Mario Cuomo Laid to Rest As Cops Bust His Deep Queens Roots Rekindle Fond Memories During Son’S Eulogy
LARGEST AUDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER • LITTLE NECK LEDGER IN QUEENS • WHITESTONE TIMES Jan. 9–15, 2015 Your Neighborhood — Your News® FREE ALSO COVERING AUBURNDALE, COLLEGE POINT, DOUGLASTON, GLEN OAKS, FLORAL PARK Crime drops Mario Cuomo laid to rest as cops bust His deep Queens roots rekindle fond memories during son’s eulogy
fewer people BY BILL PARRY
BY JUAN SOTO When retired City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr. took his seat at former Gov. Mario Cuomo’s funeral The borough was in sync in Manhattan’s St. Ignatius Loyola Church Tuesday, with the citywide drop in he had a revelation. “I thought I was listening to Mario crime registered last year speak,” he said. compared to 2013, but the news What Vallone heard was an emotional 40-minute came as Police Commissioner eulogy delivered by current Gov. Andrew Cuomo, one William Bratton admitted that that captured his father’s legacy in Queens as well as police officers are making few- his disdain for politics. er arrests and issuing fewer “In general, he disrespected politicians and the po- summonses. litical system,” Cuomo told the hundreds of friends, The drop in busts and tick- family members and fellow lawmakers . “He never ets comes as tensions between studied politics or joined a political club. He never cops and Mayor Bill de Blasio campaigned for anyone and his early life, until his late escalated. 30s, was all about becoming a lawyer and practicing “At this time, I have not law.” used the term slowdown, And yet, Mario Cuomo, who died Jan. 1 at the age of which would indicate it is or- 82, would be a three-term Governor of New York state ganized,” Bratton told a news from 1983-94. conference this week. “We He would become a liberal standard bearer at a time have seen a precipitous de- when Reagan conservatism was sweeping the nation. cline in all those categories,” The man who became known in the press as “Hamlet he added, referring to the on the Hudson” began his storied career as a classical decrease in the number of ar- political outsider. rests and summonses in sev- The son of Italian immigrants, Mario Cuomo grew eral crime categories. up in a South Jamaica home behind the grocery store But as crime is going down his parents ran. After his family moved to Holliswood, to record levels, the rank-and- Cuomo graduated from St. John’s Prep and after a year file have been less active on at St. John’s University he went to play minor league the streets since the killing baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. of Officers Rafael Ramos and The year was 1952. Cuomo received a $2,000 sign- Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn last ing bonus to play outfield but he was hit by a pitch, the month. injury ending his baseball dalliance sending him back Hundreds of cops turned to Queens. their backs on the mayor when Back to St. John’s University and then St. John’s he eulogized Ramos and Lui at Law School. As an attorney, Cuomo represented a their funerals as a response to Mario Cuomo reacts to the crowd's applause for him at the swearing-in cer- group of Corona homeowners whose homes were be- his comments about the force emony for his son, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in 2011. More coverage on Continued on Page 49 Pages 4, 5, 12, 14. AP/Mike Groll Continued on Page 5 Vigil held for toddler hit by driver BY MADINA TOURE vigil Tuesday night. address the issue of pedestrian Organizers laid out candles safety and reckless driving. The parents of a 3-year-old forming the number “250” to Hsi-Pei Liao and Amy Tam- girl killed by an SUV joined represent the number of pedes- Liao, parents of Allison Liao, lawmakers, members of trians who died as a result of 3, who was hit by an SUV Families for Safe Streets and reckless drivers in 2014. They while crossing Main Street Flushing residents to honor called for a new state Depart- and Cherry Avenue with her A vigil on Main Street and Cherry Avenue honored 250 victims of traffic their daughter and 249 other ment of Motor Vehicles com- grandmother on Oct. 6, 2013, victims of traffic violence at a missioner who would better Continued on Page 10 violence. Photo by Madina Toure A CNG Publication Vol. 8081 No.No. 22 Vol. 80 No. 2 Vol. 80 No. 2 56xx total pages Tabone on trial again Condo construction Corruption case opens for former GOP offi cial, Smith near at RKO Keith’s BY MADINA TOURE Karlik said the land- BY SARINA TRANGLE marked portions of the the- Developer JK Equities ater — the ticket booth and With fresh faces in the will start building condos at the grand foyer — will be jury booth, federal prosecu- the RKO Keith’s Theater in renovated and brought back tors and defense attorneys re- downtown Flushing within to their original state. They sumed their places in White the next few months. will serve as the lobby into Plains federal court Tuesday, The developer is con- the residential portion of the gestured toward two Queens structing a 16-story mixed- condominium building. political figures and recited used building at the former The theater has been va- familiar arguments. theater on 135-35 Northern cant for more than 20 years Except this time defense at- Blvd., with 270 condominium and has been taken over by torneys for former southeast units and a parking garage numerous developers, includ- Queens state Sen. Malcolm with about 300 parking spots. ing the notorious Thomas Smith and former Queens The building will also in- Huang. Karlik — who grew GOP leader Vincent Tabone clude roughly 40,000 square up in Flushing and attended were quick to seize on the con- feet of commercial space, the theater in his teenage viction of a third co-defendant, 16,000 square feet of which years — bought the theater ex-City Councilman Daniel will house a community fa- for $30 million from Patrick Halloran, whose corruption cility. Thompson, who was going case was severed from theirs Construction will take to develop the property but this summer. anywhere from 24 to 30 ended up having financial Smith and Tabone success- months, said Jerry Karlik, problems. fully sought mistrials because one of the principal owners Thompson bought the the government did not hand of Flushing Square Realty property for $20 million in over hours of a wiretap, but LLC, the property’s title hold- 2010 and planned to build 357 Halloran’s lawyer continued Attorneys gave opening statements in Malcolm Smith’s and Vincent er. Karlik is also head of JK rental units, 17,000 square with the trial, citing financial Tabone’s federal corruption trial this week. Equities. They plan to start feet of retail space and a com- strain. work within the next few munity facility for seniors. Assistant U.S. Attorney in exchange for the two under- Smith spent 11 months re- months. Karlik and Thompson dis- Perry Carbone opened the gov- covers financing his suspected buffing the pair’s pressure “We are the first owners cussed the property for years, ernment’s argument by point- bribes of Republicans needed and was incredulous when he to actually file for building but Karlik finally decided to ing at Smith and saying he for a Wilson-Pakula, accord- found out they had paid bribes permit and we’re going to pursue his plan as he noticed bribed Tabone, who the attor- ing to prosecutors. on his behalf, according to build this building with the how fast the Flushing’s resi- ney turned his finger toward A jury convicted Halloran, Lipton. help and support of the com- dential market was growing. next. a Republican, of negotiating Lipton said the legislator munity,” Karlik said. “We’re He used Thompson’s proposal As a registered Democrat and accepting some of these should have said “no” or re- building exactly what has for the building but opted to looking to avoid a primary alleged bribes with borough ported it to law enforcement, been approved by BSA (Board build condos instead of rental on the Republican line in the GOP bosses, among other but did not. of Standards and Appeals).” Continued on Page 49 2013 mayoral elections, Smith charges. “This case is not a moral- needed at least three of the five Halloran has said he will ity test; it’s about criminal in- borough GOP parties to sign a appeal following his Jan. 21 tent,” he said. Wilson-Pakula authorizing sentencing. Tabone’s attorney, Den- him to run, Carbone said. Tabone pocketed a $25,000 nis Ring, said he accepted the Smith had no luck wooing bribe in an SUV parked out- $25,000 as a payment for legiti- the party bigwigs honestly, side Sparks Steakhouse on mate legal and political con- Carbone contended. So Smith Valentine’s Day 2013, prosecu- sulting services. allegedly capitalized on a rela- tors said. Ring said Tabone’s role as tionship with men he believed In his opening argument, vice president of the Queens were wealthy developers —an Smith’s attorney Evan Lipton GOP did not make him an undercover FBI agent named said Smith was the victim of elected official or bar him Raj and cooperating witness entrapment. from getting paid to push oth- Moses Stern, an upstate Ortho- Lipton said Smith informed er borough parties to sign the dox leader who pleaded guilty Raj and Stern of how they could Wilson-Pakula. to unspecified charges. apply for the transportation Ring, who once worked as Smith funneled $500,000 in funds in question and sent a Halloran’s chief of staff, said Developers will start building condos at RKO Keith's Theater within state transportation funding letter to local leaders request- the councilman was desperate the next few months. to a pseudo real estate project ing their plan be considered. Continued on Page 49 IN THIS ISSUE HOW TO REACH US Police Blotter...... 8 Q Guide...... 35-4 MAIL: 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 PHONE: Display Advertising: (718) 260-4521 — Editorial: (718) 260-4545 Editorials and Letters...... 12-13 Dining Out...... 37 FAX: Advertising: (718) 224-5821 — Classified: (718) 260-2549 Mayoral Spin Cycle...... 14 Sports...... 45-46, 48 Editorial (718) 224-2934 Political Action...... 14 Classified ...... 50-55 E-MAIL: Editorial: [email protected] Focus on Education...... 21-27 Display Advertising: [email protected] Classified: [email protected] TO SUBSCRIBE: Call (718) 260-4521 Copyright©2015 Queens Publishing Corp. BAYSIDE TIMES (USPS#025088) is published weekly by News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.., 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY.11361, (718) 229-0300. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2015. All rights reserved. 