Islanders Turn Eyes to Queens Blaze Destroys Management Looking Into Willets Point As a Location for New Arena Three Buildings by GINA MARTINEZ
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LARGEST AUDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN QUEENS July 29–August 4, 2016 Your Neighborhood — Your News® 75 cents THE NEWSPAPER OF FLUSHING, AUBURNDALE, KEW GARDENS HILLS & FRESH MEADOWS College Point Islanders turn eyes to Queens blaze destroys Management looking into Willets Point as a location for new arena three buildings BY GINA MARTINEZ BY GINA MARTINEZ MUSIC IN THE AIR If the Islanders have their way, they’ll soon be calling Discarded cigarettes and Willets Point home. This is all matches ignited a five-alarm according to Bloomberg News, fire in College Point that dis- which did not name the source, placed eight families, burned but reported the New York through three businesses and Islanders’ owners have been injured nine firefighters, the in talks for months with New Fire Department said. York Mets owners to build an The blaze began at 18-11 arena adjacent to Citifield in College Point Blvd.. at 9:50 p.m. Flushing. July 21 in what investigators “Willets Point is emerging have concluded was an acci- as a persuasive alternative to dental fire. the team’s current home at The fire originated outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center the building in stored trash if the Islanders’ owners and that contained common rub- arena officials can’t agree on bish, plastic containers and a a series of hockey-specific im- mattress. According to FDNY, provements,” Bloomberg quot- the trash was located in the al- ed the source, who asked for ley between 18-13 and 18-15 Col- anonymity because the nego- lege Point Blvd. Firefighters tiations are private, as saying. arrived immediately and the Willets Point would be an flames were under control by ideal move considering a large 2:30 a.m., FDNY said. A total of majority of the fan base is 50 units were sent to the scene from Long Island and the are- with around 200 firefighters na would be closer to Queens. and EMS personnel. This is not the first time Wil- The blaze quickly spread lets Point has been considered. to the surrounding buildings. Back in 2010 there were simi- On the ground level there were lar conversations among own- several businesses affected by ers, but nothing came from it. the fire that included a 99-cent Islanders officials would store, an office shared by a neither confirm nor deny podiatrist and a chiropractor, plans to move, saying “the Is- and a florist, according to a At Junta Hispania in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Hispanic cultures from around the world were landers do not comment on ru- FDNY spokesman. The apart- celebrated with songs, dance, stories and fun. Some dancers from the Budari Dance Company showed mor or speculation.” Requests ments upstairs housed eight off with colorful costumes and smiles that were as warm as the day. Photo by Naeisha Rose for comments from the Mets Continued on Page 1 Continued on Page 1 Big Apple folds up its big top BY GINA MARTINEZ faced financial troubles due to The $900,000 raised by the poor ticket sales following the owners will be used to continue The Big Apple Circus will 2008 recession and the loss of the Big Apple’s many programs end its 34-year run after a big donors who helped keep aimed at helping children, fund-raising campaign fell the one-ring show alive. The like the Clown Care program, short of hitting the $2 million annual tent-raising in Cun- which sends clowns to pediat- mark needed to keep the non- ningham Park and Lincoln ric hospitals to entertain sick profit organization afloat. The Center in Manhattan drew kids and lift their spirits. circus, a New York staple, had families from across the city. See story on Page 11. A CNG Publication Vol. 25 No. 31 48 total pages Leaders rally to Suozzi Whitestone gangsters Queens Dems support candidate to replace Rep. Israel guilty of cocaine sales BY GINA MARTINEZ Eleonora are pending. The Italian restaurant A Whitestone father and was located at 51-01 108th St. son were found guilty of run- The investigation was an ning a cocaine trafficking international effort with help operation out of their family- from officials in Italy and owned Corona pizzeria after Costa Rica. FBI Assistant a two-week trial in federal Director-in-Charge Diego court in Brooklyn. Rodriguez, commended ev- Gregorio Gigliotti, 60, and eryone’s efforts in taking the his son, Angelo Gigliotti, 36, Gigliotti family down. were convicted for their par- “This case has sentiments ticipation in a transnational of the famous Pizza Connec- cocaine trafficking operation tion case — an organized that stretched from Italy to crime family running a nar- Queens and to Costa Rica, cotics trafficking ring fronted the U.S. attorney’s office in from a family restaurant in Brooklyn said. The father New York,” he said.