there is good news and bad news. I'll start with the good news: The building is across the street from the water and at the edge of the waterfront park with a very short walk to the ferry. Offers views of the water. Large backyard. I'm told that details are still intact but I have not viewed the interior. It is a 3-family so you can rent out 2 apartments and live in the other until you have more money. (Rent roll is about $1000 per apartment - not great but it helps.) Westervelt is a very up-and-coming street with lots of young professionals moving in. And the bad news: You only get half the building (I hate when they do that). Behind the building there are projects. Westervelt Ave. at Richmond Terrace. Contact: Anthony at Island Wide Realty, 718-909-7940 or 718-447-2100.

There's Something in the Air (again)

Yes, it's true, they're going to be spraying for mosquitos again this year on Staten Island, in an effort to prevent our blood-sucking friends from spreading West Nile Virus. We have noticed that there are an awful lot of mosquitos where we live, though we suspect this has more to do with our neighbor's fallow and uncovered swimming pool than it does with any other environmental change. That's unlikely to change any time soon though, because our zip code isn't among the ones being poisoned anyway (tonight, 7/19, and tomorrow morning, 7/20). If you live between zip codes 10308 and 10312, I'd close your windows if I were you. In the late '90s, I was sitting on a stoop downtown somewhere after midnight and some trucks went by and sprayed me (and the rest of the block) with malathion, and apart from being pretty eerie, it smelled awful and made me lightheaded. Well, on the upside, there were probably no more mosquitos living in my lungs...

Prodigal House For Sale Pick - $491,000 (St. George)

Here is your chance to own a handsome Victorian house in Staten Island for less than a tiny studio in Manhattan. This stately 1870's Victorian 4-bedroom, one-family building features many original details such as double front doors, clapboard siding, 4 marble fireplace mantels, pocket doors, wide pine plank flooring, walnut newel post balustrade with a front yard and a substantial rear garden. New York Bay and Verazzano Bridge views are visible from the bedroom. The house also has 2 porches and is located on a tree-lined street within walking distance to the ferry. This house with "great bones" could use some updating but is in move-in condition. (Sherman Ave. at Benziger Ave.) For sale by owner. Principals only. E-mail: polarap@att.net or call 646-391-1706. Note: There is an Open House on Sunday, July 16, 1-5 pm.