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BY MADINA TOURE state DOT approved the as- the contractor hired by EDC. sessment. Gerald Antonacci, presi- The Willets Point ramp At the time, opposition dent of Willets Point United, a project may have to undergo a groups and a city estimate group representing business re-evaluation in light of chang- anticipated that the project and land owners in the area, es made to the $3 billion Wil- would bring as many as 80,000 praised the FHWA and the lets Point Development plan. additional car trips daily. state DOT for putting pressure Doug Hecox, a spokesman Since then the plan has on the EDC. for the Federal Highway Ad- expanded to include a mega- “Now that the plan is dou- ministration, said the city mall to be built on parkland, ble the size and it’s got a mall Economic Development Corpo- expanding the development to and a stadium parking lot plus ration is currently preparing a 108.9 acres. the original plan, they should new proposal for the agency to In 2009, the state DOT de- have to go and do this thing review given that the site plans cided not to approve the ramps, all over again with the DOT have changed. But he said the but the FHWA sent the agency and the Federal Highway,” FHWA could not yet speak on a letter on March 22, 2012 say- Antonacci said. “And all the what its review would entail. ing that the project “would numbers that they put into it “They’re providing us with have no significant effect on the first time have no mean- a new proposal,” Hecox said. the human environment” and ing now.” “The site plans have changed that as far as tackling traffic, The city Economic Develop- and so it’s not clear what the the ramp project “would func- ment Corporation said it plans extent of our review would be. tion better with the proposed to comply with any requests But once they send that to us, project in place as compared to An environmental assessment for proposed access ramps on Van Wyck from federal and state agen- our review would begin.” the No Build Alternative.” Expressway must undergo a re-evaluation. Google cies concerning the proposed In March 2011, the city Eco- The re-evaluation will ramps. nomic Development Corpora- consist of a new traffic analy- “As we move forward with tion put together a draft en- sis, which will examine the sis and the state DOT and the statement,” Park wrote in an implementation of the ramp vironmental assessment that potential effects of the addi- Federal Highway Administra- email. design, we will continue to included plans to build ramps tional space, both with and tion will review. Willets Point United, along actively work with our federal onto the Van Wyck Express- without the new ramps, ac- “Based on the review, with other civic groups, had and state partners and look way to handle the added traf- cording to Diane Park, a state FHWA will either allow work previously called for an in- forward to providing all the in- fic that the project — 62 acres Department of Transportation on the new ramps to move dependent assessment of the formation that they require,” at the time — would bring to spokeswoman. The city will forward or will require a fed- ramps to be used in the agen- an EDC spokesman wrote in the area. The FHWA and the conduct the new traffic analy- eral environmental impact cies’ assessments instead of an email.
2 PAIRS OF GLASSES $6999 $$CASH$CASH$ Including Free Eye Exam 7ITH COUPON s %XP 1/25/15 NO–LINE BIFOCALS Progressive Lenses 4=@ w/ Metal Frames $ 99 2WaVSa5ZOaaeO`SEObQVSaAbO[^1]ZZSQbW]\a=ZRB]ga 99 Exam Not Included :O[^a8SeSZ`g>OW\bW\Ua1]W\a/\bW_cS4c`\Wbc`S 7ITH COUPON s %XP 1/25/15 @SQ]`Ra;caWQOZ7\ab`c[S\ba1O[S`Oa>]QYSbEObQVSa VARILUX Progressive Lenses (No–Line Bifocals) E30CGE30CG w/ Metal Frames / TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 3 Paying tribute to a titan One man’s love of sports at SJU BY PHILIP NEWMAN hoops in the backyard in Hol- liswood. To call Mario Cuomo a In his sports column in The sports fan, particularly when Torch, Cuomo wrote: “Coach it came to baseball and basket- Frank McGuire will face the ball, might be an understate- greatest challenge of his short, ment. but illustrious, career in trying For instance, when Cuomo to build a top team from only was a sports writer on the St. six returning lettermen and John’s University newspaper, promising but untested sopho- The Torch, he wrote a column mores.” that was not optimistic about But Cuomo and most of the the Redmen’s chances in the Redmen’s supporters could not approaching 1952 basketball have predicted the inspired season. play of the Redmen that winter Fifty years later, Cuomo told of 1952. the TimesLedger Newspapers The team, before jet planes that he had pounded out that or three-point goals, fought column, although his memory their way, including down- for details might have been ing mighty Kentucky, to the dulled a bit because of his suc- championship game in Seattle cess in another sport. against the University of Kan- “That was around the time I sas Jayhawks. They were led signed a $2,000 contract with a by the great Clyde Lovellette of farm team of the Pittsburgh Pi- KU in a finale televised only lo- rates,” Cuomo, a centerfielder, cally and starting at 12:30 a.m. recalled in 2002. Eastern time. In the nation’s But his professional career, midlands, many Jawhawk fans starting with the Brunswick set their alarm clocks for 11:30 (Ga.) Pirates turned out to be a.m. to rise and see the game. brief. A fastball struck him in Kansas won 80-63, but it was the head, causing temporary perhaps the all-time season sight loss (in an era before bat- of thrills for the Redmen and ting helmets.) He spent six days their fans. in a hospital. Cuomo, whose fervor for Years later, Cuomo, a re- sports never lessened, spent Mario Cuomo built a political career from the stories of his hard-scrabble Queens upbringing and his unmis- nowned asphalt court basket- many hours watching games takable gift for oratory. There was always something biblical about speeches like the one he delivered for Bill ball player, was pictured in on television and discussing Clinton at Democratic National Convention in Chicago. AP/Ron Edmonds The New York Times shooting plays and players. Then-Secretary of State Cuomo campaigned for mayor in 1977 with Queens Borough President Donald Manes in Times Square, nearly a On the steps of Borough Hall, Cuomo whipped up the crowd for a Walter decade before the spectacular Mondale campaign stop in Queens in 1984. Mondale carried the city but When he was not playing baseball for St. John’s, Cuomo was the sports writ- bribery scandal that brought down not much else against Ronald Reagan. Photo by Walter Karling er of the college newspaper. Photo courtesy St. John’s University Manes. AP/Susan Vlamis 4 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM from the streets of Queens The family tree grew in Queens BY PHILIP NEWMAN rooted by the destructive winds. Owning a house with a Papa was undaunted by tree on the property thrilled this threat to his dream. Mario Cuomo’s immigrant “Get the rope,” Papa told father and inspired the late Mario and other family mem- governor to write a book for bers as he prepared to rescue children about the peril fac- the tree. “She’s gonna grow ing a tall blue spruce in their again.” front yard. The family worked to dig “Papa told Mario that a new hole and uprighted the having a house with a yard blue spruce. and a tree to call your own Mario Cuomo occasional- was his very special dream,” ly told the story, reproducing Cuomo wrote in “The Blue his father’s Italian accent, Spruce. ““Papa was excited on his Sunday evening radio The South Jamaica grocery store where Cuomo’s father worked -- and where the future governor was raised about moving his family to show during which the then- in the apartment upstairs -- still stands. It is now an evangelical church (the one with the white stucco front their new home, after living governor answered questions and blue sign) on 150th Street. Photo by Michael Shain behind the grocery store (in from listeners. South Jamaica) for many After telling the blue years and sharing his dream spruce story on one radio an outsider and that was his “There are people who with them,” show, Cuomo said, “I drove Funeral edge.” sleep in the city streets, in Cuomo added, “He told by the house in Holliswood a Continued from Page 1 Mario Cuomo fell short in the gutter, where the glitter us we would have an entire couple of weeks ago and the the race for mayor against Ed doesn’t show,” Cuomo said. house for ourselves.” blue spruce must be nearly 60 ing condemned by the City to Koch in 1977. But he went on “There is despair, Mr. Presi- The former governor said feet high.” build a ball field. to defeat Koch in a race for dent, in the faces you don’t see, he and his father loved the The book received wide- “They were poor, working governor, despite long odds in in the places you don’t visit in blue spruce that grew in the spread acclaim from many families and they couldn’t 1982. During his 12-year stay your shining city.” front yard of their new house reviewers, including one who possibly fight City Hall,” An- in the Governor’s Mansion, The speech catapulted him in Holliswood. The tree flour- described “The Blue Spruce” drew Cuomo said. “He took Cuomo remained closely tied into the national conversation ished. for children 6 to 8, as “a story on their cause to right the in- to his borough. as a potential presidential can- But one evening a wind- that children will love and justice that he saw. Central to “When he first ran for gov- didate, but Cuomo never ran. storm emerged from black parents will love reading.” understanding Mario Cuomo ernor, he was an outsider, not During his eulogy, Andrew clouds and Mario watched Others called it a story is that Mario Cuomo was from part of the Democratic ma- Cuomo shared his father’s se- anxiously as the blue spruce about the value of hard work, Queens.” chine,” said Ann Jawin, the cret to speech-crafting: It had fought against the winds. belief in your dreams and the It was a stand that still re- founder of Queens’ Center for nothing to do with an audi- Finally, the tree fell, up- importance of persistence. verberates today. the Women of New York.