Daily News from New York, New York • 293

CO -tr pushes Kews Bureaa (718) 793-3328 Fax (212) 210-2231 Home Delivery 1-800-692-NEWS i For information on civic groups and entertainment see trie EULLSTiri EOAKO PACES 3 flu si g3 Ddudl onfi ff fe giotr BY ERIC J. GREENBERG The report found that 44,308 pounds of lead were released into the state's air and water in 1992, the latest year for which statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are available. Crown, which reported releasing 1,275 pounds into the air via a smokestack at the Liberty Ave. plant, is ranked eighth among all polluting companies in New York State.

"We need to reduce the amount of lead that gets into the environment, especially when there is a substitute," NYPIRG's Hughes said. But Crown Novelty president Frank Fontana said there is no good eco nomical substitute for the leaded weights, which are used in drapes and shower curtains. Crown's weights are used in the curtains on the stage of Radio City Music Hall. He said of the millions of pounds of lead melted and reshaped at the Queens plant, "the amount that actually goes out into the atmosphere is inconsequential." The EPA's Toxic Release Inventory program requires companies to report their hazardous emissions each year. But NYPIRG said tougher reporting requirements are needed.

"For example, electric utilities, government facilities (and) garbage incinerators are exempt from reporting," said NYPIRG staff attorney Chris Meyer. NYPIRG today also releases "Get the Lead Out," a consumer handbook on preventing lead poisoning. Lead is ingested by breathing in dust or eating paint chips and is most dangerous to infants and children under 6. NYPIRG said the city's children are exposed to lead from the air, water and land. Federal experts estimate that half of all inner city children are lead-poisoned, which could lead to irreversible brain damage.

Daily News Staff Writer It could be curtains for a Queens manufacturing firm that emits lead pollution into the air, if an environ- mental group has its way. Crown Novelty Works, Inc. in Ozone Park which makes lead curtain weights is the city's No. one lead polluter, according to a report to be released by the New York Public In-s terest Research Group today. NYPIRG, terming lead the No.one preventable environmental health threat to children, is calling for elimi-nating the hazardous metal from the manufacturing process.

Msssffiiilw By VIVIAN HUANG By PETE PONOHUE Daily News Staff Writer The double row of water fountains surrounding the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park launched sprays of water 20 feet high yesterday as borough and city officials celebrated a $4 million restoration project at the park. Queens Borough President Claire Shulman and city Parks Commissioner Henry Stern turned on the jets to mark the completion of a major reconstruction of 28 acres in the central and most popular part of the park. "It was the rehabilitation of the fountain, the replacement of electrical system feeding pumps, all the lighting around the Unisphere, the planting of 450 trees, two new rose gardens in the north and south side of the Unisphere, and 30,000 square yards of decorative pavement," said John Natoli, chief of capital construction for the city Parks Department. The other important part of the project, he said, was to inspect, stabilize, and clean the 140-foot-high Unisphere, which was a gift of United States Steel for the 1964 World's Fair. "It's just great to have everything back and open," said Stern.

He called Shulman "the mother of the park. because she has, over the years, made this one of the most important priorities." The borough president's office financed the park's facelift. Shulman said other construction work is under way or planned for the park. "We are also building now two entrances into the park on 111th St. because senior citizens and people with handicaps find it difficult to Zc; riSSv.

-v Daily News Staff Writer Southeast Queens Democratic leaders have spurned veteran Assemblywoman Cynthia Jenkins (D-Laurelton) and handed the party designation to a southeast Queens community board manager for the September primary. Three of the four 29th Assembly District leaders headed by City Council Deputy Majority Leader Archie Spigner (D-St Albans) are backing William Scarborough. The fourth district leader is Jenkins. "There's so much crime, so many problems, and Cynthia just has not done enough," district leader Dora Young said. Jenkins, a 12-year incumbent, has said Scarborough's candidacy is part of a power play led by Spigner to control southeast Queens politics.

Scarborough has been district manager of Community Board 12 for a decade. The designation means the organization will help Scarborough gather petition signatures to get on the ballot and will insure that technical requirements which have tripped up many a candidate are followed. Organization lawyers regularly knock candidates off the ballot through court challenges. The designation also will help Scarborough raise funds. The district encompasses St.

Albans, Hollis, Jamaica, Rosedale and Laurelton. Jenkins said she skipped last week's district leader caucus, and did not vote, because she knew Scarborough would get the designation. "It doesn't matter," Jenkins said. "I'll still win in September." In the neighboring 33d Assembly District, Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Jamaica) also failed to win the party designation. But district leaders there decided not to designate any of her challengers: Harvey Elwood, a public school guidance counselor and supervisor; lawyer Stephen Jackson, and former correction officer Vernon Burton.

CD CL 3 to a CD MICHAEL SCHWARTZ get to the zoo when they have to walk from the parking lot YOUNGSTERS FROLIC in Unisphere pond after fountains were turned on in Rushing of Hall of Science." Meadows-Corona Park as part of fulfillment of $4 million restoration project yesterday. .1. 'l 4 i I a i.