Daily News from New York, New York • 461

CO Qii reiitts bed 2 houses wne 5cr VP3' Ed MolinariDaily News The landmark Gage and Tollner restaurant is going strong after first century. It (fdye Tolher marlts "When they started the renovations last year, they told us they were just going to remove the molding then I came home and found they'd taken the windows out," she said. Calls boiler broken Harris and other tenants maintain that not only were they deceived about the nature of the work, but given no opportunity to inquire about the status of their apartments after the work is finished. obviously want to get rid of us," said Rudolph McKenzie, also a resident of 349 Crown, who said the boiler there has been broken for the past two years. Curtis Trueheart, of the Metropolitan Tenants Council, charges that black tenants who left the sites for the duration of the renovation work were never given a chance to come back, a violation of Section 8 specifications.

"They're only renting the newly finished apartments to Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union and said. Similar complaints wereheard at 675 Empire Blvd. "I have had it," said Dolores Walton, a tenant. "I've even had Russian people come to look at my apartment, so they can see what one looks like. They can't even speak English, and they already know where they're going to live." "What about the people who used to live here?" she asked.

Repeated inquiries at Chevra offices failed to draw any comment. A spokesman said only, "We know nothing about it" By THOMAS HAN RAH AN Black tenants at two apartment buildings in Crown Heights that are being renovated with federal funds began a rent strike yesterday, saying they have been the victims of purposeful and systematic racial harassment and discrimination. The buildings, located at 675 Empire Blvd. and 349 Crown St, are being renovated under Section 8 of the U.S.Hous-ing Act of 1937 and the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act, which provides rent subsidies to low-income tenants in approved sites. The grants were made to Chevra, the main housing arm of the Hasidic community in Crown Heights, which is currently under investigation by city and federal agencies for alleged misuse of government funds.

Aid for troubled area Chevra has received more than $5 million in federal and city funds to purchase and rehabilitate housing stock in the troubled Crown Heights area. According to a spokesman for the city's department of Housing Preservation and Development, 675 Empire Blvd. has more than 210 violations of the Housing Maintenance Code and tax arrears of $12,000. For 349 Crown the city lists 22 violations and $2,300 owed in back taxes. "I've -already filed a complaint with the Rent Control Board," said Evy Harris yesterday.

Her family is one of approximately 11 black families left at 349 Crown St. By PAUL LA ROSA When' a restaurant raises its prices' 1,000, it's usually something to complain'" about. But Gage and Famous Landmark Restaurant," can be forgiven because they have hiked their prices gradual ly over a 100-year period. For he $ast two weeks, the owners, Ed Dewey and John Simmons, have but he feels "the area is on the way up. Also, he doesn't mind the fast-food places that surround "Everyone has a niche in the marketplace," he "At least the fast-food places get people out of their houses and introduce them to the idea of going out to eat I think they gradually start coming to places like ours." DODQJLLTiTnEl DAC2E A listing of Brooklyn community events Send news of your civic group, school, club or organization to Bulletin Board Editor, Daily -News, 16 Court St, Brooklyn, N.Y.

11201 been celebrating 100 years of business. In this era of fast-food chains, it's hard to belive that one plaee could possibly exist so long. But there it is, tucked away at 372 Fulton right across the street from Nedicks. Besides the seafood and chops for which it became famous, the real attrac--tion is the marvelous Victoria age building it occupies. It is so striking that both the exterior and interior have been deemed landmarks of New York.

The restaurant did move once in its history, but that was early on, in 1889. Since that time, it has remained In the same spot where the original owners, Charles Gage and Eugene Tollner, relocated it At that time, elecricity was a new invention and they were leary about whether it would last. So the two men installed gas fixtures which are still lighted every night for dinner. Those gas lamps and nearly the entire interior are just as they were then. Not that there isn't some trouble maintaining that sort of history.