“He ence’s reaction. “The former governor will really depended on the grass- “He said, ‘Who cares about always hold a special place in roots neighborhood groups in what an audience wants to the hearts of Corona residents, Queens, people like Saul We- hear.? It’s not about what they like myself,” state Assembly- prin.” want to hear, it’s about what man Francisco Moya (D-Jack- City Councilman Mark you need to say,’” Andrew son Heights) said. “Always a Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), Cuomo recalled. “And that, champion of immigrants and the son of the late Assembly my friends was the essence low- and middle-income New Speaker Saul Weprin, said of Mario Cuomo. He was not Yorkers, Gov. Mario Cuomo about Cuomo: “He stuck to interested in pleasing the au- got his start in public service his principles, even when he dience: not in a speech, not in by protecting dozens of Coro- knew they were unpopular. life. He believed what he be- na families from eviction.” He was opposed to the death lieved and the reaction of the Andrew Cuomo explained penalty, even though it was audience or the powers that that his father’s identity was wildly popular in the 1970s. be, or the popularity of his deeply rooted in Queens. He had a way of speaking from belief was irrelevant to him. “Mario Cuomo’s birth- his heart directly into yours, Mario Cuomo was at peace mark from the outer borough and that is a unique talent in with who he was and how he was deep and he wore it with this business.” saw the world. This gave him pride,” he said. “He had a So unique that his soaring great strength and made him natural connection with the oratory became his legacy not anything but a typical politi- The Dutch Colonial-style house in Holliswood where Cuomo and wife outside looking in, the per- just nationally but around the cian.” Matilda raised their family. According to the story Cuomo told, the son fighting for inclusion, the world. During the 1984 Demo- Reach reporter Bill Parry spruce tree at left was knocked down by a storm, but Cuomo's father underdog, the minority, the cratic Convention, Cuomo de- disenfranchised, the poor. livered a keynote address that by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal. made Mario and his brothers push it back upright and it survived. He was always the son of an debunked the myth of Rea- com or by phone at (718) 260– Photo by Michael Shain immigrant. He was always gan’s America. 4538. TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 5 Assault sparks boycott of Flushing McD’s BY MADINA TOURE Association and Sarangpang from Queens District Attorney the New York Times, is cur- (Living Room in Korean), Richard Brown’s office. rently in the discovery stage, A video broadcast by CBS an organization founded in Sajjad pleaded guilty and which involves each side ask- New York showing an alleged response to a McDonald’s at received an adjournment in ing questions and requesting assault of a Korean senior Northern and Parson Boule- contemplation of dismissal documents or information by a McDonald’s at the end of vards calling the police on a Aug. 6, according to a Queens concerning the case. December has prompted a boy- group of seniors congregating DA spokeswoman. The ad- Bae said Kim does not want cott and calls for action from at the restaurant in January, journment will go into effect to speak with media outlets. Korean-American community also participated. Feb. 5 as long as Sajjad has not Luigi Solimeo, McDonald’s groups. The boycott was held about been arrested again. franchisee, said the company In the video, Korean pa- 10 feet from the restaurant. Between 4:30 p.m. and 5 cannot speak on the matter tron James Jin Kim is alleg- The participants gathered p.m., Sajjad allegedly walked given that it is pending litiga- edly seen trying to record an around peacefully and held a around the counter during a tion. employee who he said refused news conference at which they verbal dispute with Kim, said “Our family-owned res- to serve him at the McDon- stated their demands in Kore- “No video taping,” picked up a taurant business has proudly ald’s Feb. 16. The employee is an and English and why they mop and hit Kim’s right hand served the Flushing commu- seen coming at him 30 seconds were boycotting the business with the mop, causing signifi- nity for over 20 years and re- later with what looked like a on 40-18 Main St. cant pain to his right hand, the mains committed to ensuring broom, swinging the broom The boycotters only learned Korean American communi- complaint said. a safe and welcoming environ- around and using it to smack of the incident Dec. 28, when a ty groups picket McDonald’s Kim’s lawyer called the in- ment for all our guests and em- the phone out of Kim’s hand. video was released showing on Main Street urging cident “egregious” and noted ployees,” Solimeo said in an His attorney, Christine Bae, is the alleged assault, Colligan customers to boycott it. the presence of children at the emailed statement. “As this is suing McDonald’s for $10 mil- said. Photo Courtesy Christine Colligan time of the assault. a legal matter, it would be in- lion, according to CBS New “He should have solved “If you see the video, three appropriate for me to comment York. the problem for the customer its employees with cultural minutes after the assault, you further.” Christine Colligan, co-pres- --- not come out and hit,” Col- sensitivity training and said see children leaving the Mc- State Assemblyman Ron ident of the Korean American ligan said. “That’s like a weap- her organization would write Donald’s and so to have this Kim (D-Flushing), who bro- Parents Association, orga- on against a vulnerable senior a letter to the corporation. type of assault take place in kered an agreement that ex- nized a boycott of the McDon- citizen and especially to the The employee, Rooshi front of our children I think tended seating hours for a ald’s on 40-18 Main St. in down- customer and we cannot be- Sajjad, 50, was arrested and is much more egregious than group of Korean seniors at the town Flushing Dec. 29. The lieve that it happened right in charged with criminal posses- anything else,” Bae said. McDonald’s on Northern and Korean American Association the heart of Flushing.” sion of a weapon, attempted as- She said the lawsuit, filed Parson Boulevards, said he of Queens, the Korean Ameri- She called on the McDon- sault and harassment, accord- in State Supreme Court in was concerned about the con- can United Seniors Boaters ald’s Corporation to provide ing to a criminal complaint Queens in April, according to Continued on Page 49 We Now Have If you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome COLD LASER Palmar ligament (Plate) or its Symptoms Fibrous digital sheath Flexor digitorum Palmar ligament (plate) profumdus Flexor digitorum superfi cialis Deep transverse metacarpal ligament Palmar ligament (Plate) Twig to joint Collateral ligament You can begin today. 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Blotter Woman kidnaps baby in Jamaica: Cops An 18-year-old woman allegedly kidnapped a 3-month-old baby from a Jamaica home before leaving the infant outside the door of a Brooklyn (718) 354-3834 Hospital, a police spokesman said. The NYPD said the baby boy was in good health when he was found. # #" ! &$"# ! Police were searching for the sus- & ( $ ( $! # $" # pect, who they identified as Sharon- !! !% # ) dalis Morgan. She was described as a black woman, 5-foot-2 and weighing # ) ! about 150 pounds. ! ( $! '# !! According to the police, the suspect befriended the boy’s mother and went to her apartment at about 3:41 p.m. Sunday. PAY C.O.D. PRICES & SAVE!!* When the mother of the child left the room, the woman allegedly took the baby and left the house, police said. *À«ÌÊ iÛiÀÞÊUÊ >ÃÞÊ"iÊ"À`iÀ} The boy was found later at Brook- SHARONDALIS MORGAN lyn’s Woodhull Hospital. iÌiÀi`Ê iÛiÀÞÊUÊ*ÀiÕÊi>Ì}Ê" Police asked anyone with informa- police hotline at 1 (800) 577-TIPS. www.CODOIL.com tion regarding the abduction to call the *Cannot combine with any other offers. Lic. #74-1810078 Man sought in Elmhurst rape attempt attack ELMHURST — Police were search- ing for a man wanted in connection with an attempted rape on 34th Avenue last month, the NYPD said. The Police Department released a sketch of a suspect officers said alleg- The Sanctuary at edly grabbed a 24-year-old walking on the street around 2:40 a.m. Dec. 20, put Mount Lebanon his hands around her mouth, pulled her to the ground and tried to sexually assault her. The woman fought him off, and po- The only Indoor Jewish Community lice said he ran in an unknown direc- Mausoleum in New York’s Five Boroughs tion. The victim was not injured, accord- ing to the NYPD. Special Prices and Choice Locations in the Police described the suspect as a All New Building for a limited time Hispanic male, who is about 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. Police are looking for the man picutred s 3INGLE #OMPANION 'RAVESITES s &AMILY 0LOTS Anyone with information in re- above in connection with an attempted rape gards to this incident is asked to call in the 110th Precinct. NYPD s .ICHE 3PACE FOR #REMATED 2EMAINS crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). !FFORDABLE 0AYMENT 0LANS s #REDIT #ARDS !CCEPTED S. Ozone Park shooting kills one: Police SOUTH OZONE PARK — An unknown person allegedly shot a barrage of bullets at a Honda CRV parked near 150-22 130th St. around 10:05 p.m. Tuesday, fatally striking an identified man in the head and hitting a second in the leg, the NYPD said. The Police Department said the man with a gunshot wound to the head, whose identity was being withheld pending family notification, was pronounced dead A Not-For-Profi t Cemetery serving the Jewish Community since 1914 at the scene. The other victim, a 21-year-old man struck in the right leg, was rushed to Ja- -YRTLE !VE s 'LENDALE 1UEENS .9 maica Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, the NYPD said. Officers said no arrests have been made, but the investigation was continu- s WWW-OUNT,EBANON#EMETERYCOM ing. 8 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Oyster reef could help Pro-cops plan to rally clean up Flushing Bay Borough Hall fi rst stop in citywide show of support BY MADINA TOURE ment of Environmental Con- servation and the city Depart- The Empire Dragon Boat ment of Parks and Recreation Team, which consists of 32 for the last seven years that breast cancer survivors, is entails using alternative en- exploring the possibility of ergy to stimulate the growth establishing an oyster reef and immune system of baby on the banks of Flushing Bay oysters and naturally oc- near LaGuardia Airport. curring oysters, praised the The team, which practices work of Riverkeeper and the in Flushing Bay, is working Empire Dragon Boat Team. with the Billion Oyster Proj- But he said that it would ect, a plan to restore 1 billion be risky to put oysters in oysters to New York Harbor contaminated water and that over the next 20 years. the DEP’s method for dealing Oysters are efficient wa- with the pollution in Flush- ter filtering systems, said ing Bay does not adequately Carmel Fromson, a member address the waste entering of the Empire Dragon Boat the bay. Team. “We’ve got to deal with “We have this dream of do- our pollution and green roofs ing that in Flushing Bay, but and bioswales are not going it’s really at the beginning to deal with the amount of stages and we have to be very, fecal matter and nutrients extremely careful to locate it and bacteria that get into in an area that