“Today’s was also found guilty of pos- guilty verdict matches the sessing a cache of firearms past. We are pleased to say in connection with the opera- that another organized crime Assemblyman David Weprin (l-r), congressional candidate Tom Suozzi, Borough President Melinda Katz, tion, prosecutors said. enterprise’s attempt at evad- Councilman Paul Vallone and Assemblyman Edward Braunstein at a rally at Clearview Golf Course to support The trial presented damn- ing law enforcement has been the former Nassau County Executive's run. ing evidence against the fa- disrupted. We thank our law ther and son that included enforcement partners here, in BY MARK HALLUM on in Cleveland at the same transit is two people in a car. court-authorized wiretaps Italy and Costa Rica for their time. We’ve got so many issues, we and physical surveillance. continued cooperation.” Since Tom Suozzi won “I tried very hard during need our voice heard.” The evidence revealed that In October 2014 law en- the Democratic primary for the primary to demonstrate “This is probably the most Gregorio and his wife, Ele- forcement intercepted a ship- Congress, the former Nassau that I want to be the Queens important election that we onora Gigliotti, used their Co- ment of yucca from Costa County executive has been candidate. I’m going to do that will ever experience in our rona pizzeria, Cucino Amodo Rica to Fresh Farms Export working to further bring elect- even more so in the general lifetimes,” the 90-year-old Mio, and import company, Corp. in the Bronx, contain- ed officials who were formerly election,” Suozzi said. “Nas- Schulman said, referring to Fresh Farms Produce Ex- ing 40 kilograms of cocaine. neutral in the five-way race sau County has a 12,000 Demo- the events at the Republican port Corp., to facilitate their Eleonora Gigliotti allegedly for the primary over into his cratic vote advantage, Queens, National Convention in Cleve- drug trafficking operation, traveled to Costa Rica with sphere of support. The Queens which is the smallest piece of land with a diplomatic tone the U.S. attorney said. Their over $360,000 in cash to pay neighborhoods covered in the the entire district, has a 27,000 as “interesting,” but did not son, Angelo, acted as an as- for the shipment, according district are in the northeast Democratic vote advantage.” elaborate. sistant, handling drug opera- to the indictment. Then in and predominately Demo- According to Melinda Katz, tions whenever Gregorio was December 2014 another ship- crats. 48 percent of Suozzi’s primary out of town. Charges against Continued on Page 2 A gathering was held at ELECTION vote came from Queens. Clearview Golf Course in Bay- “Tom has always been a side July 20 in which members 2016 fighter for the right things,” of the City Council and state formerly neutral Assembly- Assembly as well as Borough Suozzi continued to say it man David Weprin (D-Fresh President Melinda Katz and would require unity among Meadows) said. “Did anybody her predecessor, Claire Shul- Queens Democrats to face up ever imagine in their worst man, voiced their support for to the challenge of holding the dream that Donald Trump Suozzi’s congressional run. congressional seat. would be the Republican nom- Topics discussed by speak- “It’s paramount that we inee? I mean, anything can ers focused on the importance elect this man to the U.S. Con- happen and we really have to of replacing Steve Israel with a gress,” Councilman Barry work hard between now and Democrat with a strong pres- Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gar- November. I know I’m com- ence in Queens\ as well as the dens) said. “The Republican mitted to doing everything in necessity to set a separate ex- House of Representatives, or my power to get Tom Suozzi ample to what was happening Republican Congress, doesn’t elected, and I know everyone at the Republican National understand the issues of ur- else here is as well.” Gregorio Gigliotti was found guilty of cocaine trafficking in Brooklyn Convention, which was going ban America. To them, mass federal court. 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