The inside scoop on Woodhaven

BY TONIA N. CIMINO

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT

Ever wondered about Woodhaven?

Now there’s a web site that can answer your questions and give you vital information about your neighborhood – from news and history to what’s happening.

The site, www.projectwoodhaven.com, is the brainchild of Edward Wendell, 44, who has lived in Woodhaven all his life.

“Jamaica Avenue was our playground,” he said.

Wendell explained that he and his friend, who has since moved from the neighborhood, were aspiring screenwriters who noticed that there was “very little news on Woodhaven.”

“It was hard to find out what was going on in the neighborhood,” said Wendell.

So in October of last year, “We decided to start the site, so we could see who was out there – who was listening.”

Maintained by Wendell and his partner, Ramon Olivier, one of the first articles on www.projectwoodhaven.com was on the closure of Jason’s Toy Store, a neighborhood mainstay for 70 years.

“I went out with my video camera and interviewed some people inside,” said Wendell. “We all grew up with it [the store].”

Now with a Facebook page, the web site, devoted to the 11421 zip code, garners 55,000 new hits per month.

“We’re starting to really pick up now,” he said.

With archived photos, photo essays and coverage of local concerts as well as community organizations, Wendell, who tries “to get to all the meetings I can,” also attempts to update the site daily.

On Fridays, he airs his weekly radio show on the web.

And now, as a member of the board of the Woodhaven Residents Block Association, Wendell said his newest venture is to “get the board members to start blogging.”