no fishermen the water during heavy rain- can get to,” Fromson said. storms,” Cervino said. In collaboration with The untreated liquid por- Riverkeeper, a watchdog or- tion of the fecal matter is Police officers turn their back to a large screen displaying New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaking during ganization that works to pro- dumping out into the bay be- the funeral of Officer Wenjian Liu last weekend. AP/Seth Wenig tect the Hudson River and its cause the bay’s sewer treat- tributaries, and the city De- ment plants cannot contain BY BILL PARRY they were doing their jobs,” invite him to another rally partment of Parks and Recre- them, Cervino explained. Concannon said. “You can’t down the road.” ation, the team sponsors an Citizen scientists from the A retired police officer with paint law enforcement across He is also a staunch ally of annual Flushing Bay Marina Empire Dragon Boat Team, an impressive resume has the country as out of control.” Police Benevolent Association cleanup day. in conjunction with River- scheduled a pro-NYPD rally in Concannon, who has run President Pat Lynch, who has In its Flushing Creek keeper, have conducted 58 front of Queens Borough Hall for the state Senate among the come under scrutiny over his plan, the city Department of water quality samples at the Tuesday at noon. It will be the offices, doesn’t just point his handling of the current crisis Environmental Protection World’s Fair Marina location first of a series of protests in finger at the mayor. between the administration determined that Flushing on Flushing Bay weekly from each borough that will culmi- “The City Council and and the police rank-and-file. Creek’s water quality is af- May through September from nate with a final demonstra- many elected officials have Lynch has said Bill de Blasio fected by combined sewer 2012 to 2014 in collaboration tion at City Hall next month. praised and supported the “has blood on his hands” in the overflows, or CSOs, which is with the New York City Wa- “We’re going to bring out divisive anti-police protests assassination of Rafael Ramos when combined sewage — a ter Trail Association. the raw police supporter, the which have led to violence, ri- and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn. diluted mixture of rainwater, Preliminary results sug- true citizens that really care ots, assaults on police and the “He’s on the numbers with human waste and sewage — gest that 40 samples, or 69 about their communities,” assassination of two of New this because police officers is released into local water- percent, did not conform to said organizer Joe Concan- York’s Finest,” he said in an are human and they have fam- ways once a sewer system is the Environmental Protec- non, a 25-year member of interview. “The silence from ilies and they have to know at full capacity. tion Agency’s safe swim- the Police Department and a our politically elected officials the city’s supporting them,” In December 2012, the ming guidelines. Exposure to former captain of Midtown is deafening when it comes to Concannon said. “The young DEP said it would commit to pathogens in untreated sew- North. “Public safety is the supporting the police. Not one cops are scared. We pay them dredging 16.8 acres of Flush- age is the main cause of ill- cornerstone of our civilized elected official has the nerve $30,000 a year and put them ing Bay along the southwest ness from recreational water. society. The police are a thin to call the administration’s ac- in the worst neighborhoods in shore adjacent to the World’s Continued on Page 49 blue line that separates civili- tions misguided. Not one per- the city and when something Fair Marina. In May, the DEP zation from chaos. Our mayor son has stood up and said, wait goes wrong we treat them like started installing “green has been tearing down the a minute, Mr. Mayor.” a Wall Street banker.” infrastructure,” including NYPD consistently over the Concannon emphasized As for the public protests curbside gardens, through- past two years since he was that the Borough Hall rally that saw thousands of officers out the area that drains back campaigning for mayor. It is will be nonpartisan, a non-po- turn their backs to the mayor into the bay to reduce sewer now time to govern.” litical grassroots event that he during the Ramos and Liu overflow. The agency also The mayor’s office did not expects to be attended by 500 funerals, Concannon said, “I planned to install 100 more respond to a request for com- to 1,000 members of Queens don’t think they’ve overplayed curbside gardens. ment. civic associations and ethnic, their hand at all and if I were Because Flushing Bay Concannon, a resident of religious, veterans, business, still on the force, I’d do the has three big CSO pipes, the Bellerose, said the rally was political and fraternal organi- same thing. These cops are bay gets an unusual volume in the planning stages ever zations. frustrated. They’re afraid to of sewer water, Fromson ex- since the anti-police protests Concannon worked for the pull their guns because they plained. began when a Staten Island Giuliani administration as know they’ll be vilified.” James Cervino, CB7’s grand jury voted not to indict the deputy director of public environmental chairman, an NYPD officer in the choke- safety. “We haven’t invited Reach reporter Bill Parry by who has been working on a The Empire Dragon Boat Team hold death of Eric Gardner. Mayor Giuliani because we e-mail at [email protected] self-funded project that has a is exploring the possibility of an “What these guys did on don’t want to politicize this,” or by phone at (718) 260–4538. permit from the state Depart- oyster reef in Flushing Bay. Staten Island looked bad, but he said. “However, we might TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 9 Allison vigil Continued from Page 1 spoke at the vigil. The Liao family started Families for Safe Streets, an advocacy group that fights against reckless driving. Abu-Zayedeha stayed at the scene of the crash. No criminal charges were filed against him, and his blood content level was below the legal lim- it. The Liaos learned of the dismissal while examining a lawsuit they filed against Abu-Zayedeha in Brooklyn Su- preme Court. “Traffic violence is an epidemic that must be addressed immediately,” Liao said. “It is hard to put into words how we have coped over the last 15 months.” Tam-Liao, said many drivers are in- considerate of pedestrians. A rally was held in Flushing this week to “Most drivers exercise due caution honor Allison Liao. Photo by Madina Toure when on the road, but a few are ag- gressive and selfish, putting his or her needs above the safety of others like The changes include mandatory speeding, failure to yield, even bully- license suspension for drivers con- ing pedestrians with their vehicles,” victed of serious driving infractions; !"# Tam-Liao said. a mandatory traffic safety hearing for ! ! On Tuesday, a judge for the state all drivers charged with a traffic in- ! !!! # Department of Motor Vehicles tabled fraction or a criminal misdemeanor; the decision on whether to suspend or higher accountability for commercial $ #% revoke the driver’s license of Ahmad drivers; publicly accessible notice of ! & Abu-Zayedeha, the driver who killed safety hearings; and public release of !#'()))(*+,(*-.. Allison Liao. safety hearing information. ///# # #01# At the hearing, a video depicted “That’s not too much to ask,” Cohen the accident. Abu-Zayedeh declined said. “If you kill someone, you should $! ! !& & 2! # to speak and refused to watch the not have a license to drive in New York video, according to Cristina Furlong, City.” co-founder of advocacy group Make City Councilman Mark Weprin (D- Christ the King High School Queens Safer. Oakland Gardens) said that new laws At the end of the testimony, the now require convictions for reckless 68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, New York 11379 (718) 366-7400 lawyer for Abu-Zayedeh asked if he drivers. could submit Abu-Zayedeh’s New “He could go to jail for that instead York license, which he has had since of having a ticket dismissed in 47 sec- Christ the King High School Math Team 2009, Furlong explained. Steve Vac- onds,” Weprin said. caro, the family’s attorney, asked for State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flush- Maintains Top Ranking Throughout State Abu-Zayedeh’s New Jersey license to ing), who sits on the Transportation be used to determine whether or not Committee, said she would pursue Christ the King Math Team, which Dominik Makocki, Kevin Rodriguez and his license should be suspended or re- traffic safety reforms. placed second in the state last spring, Kristen Tully; and sophomore Siqing Lyu. voked, but the judge chose to use the “Let us hope that the solidarity out of almost 160 high schools Throughout the last four years, Christ New York license. shown here tonight gives us comfort,” competing in the New York State the King High School is the only school “In his initial police report state- Stavisky said. Mathematics League, is currently in first that has placed in the top three teams ment, he said that Allison let go of her City Councilman Rory Lancman place throughout the State after three consistently, having ranked first place grandmother’s hand and she did not, (D-Fresh Meadows) noted the passage monthly contests out of six scheduled. for the 2012-13 school year. and that’s very clear in the video that of bills supporting a Vision Zero pack- The team is comprised of was taken,” Furlong said. age. approximately thirty top math students In November, a DMV judge threw “I know and I’ve seen the families of who practice each week under the out tickets for “Failing to Use Due the victims testify at the City Council supervision of team moderator, Richard Care” and “Failing to Yield to a Pedes- and it’s heart-wrenching,” Lancman Hartman. The contests are held trian” issued to Abu-Zayedeha shortly said. monthly and students are asked to City Councilman Peter Koo (D- solve six complex and original problems after the accident. under regular test conditions. Vaccaro criticized the DMV and city Flushing) urged drivers to be more In the individual competition, from agencies for complicating the process cautious and called for more reforms. thousands of participating students and praised the growing movement by go to sleep at night when you hit some- across the State, five CK students have politicians and residents. body and a pedestrian is killed by a perfect score: seniors Stephen Lebak, “We are coming together as a move- you?” Koo said. ment to get people to stop and pay at- The DMV judge is expected to make About Christ the King Regional High School tention,” Vaccaro said. a decision on the case in the next cou- Christ the King Regional High School is a private, co-educational Catholic High School with a 4-year college Amy Cohen, co-founder of Fami- ple of days or weeks, Furlong said. preparatory curriculum. Located in Middle Village, Queens, Christ the King Regional High School draws students lies for Safe Streets, who lost her son, from all areas. The school is accredited by The Board of Regents of the State of New York and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Christ the King’s current enrollment is approximately 900 students. Sammy Cohen Epstein, 12, two days af- Reach reporter Madina Toure by The faculty numbers 45. ter Allison Liao was hit, read out five e-mail at [email protected] or by Christ the King High School is governed by its Board of Trustees: Serphin R. Maltese, Chairman; Thomas V. Ognibene, changes that Families for Safe Streets phone at (718) 260–4566. Vice Chairman; Robert A. Normandia, Vice Chairman; Bernard G. Helldorfer, Counsel/Trustee; Anthony Como, Esq., would like to see implemented. Treasurer; Brenda Evans, Trustee; Dolores St. Louis, Trustee; Peter J. Mannarino, Principal; Michael W. Michel, President; Arthur Spanarkel, Financial Advisor; and Veronica Cokley, Executive Assistant. Contact the newsroom: More information is available http://www.ctkny.org/. Find Christ the King on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CKCampus. 