Ed Dewey says he has a particular problem with the 19th century coat hangers. "People don't realize that those hangers were put there mainly for hats," he ex--, plains. "Today they come in with their heavy overcoats and throw them on and down come the poor little hooks." The stationary objects aren't the only things that have been in the restaurant a long time. Whether because of tradition or the pleasant atmosphere encouraged by the owners, many of the waiters stay on for years also. Jesse the chief waiter, has been employed there for 33 years.

But while the mood of the establishment is one of long ago, there is no doubt that time has marched on. One needs only to compare the prices on the souvenier menu of 100 years ago with the current one. Whereas a delicate treat like lobster Newburgh once went for the unheard-of price of 75. cents, now it's a more realistic $13.50. "There have always been cycles in inflation that affect prices," says Dewey, "but the current one has just kept going on and on and on.

It's particularly bad." Dewey, whose family bought the restaurant in 1919, practically grew up there and now he lives in the same building, a few flights up. Living there means that he has to put up with the Fulton St. Mall construc the "Danzas" written by his grandfather. MUSEUM FUN "What's Up?" a free year-round program for children in the first through sixth-graders, which takes place in the Brooklyn Museum's galleries, will be held today, tomorrow and Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m.

Participants learn about a different collection each time they attend and each class consists of storytelling and art-making, using simple materials. To attend, meet in the museum's lobby 15 minutes before starting times. PARTY FORUM A forum sponsored by Kings County Conservative Party will be held tonight at 8 p.m. A film produced by the Ameraican Security Council entitled "The SALT Syndrome" will be shown and sion will follow. The presentation will take place at the Cypress Hills Conservative Club, 3433 Fulton admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

For more info call 647-0330. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE The Brooklyn Division of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children has launched a boroughwide drive to enroll new members. The nonprofit, nonsectarian agency aids retarded children and adults through counseling, referral and evaluation services. The agency also runs educational, vocational, residential and recreational programs. In Brooklyn, the association operates adult day centers in Williamsburg and East New York and educational programs in Mill Basin.

Membership is $5 a year. To join, send name and address and check or money order, payable to AHRC, to: Membership Department, AHRC, 200 Park Ave. South, New York, N.Y. 10003. 5 P) CO 3: PI a Pi GO a ra pi and more than $2,000 was raised.

Report to Midwood Field, across from the school, at Avenue and 17th St. LIBRARIES CLOSED All branches of the Brooklyn Public Library, including the Central Library at Xlrand Army Palza, will be closed tomorrow in observance of Thanksgiving. TOYS NEEDED Toys for the needy retarded for Christmas will be collected at 2872 Nostrand Ave. at the following hours: Tuesday 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays 8 to 10:30 p.m., and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

and 8 to 10 p.m, thrugh Dec. 20. The toys will be distributed to hospitals and institutions by the United Mental Development Foundation. A NEW SCHOOL What is probably the last new school building to be opened in the City of New York for some years to come will be dedicated today. Public School 290, to be named the Juan Morel Campos School in honor of the Puerto Rican composer, will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m.

at 135 Schenck Ave. in East New York. Manolin Morel Campos, grandson of the composer and a celebrated contemporary musician and composer in his own right, will play some of It has been 21 years since the last trolley car glided through Brooklyn's 'streets, but if you remember them and'would like to see them "again, you'll have an opportunity in a slide show this evening at 7:30 p.m. The Bay Ridge Historical Society will sponsor a special program on the trolley system of New York at the community center of Shore Hills, at 91st St. and Shore Road.

The presentation, created for the society by the Transit Authority, will trace the development of the trolley from horse cars through its demise. Donald Harold, an authority on traction transportation, will narrate and show an unusual collection of slides. Admission contributions will be CHARITY RUN Edward R. Mur-row High School in Midwood will host its second annual "JOG IT" today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds to apply towards the purchase of new athletic equipment and to maintain and service existing equipment. Any distance, large or small, can be run, but entrants must pledge a sum of their choice for every mile run. Last year more than 400 persons participated CD -J CO.