718-260-4545 • [email protected] 10 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM All Macedonia apts to be occupied in Feb. BY MADINA TOURE housing lottery for Macedonia Plaza opened on July 31, 2013 By late February, residents and concluded Sept. 30, 2013. are expected to move into HPD received 39,957 applica- about 53 remaining affordable tions for the lottery. housing apartments in Mace- The affordable housing donia Plaza. complex includes 27 studio Construction of Macedonia units, 58 one-bedroom units, Plaza, a new mixed-use devel- 55 two-bedroom units and two opment proposed by Mace- three-bedroom units. There donia AME Church on 37-08 is also an additional two-bed- Union St., was completed in room unit for an onsite super- the fall. As of Dec. 31, more intendent. than 90 households had signed McEachern praised the de- leases. cision to have families move The complex includes 143 in gradually in order to make newly constructed affordable the experience as smooth as housing units, a community possible. facility space and a new retail “People are moving into va- space. cant apartments and because “It’s a project that’s a long they’re moving their whole time coming and it’s finally household from one apartment here and I think that the fami- to another, it needs to be spread lies that are moving in will be out in such a way so that mov- pleased,” said Rev. Richard ing into one’s new home is an McEachern, senior pastor for easy process,” he said. Macedonia AME Church and The city Department of a member of Queens Commu- Housing and Preservation nity Board 7. “It’s a wonderful Development is currently re- building, state of the art and viewing affordable housing we’re very proud that we could proposals that were submitted be a part of it.” in October. The financing deal for the Affordable housing units at Macedonia Plaza in Flushing are set to be filled by late February. project closed in 2012. The Photo by Madina Toure NOW OPEN! $5 OFF $50 purchase Bay Terrace Shopping Center 0REMIUMªFOODS ªSUPPLIESªªACCESSORIESªsª3PECIALªORDERSªlªLLED $15 OFF $100 purchase Upper Level Bay Terrace Shopping Center | Next to the Post Offi ce Bay Terrace Shopping Center ª4(ª!6%.5% ª"!93)$%ªsª TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 11 EDITORIALS CUOMO’S LEGACY They came by the hundreds to say farewell to Ma- rio Cuomo at his funeral in Manhattan this week, in- cluding some who had been inspired by the three-term governor to go into public service. Others joined the mourners to pay their respects to a decent and brilliant man who demanded the best from government. Queens burst onto the national political scene back in 1984 when Cuomo transfixed the nation with his key- note address at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco after Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman nominated to run for vice president. Both were Italian-Americans with Cuomo’s roots in the borough stretching back to his early days living over his grandfather’s grocery store in South Jamaica and Ferraro’s beginning with her marriage to a Forest Hills man. Americans were mesmerized by the New York gov- ernor with the golden tongue and the liberal agenda who took President Reagan to task for ignoring the poor. His view that government could be compassionate and fiscally prudent at the same time resonated with many around the country and he became a sought-after candidate for higher office who never grabbed the gold- en ring. After her ticket’s defeat, Ferraro left Congress and Cuomo went on to serve two more terms in Albany before losing his bid for a fourth term to Republican George Pataki in 1993 largely because of his opposition to the death penalty. Cuomo never forgot his Queens heritage, which shaped his career and his personal life. He attended St. John’s University, where he played on the baseball team as a freshman and was recruited to play minor league baseball. An injury forced his early exit from OTHER VOICES pro sports and he returned to St. John’s to marry fel- low student Matilda Raffa and graduate in 1953. They had five children and she remained at his side until he died Jan. 1. After finishing at the top of his class at St. Bess Myerson: Miss New York John’s law school, Cuomo was rejected by several elite Manhattan law firms. I wish to express my heartfelt Consumer Affairs Commissioner fied the rarity of the marriage of “I obviously am the original ethnic from Queens: condolences for Bess Myerson, for New York City (1969-1973), and beauty, artistic talent, and public my hands, my face, my voice, my inflections,” he was Miss New York City-New York successfully pioneered consumer service. quoted as saying by The New York Times. State-Miss America (1945), pia- protection laws. Miss New York Just as there is only one Mr. These Queens traits had wide appeal far beyond nist, television actress and per- City was a frequent public com- New York, there is only one Miss white-shoe Manhattan, however, and Cuomo was sonality, and confidante to Mr. panion of Congressman Ed Koch, New York: Bess Myerson. “And courted to run for president by the Democratic Party New York (Mayor Edward Koch). chaired his campaign for Mayor, oh where did all those yesterdays and to take a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Miss New York City came from a and played a prominent role in go when you still believed/Love Dubbed “Hamlet on the Hudson,” Cuomo was working-class family of Russian- the Koch administration as com- could really be like a Broadway known for his deep soul-searching on whether to run or Jewish immigrants, studied pia- missioner of the Department of show./You were the star, when become a justice. Ultimately, he said no to both paths. no from the age of nine, and pur- Cultural Affairs (1983-1987). did it close” (ibid.). Despite what might have been, Cuomo left a rich sued music at The High School Born in the Bronx, Bess Myer- Rest in peace, Miss New York. legacy as a principled lawmaker who fought for the less of Music & Art, Hunter College, son “grew up ridin’ the subways We love you. We miss you. fortunate, stood by his own beliefs and took pride in his as well as Graduate studies at with people/Up in Harlem, down Queens origins. the Juilliard School and Colum- on Broadway” (Native New York- Joseph Manago We will miss him greatly. bia University. She was the first er, Odyssey, 1977) and exempli- Flushing BRIAN RICE EDITORIAL STAFF ART & PRODUCTION ADVERTISING CEO: Publisher Reporters: Bill Parry, Art Director: Leah Mitch Senior Account Executive: Les Goodstein Sarina Trangle, Kelsey Durham, Kathy Wenk ROZ LISTON Layout Manager: PRESIDENT Juan Soto, Madina Toure Yvonne Farley Account Executives: Jennifer Goodstein ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES Editor Photographers: Nat Valentine, David Strauss FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER Designer: Earl Ferrer KEVIN ZIMMERMAN Ellis Kaplan, Norm Harris, Sherri Rossi CLASSIFIED FRESH MEADOWS TIMES Layout: Rod Ivey Suzanne Green News Editor Maria Lopez, Ken Maldonado, Classified Director: JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES Yinghao Luo, Caroll Alvarado, LeBert McBean ■ Amanda Tarley LAURELTON TIMES LITTLE NECK LEDGER PAUL JANNACE William Thomas, Robert Cole Enid Rodriguez QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER Classified Sales Copy Editor Cartoonist: Tip Sempliner WHITESTONE TIMES OFFICE MANAGER Manager: JOSEPH STASZEWSKI Contributing Writers/Columnists: Linda Lindenauer Eugena Pechenaya Sports Editor Bob Harris, Kenneth Kowald, 41-02 Bell Boulevard Suzanne Parker, Ronald B. CIRCULATION Bayside, New York 11361 RALPH D’ONOFRIO Hellman, William Lewis, Bob Roberto Palacios Main: (718) 260-4545 V.P. of Advertising Friedrich, Prem Calvin Prashad, Sales: (718) 260-4521 Laura Rahill www.TimesLedger.com PROUD MEMBER OF NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION 12 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM READERS WRITE Leaders must resist pro-secular apple If New York City passed a leaders successfully resisting or become 4 by Dec. 31 of the UPK even if every one of the tinue after the publicly-funded law requiring all private reli- the temptation. school year in which they are students attending happens to UPK classes. Therefore, there gious schools to remove any It has been widely reported enrolled in the program. be Catholic or Christian. is no wonder that Jewish reli- references to the Bible from that the Archdiocese of New According to DiBlasio, free In essence, by agreeing to gious institutions are report- the curriculum, or demanded York, represented by Cardi- UPK would ensure that every accept New York City taxpay- edly opting not to participate, that parochial schools physi- nal Dolan, and the Diocese of child regardless of income er funds to fill up classrooms especially Jewish Orthodox cally strip crucifixes or nativ- Brooklyn Queens, helmed by would receive a seat in school. at their Catholic schools, the schools, due to the programs ity scenes from the from their Bishop DiMarzio, have pub- The mayor therefore needed church has effectively agreed overtly secular expectations. classrooms, such a law would licly supported Mayor Bill de to scramble to find space for to start to become a quasi-pub- According to the New York plainly be in violation of the Blasio’s Free Universal Pre- 24,000 pre-kindergarten stu- lic school system during school Times, the biblical story of No- First Amendment, and would Kindergarten programs. Free dents by the fall of 2015. hours, even to the detriment of ah’s Ark will be taught, with- be struck down by the courts. UPK programs are therefore The Catholic Archdiocese Catholic school students who out mention of who told Noah However, if the city uses a now becoming available at of New York, along with the are paying full tuition to attend to build it and crucifixes will carrot instead of a stick to en- many Catholic elementary Diocese of Brooklyn, had an these same pre-kindergarten be removed tice private religious schools academies/schools in New estimated 1,700 seats available classes. This is an unacceptable to agree to those very same York City, including Brooklyn for DiBlasio’s Universal Pre- Dr. Timothy McNiff, compromise of beliefs by the actions, the First Amendment and Queens, subsidized by a kindergarten students. But in schools superintendent for the Catholic hierarchy, in my per- legally has nothing to say, only growing city bureaucracy un- exchange for receiving these Archdiocese of New York, re- sonal opinion. religious leaders consciences der an increasingly unpopular UPK funds from the City of portedly told the media that Catholic leaders should seri- stand in the way of such secu- Mayor de Blasio. New York, the Catholic lead- the situation is lamentable. He ously reconsider their decision larizing and divisive policies. While other early child- ers have explicitly agreed to noted, however, that UPK fami- to support Mayor DiBlasio’s ef- Such an apparent Hobson’s hood programs are run entire- remove all references to Je- lies who want age-appropriate forts in this regard, and learn choice was recently faced by ly by the academy or school, sus Christ from these school Catholic religious instruction something about standing up the prelates of the New York UPK is a New York State early classrooms. That directive for their children have other for Biblical principles from our Catholic dioceses, as well as childhood initiative, adminis- effectively means that all cru- options for their children out- Jewish brothers and sisters. Jewish religious leaders, with tered in New York City by the cifixes, statues of the Virgin side of the UPK classroom. the Catholic Church hierarchy Department of Education. In Mary and nativity scenes at He cited parish programs and Joseph Gioconda succumbing to the allure of the New York City, children are Christmas must be removed other church and school wrap- Bayside easy money, but many Jewish eligible if they are 4 years old from any classroom used for around programs that con- Remembering Mario Cuomo Rediscovering lost art The death of Gov. Mario show. There are ghettos where Cuomo’s speech can still teach Cuomo made me go back and thousands of young people, us. Yes, we must ensure that of American self-reliance listen to the keynote speech he without a job or an education, our capital markets are strong gave at the 1984 Democratic Na- give their lives away to drug and investors are willing to put Well intentioned people ple leave welfare and not how tional Convention. I watched dealers every day.” their capital at risk. However, have misconstrued and many are added. We are wit- that speech as a young college Gov. Cuomo could give we must also make sure that transformed the meaning of nessing the ever-increasing political science student and it that speech today and it would the largest amount of people equality. There is a big dif- welfare state, the ever-grow- shaped me politically into the still ring true. After spending can participate in the success ference between the govern- ing sense among our citizens person I am today. decades as an attorney at the of our economy. ment treating people equally of “entitlement,” and the ev- In response to Ronald Securities and Exchange Com- The working class and and attempting to make them er-shrinking understanding Reagan’s proclamation about mission, as a Wall Street attor- middle class must believe their equal. Unlike the signs in within the American soul of America being a “shining ney and as the corporate coun- children can do better. Parents our national parks caution- our founding traits of self-re- city on a hill,” Cuomo wor- sel of a Fortune 500 company, need to know that their chil- ing us not to feed the animals, liance and voluntary private ried about those in that shin- I understand how important it dren can get a good public edu- Americans are being taught and family charity when self- ing city who were left behind is to have a vibrant economy cation and that their children that distributing food to each reliance is insufficient. We by the American Dream. with high corporate profits. will be prepared to compete in other through the tax code is are becoming a society that Cuomo mused: “But there’s However, I also understand the global economy of the 21st economically wise and social- makes poverty more comfort- another city; there’s another that we as a nation are better century. Seniors should not ly just. able instead of doing what we part to the shining city; the off when everyone partici- have to decide whether to buy In November 2011, the num- need to reduce poverty. part where some people can’t pates in our nation’s success. their prescriptions or pay for ber of people participating in It is axiomatic what the pay their mortgages, and most The conservative ideology the heat in their home. People the food stamp program called government gives to someone young people can’t afford one; of “trickle-down” economics should be able to walk in the SNAP was 46.3 million, an in- it must first take from some- where students can’t afford has repeatedly failed us. Mak- street and not have to worry crease of more than 60 percent body else and a government the education they need, and ing the rich richer and letting about being stopped by police under the reign of President that gives you everything you middle-class parents watch the Wall Street police itself does simply because of the color of Barack Obama and more than need has the power to take ev- dreams they hold for their chil- not lead to a better economy. It their skin. We must keep work- 160 percent since 2000. The erything you have. dren evaporate. In this part of just makes the rich richer and, ing so that everyone believes government continues to ag- Alexis de Tocqueville, the city there are more poor sooner or later, it will lead to in that shining city on the hill. gressively promote participa- in his book “Democracy in than ever, more families in the type of financial crisis we Rest in peace, Gov. Cuomo. tion and in 2013, “invested” America,” observed, “Ameri- trouble, more and more people experienced under President You were an inspiration to me 76.4 billion in the program. cans are so enamored of who need help but can’t find it. George W. Bush. The Great De- and to many in my generation. Even Robin Hood didn’t con- equality, they would rather be Even worse: There are elderly pression, the savings and loan You made me proud to be a sider himself an investor. equal in slavery than unequal people who tremble in the crisis and the Great Recession Democrat and proud to be from Once upon a time, the pur- in freedom.” basements of the houses there. were all the end result of failed Queens. pose of welfare programs was And there are people who sleep “trickle-down” economic theo- to eliminate the need for their Ed Konecnik in the city streets, in the gut- ries. Steve Behar existence and their measure Flushing ter, where the glitter doesn’t Thirty years later, Gov. Bayside of success was how many peo- TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015, 2015 13 COLUMNS Prophetic Cuomo tough act to follow Kfd on the hill” only applied to the to the voiceless, spoke for the He could prune the New York precipice of the highest office upper class. dispossessed, and believed in State budget in a lean econo- in the land. He talked about 8ccfe Mario Cuomo was ahead of a government that could pro- my but still speak eloquently lifting the weak and the poor N the curve and his social anal- vide a hand up for those left for the need to do more to help and he never wavered from Mayoral ysis was prophetic. His thun- behind. He was a proud Lib- our under class. He was a pi- his core principles. Spin Cycle derous speech at the Demo- eral, and carried the banner ous Catholic, but he famously May we see more of his ilk cratic convention in 1984 of that once-powerful party defended a women’s right to in the coming years and may could have catapulted him to for more than a decade. choose. his words of wisdom from the ew York lost one of its the White House in the same Cuomo was dubbed “Ham- Cuomo once said rather 1984 Democratic convention native-born jewels re- way that Barack Obama’s let on the Hudson” because poignantly: “In politics, we inspire all of us to end our na- cently: Mario Cuomo, a inspiring words did just 24 many believed he would see campaign in poetry and gov- tion’s “tale of two cities.” Nlarger-than-life leader years later. eight sides to each issue and ern in prose.” This statement How ironic it is that when whose words inspired a nation His left-of-center leanings engage in an interior mono- is true for many politicians, his son Andrew made his first and spoke truth to power, has — including his principled logue about each that made most recently our current foray into elective politics passed. And with him goes an stance against the death pen- his decision-making worthy president Barack Obama, in 2002, his incomplete cam- era of passionate liberalism, a alty and his belief in robust of treatises, not twitter. His whose 2008 campaign rheto- paign resulted in the Liberal credo he embraced while oth- social programs – branded scholarly speeches and style ric inspired a nation while his Party losing its ballot status ers ran from it. him a liberal, at a time when of governing made him more next six years of governing after more than six decades. Three decades ago Mario that philosophy had not yet of a man of the cloth or an aca- lulled many into a less exalted Wouldn’t it be a great trib- Cuomo spoke about a “tale of been neutered by people who demic, not a rapid-fire straight state. ute to his father’s brand of lib- two cities” in America, lash- preferred to refer to them- talker like his nemesis down- But much of politics and eralism if Andrew became its ing out at the trickle down selves as progressives. Cuomo state in Gracie Mansion — Ed- leadership is about inspira- standard bearer in the next economics and social Darwin- was endorsed in every one of ward I. Koch, of whom many tion, moving society to heed decade? ism of the Ronald Reagan era, his campaigns by New York said the middle initial was its better angels and about when this country began its State’s Liberal Party and, in more pronoun than abbrevia- articulating a moral map dur- Tom Allon, president of slide towards the gilded era return, he was one of its most tion. ing an era that sorely needs City & State NY, was a Re- of today. Many lauded his elo- popular stalwarts. Cuomo was a complex, but ethical representation. Mario publican and Liberal Party- quence and his passion, but Mario Cuomo’s impres- pragmatic, man who could Cuomo was a politician from backed mayoral candidate in few heeded his warnings that sive career in public service at once be the leading voice a bygone era: a child of immi- 2013 before he left to return to too many Americans were be- defined New York State in against the death penalty but grants who through the sheer the private sector. Reach him ing left behind and that Presi- the late 20th and early 21st then go on to build many new force of his intellect and his at tallon@cityandstateny. dent Reagan’s “shining city centuries, when he gave voice prisons in upstate New York. oratorical skills stood at the com. Time to end the war on New York police own time, day after day, and cers. ing of police procedures. before, “our police put their William aided in the rescue operation. We cannot have this situ- In terms of our state legis- lives on the line every day to Lewis The public was grateful for ation in a civilized society. lative branch of government, protect our city and its citi- n their sacrifices. Police and There should be a bond of co- stronger penalties should be zens.” firefighters were applauded operation between the people adopted in dealing with at- During the 20-year period and saluted continually. and the city police. tacks on police. It is impor- from 1994 to 2014, when Rudy There were candlelight vigils I n ou r s c h o ol s , e s p e c i a l ly i n tant that would-be criminals Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg held in front of police precinct the middle and high schools, who attack police physically were mayors, the police de- buildings and firehouses. students should be taught the and refuse to follow their in- partment had a good working t was during the period af- Television and movie films meaning of law enforcement structions will face harsh relationship with City Hall. ter Sept. 11, 2001 when the were made highlighting the and how cooperation between punishments. The police during that time World Trade Center was accomplishments of police and the citizens and the police is Any criminal who assaults felt they had the support of the Iattacked, that our New firefighter public servants. It so vitally important if our a police officer should face a mayor’s office. However, with York City police and fire de- was the time of a tremendous city is to successfully grow punishment of 10 to 15 years Bill deBlasio as mayor, all partments obtained the over- amount of respect for the men and prosper. in prison, if convicted. Any that seems to have changed. whelming gratitude of the and women of the police and Senior police officials can criminal who kills an on-duty Our police no longer get the citizens of our city. fire departments. give presentations to civic policeman should be subject same support they received Back then, our police and The general public and groups and community repre- to life in prison without pa- from City Hall. fire departments, as now, these two important arms sentative organizations about role. The possibility of mak- It is essential that the may- were considered the Bravest of the city government were how to improve efforts by ing the act of killing a police or’s office and also our City and the Finest in view of their firm in working towards com- residents and police working officer a federal crime should Council back up the police as outstanding efforts in search- mon goals. together to fight crime. be looked into. they do their job under very ing for and rescuing victims Today, we see a struggle More attention can be giv- This so-called war against trying circumstances. from the World Trade disas- going on that has been char- en to having police officers on the police has got to be A well-trained police force ter. In some cases, off duty po- acterized as a “war on police” radio and television programs stopped. It is not only dealing with high moral and motiva- lice and firemen came to the which recently resulted in the as guests. In that way, people with criminal elements, but tion is necessary for now and World Trade Center on their execution of two police offi- may get a better understand- as has been said many times for our city in the future. 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Please use our convenient Visit our second location at: Whitestone, NY 11357 FREE Shop-At-Home Service 718-445-9393 97-18 101st Avenue Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm and ask for Ben, or Inez for all your needs Ozone Park, NY 11416 Why Go Out... Our Shop-At-Home Service is only a phone call away 718-445-9393 Not a Hunter Douglas Gallery TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 15 ADVERTISEMENT Aubry to get pension Eileen Huntington Profiled In State Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona) successfully applied for a Entrepreneur Magazine’s January pension that will supplement his sal- ary as he enters his 25th year in office, the state comptroller’s office said. 2015 Franchise 500 Issue The comptroller’s team said it does not give pension estimates. Huntington Learning Center lives and own their own business Aubry did not return requests for announces its co-founder and CEO, can become a franchisee for a to- comment. Eileen Huntington, named by En- tal upfront investment of less than Aubry, who has represented East trepreneur magazine, as one of $100K. Huntington offers financ- Elmhurst and Corona since 1992, is three “Women to Watch” in 2015. ing options, great flexibility, with among a dozen state lawmakers first The Entrepreneur profile docu- part-time start up, and tremendous elected who filed to retire after the pre- ments Huntington Learning Cen- training and support. vious legislative session and remained ter’s rise to the top of the tutoring Huntington’s mission is to give eligible to accept the pension and pay- and test prep industry, and delves every student the best education check if reelected this term. into Eileen’s leadership style of possible. Eileen shares with Entre- Ex-state Sen. Malcolm Smith also “positivity and high expecta- preneur, “We’re working with chil- submitted retirement papers, accord- tions.” Under Eileen’s leadership, dren. When a child calls up and ing to the comptroller’s office. He, how- Huntington Learning Center has says, ‘I got on the honor roll for the ever, lost his southeast Queens seat to JEFFRION AUBRY climbed ten spots on Entrepre- first time,’ you are just over the incoming state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D- neur’s annual Franchise 500 rank- moon for that.” This sums up what Hollis). ings due to the company’s finan- Huntington does; it changes lives State Assemblywoman Vivian Cook cial strength and stability, growth and helps students achieve their (D-Jamaica) is among 14 state legisla- sion, the comptroller’s office said. rate, system size, years in business academic goals. tors who previously double-dipped. — Sarina Trangle and low start up costs. This is the Fittingly, Entrepreneur rated She earns a $40,122.36 annual pen- eighth year ranked as a Franchise the “children’s businesses” cat- 500 company. egory as the fourth largest sector The Entrepreneur profile docu- in its rankings. According to the ments Huntington Learning Cen- magazine, “From companies that ter’s rise to the top of the tutoring offer preschoolers a head start to and test prep industry, and delves tutoring services that help high- Comrie opens offi ce into Eileen’s leadership style of schoolers boost SAT scores, fran- “positivity and high expecta- chises are earning high marks by It turns out incoming state Sen. Derrick Davis would assume that role tions.” Under Eileen’s leadership, supplementing the traditional ed- Leroy Comrie’s (D-Hollis) campaign in his state Senate office. Huntington Learning Center has ucation system.” Huntington has promise of change is taking root in a He intends to hire Mar- climbed ten spots on Entrepre- been named a Top 20 Children’s familiar place — his predecessor’s dis- sha Mortimore as an admin- neur’s annual Franchise 500 rank- Services and Education Franchise trict office. istrative assistant in Albany. ings due to the company’s finan- in Opportunity World magazine, Comrie said his team is temporarily Anticipated district staff hires include: cial strength and stability, growth an All Star Franchise by All Busi- rate, system size, years in business ness, a Top 100 Franchise by the locating in former state Sen. Malcolm Khaair Morrison as a community liai- and low start up costs. This is the World Franchising Network and Smith’s district office, at 205-20 Jamai- son and scheduler, Amir Abbady as a eighth year ranked as a Franchise a Top 50 Franchise for Minorities ca Ave., as it works on permanently community liaison and Lois Meny- 500 company. by the National Minority Fran- moving into Comrie’s old City Council wether as a community affairs and Eileen and Ray Huntington chising Initiative. Huntington is office, at 111-20 Farmers Blvd. events coordinator. opened the first Huntington Learn- nationally accredited by Middle Comrie beat Smith after frequent- Comrie’s district office telephone ing Center in 1977 when, as Eileen States Association of Colleges and ly calling for change in southeast number is 718-454-0162, and its fax tells Entrepreneur “at the time, Schools and Western Association Queens. number is 718-454-0186. there was no real tutoring indus- of Schools and Colleges. Smith was arrested in 2013 and The senator’s Albany office tele- try ...there was no model to follow... Read the full 2015 Franchise 500 charged with allegedly conspiring to phone number is 518-455-2701, and its what do we have to lose?” That grit ranking at Entrepreneur.com/fran- bribe his way onto the Republican line fax number is 518-455-2816. and entrepreneurial spirit are the chise500/index.html. in the mayoral elections. — Sarina Trangle reasons why she is franchising’s Comrie said his former chief of staff woman to watch. 8Yflk?lek`e^kfe Today, Eileen, Ray and the en- C\Xie`e^:\ek\i tire Huntington team lead the #1 Huntington Learning Center producing tutoring franchise, pro- is a tutoring and test prep leader ducing 50% more in revenue than with certified teachers providing City moves to ban cell phones in their closest competitor. Hunting- individualized instruction in read- ton’s financial results are a direct ing, phonics, writing, study skills, result of student performance. elementary and middle school BY MADINA TOURE ment in high-needs schools and shows In just three months, on average, math, Algebra through Calculus, respect for families, Mayor Bill de Bla- Huntington’s tutoring students in- Chemistry and other sciences. The city announced it would lift a sio said. crease 1/2 grade levels in reading Huntington preps for the SAT and ban on cell phones and other electronic A new regulation would allow prin- and 1 grade level in math. On av- ACT, as well as state and standard- devices at schools. cipals and school leadership teams to erage, Huntington’s test prep stu- ized exams. The skills, confidence, The current policy requires stu- explore options, such as putting devic- dents increase 192 points on the and motivation developed by Hun- dents to leave their cell phones at home es in backpacks or a specific location or SAT and 4.2 points on the ACT in tington helps students succeed and or leave them outside the building. The allowing them to be used during lunch, just 21/2 months. meet the needs of Common Core change would go into effect March 2 if in certain areas and for instructional Huntington began franchising State Standards. Founded in 1977, approved by the Panel for Educational purposes in classrooms. A default pol- in 1985 and now has over 260 lo- Huntington’s mission is to give Policy in February. icy would require schools or students cations across the United States. every student the best education “Lifting the cell phone ban is about to store phones out of sight during the In 2013, the company changed its possible. Learn how Huntington common sense, while ensuring student school day. franchise model to lower its ini- can help at Huntingtonhelps.com. safety as well as high-level learning in tial franchise fees. Now, individu- For franchise opportunities please our classrooms,” City Schools Chan- Reach reporter Madina Toure by als looking to take control of their visit Huntingtonfranchise.com. cellor Carmen Fariña said. e-mail at [email protected] or by The change ends unequal enforce- phone at (718) 260–4566. 16 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Build it Back goals exceeded in 2014: de Blasio Queens civic groups praise administration’s revamped Hurricane Sandy recovery program BY SARINA TRANGLE Monday, 97 homes had con- administration... and those struction completed. took place weekly after the fo- After his first year in of- Progress appears to be a bit rum.” fice, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ad- slower on multi-family homes. Faith in New York said the ministration touted what it de- The Sandy Funding Tracker administration had redirected scribed as a complete revamp said Build it Back has re- $200 million to help families of the Build it Back program. ceived 162 such applications in pay for temporary housing as City Hall said it exceeded Queens, completed inspections their permanent homes were goals outlined this summer of at 94, started construction rebuilt, extended rental as- cutting 1,500 reimbursement on three sites and approved a sistance for up to four years checks for Hurricane Sandy dozen reimbursement checks, and set aside $3 million for recovery work undertaken by as of Monday. workforce development and landlords and of beginning Amy Peterson, director of training with the goal of staff- construction work on 1,000 the Mayor’s Office of Housing ing at least 20 percent of Sandy homes by 2015. Recovery, noted the initiative, rebuilding work with Sandy As of Dec. 31, the admin- which was started under for- victims. istration said reconstruction mer Mayor Michael Bloomberg On the other side of had gotten under way at 1,002 to assist homeowners, land- Queens, Joann Ariola, of the homes and 2,104 reimburse- lords and renters affected by Joseph O’Grady (l.) talks with Kevin Murphy about rebuilding Murphy’s Howard Beach-Lindenwood ment checks had been mailed. the 2012 storm, had not broken Sandy-damaged home in Belle Harbor. AP/Mark Lennihan Civic, said people have noticed In Queens, 9,132 single- ground on any homes before a marked improvement. But family properties have pend- de Blasio assumed the mayor- she said many still have ques- ing Build it Back applications, ship. panding design and construc- to demand changes to the ad- tions, particularly about how 3,852 have had damage as- “Since Mayor de Blasio tion capacity to ensure that ev- ministration’s Sandy efforts, high homes have to be raised sessed and been given pro- overhauled Build it Back, hom- ery homeowner gets the relief said most of its requests had in Hamilton Beach and Broad gram options and 2,033 have eowners have seen increased they need.” been fulfilled. Channel. selected a path, including the flexibility, improved commu- Faith in New York, which “We’ve been very pleased,” “There’s still a ways to go,” 708 who have received reim- nication and – most impor- helped start the Alliance for said Onleilove Alston, the she said. “We’re in the process bursement checks and the 330 tantly – real results,” Peterson a Just Rebuilding and packed group’s interim executive di- of having Build it Back come where rebuilding has begun, said in a statement. “In 2015, more than 1,000 people into rector. “One of our demands to our Jan. 27 meeting for any according to the city’s Sandy we’re going to build on that Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathe- was for weekly check-in calls concerns or questions resi- Funding Tracking tool. As of progress by dramatically ex- dral in Jamaica this summer and meetings with the mayor’s dents have.” TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 17 Shop Locally Civic loses court battle at Strawberry’s to stop JFK expansion Save on fashion clothing and accessories! *5.)/23 s -)33%3 0,53 s (!.$"!'3 3(/%3 s *%7%,29 s ).4)-!4% After losing its latest appeal, a Queens group has only one last chance to stop a runway ex- pansion at JFK Airport, the U.S. Supreme Court. AP /Mark Lennihan .%7 -%2#(!.$)3% BY JUAN SOTO speed taxiways. The work would allow for landing planes to exit the runway !22)6).' $!),9 A federal appeals court dismissed faster and with a bigger runway, the in- the lawsuit filed by the Eastern Queens ternational airport can accommodate Alliance, a nonprofit representing larger planes, including Airbus 380, 342!7"%2293: thousands of borough residents, seek- the double-decker passenger aircraft. ing to stop the runway expansion at Days after the federal appeals Where you can fi nd cutting-edge fashion Kennedy Airport court’s ruling, the civic association and brands at astounding prices “We lost the appeal,” Clyde Vanel, began asking borough residents to the attorney for the civic group, said sign a petition calling on the Obama Wednesday. administration to propose a revision of During oral arguments, Vanel had the Federal Aviation Authority’s noise asked the three-judge panel of the Sec- standards. ond Circuit Court of Appeals in Man- The petition asks Congress and the hattan to order the Federal Aviation FAA “to revisit the FAA’s health and Administration to complete an envi- safety standards for noise exposure in ronmental study to determine if the light of technological and scientific ad- expansion would have a significant vancement and discovery.” impact on the residents who live in the It pointed out that communities in area. eastern Queens and “airport-adjacent But the court dismissed the law- communities across the nation are suit. overburdened and it isn’t fair.” *AMAICA !VE s Now the Eastern Queens group is According to the Eastern Queens Mon.-Sat. 10am-7:30pm | Sun. 10am-7pm considering taking the case to the U.S. Alliance, a federation of civic associa- Supreme Court. tions from southeast Queens, studies “It’s early to know if we will appeal have shown that people living within !USTIN 3T s the decision to the Supreme Court,” he a 6-mile radius of an airport “may be Mon.-Wed. 11am-8pm | Thurs. & Fri. 10am-9pm said. at risk of dying prematurely from an The ruling clears the airport to environmental carcinogen, such as Sat. 10am-8pm | Sun. 11am-7pm move on with the project, an expansion chemicals associated with airports.” that consists of adding 728 feet to the The group said that using the 65 &RESH -EADOW 3HOPPING #TR s tarmac from the current 11,351 feet to Day-Night Noise Level as the thresh- Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm | Sun. 11am-7pm 12,079. The runway would be about 600 old for noise pollution “is outdated and feet closer to the community, affecting that significant health effects can be Springfield Gardens and Rosedale. attained at exposure above 55.” 3TEINWAY 3T s The project, which will cost $292 Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm | Sun. 11am-7pm million, also includes widening the Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail runway 4L/22R and replacing the ex- at [email protected] or by phone at isting asphalt and constructing high- (718) 260–4564. 18 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM This is what it’s all about. Self-serving politicians and cynical pundits think that New York City police officers are more worried about settling a contract than mourning our fallen brothers. Real New Yorkers know better. You’ve stood with us. You’ve grieved with us. You’ll work with us to protect our city and hold accountable all those who have stirred up hatred and violence against police officers. Thank you for your support. Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association of the City of New York 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10004 • 212-233-5531 Patrick J. Lynch, President www.nycpba.org TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 19 LATE Neck & Back Pain | Scoliosis & Spinal Deformities | Knee & Hip Replacement | Hand, Shoulder, Elbow & Ankle | Sports Medicine | Pediatric Orthopeadics | Physiatry, Pain Management | Pain Management Psychology | Chiropractic Care | Acupuncture | MRI New York Spine Institute is the only comprehensive Spine Institute and Full Orthopedic Center on Long Island affiliated with NYU Langone’s Hospital for Joint Diseases. This center brings nationally and internationally recognized leaders in Spinal Care to your community. World Class Orthopaedic Care at our State-of-the-Art Facility: 761 Merrick Avenue Westbury 516.357.8777 Manhattan | Brooklyn | Queens | Nassau | Suffolk Learn more and schedule an appointment online nyspine.com 20 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM A TIMESLEDGER SPECIAL SECTION JAN. 9-15, 2015 How to keep kids healthy this winter Right now as the second half of the they can pick up viruses and bacteria. providing educational resources to tween.” school year gets into full swing, so does By simply touching their desks and families, caregivers, schools and com- Seasonal flu activity can begin the peak flu season. lunch tables and swapping school sup- munity centers,” said Tracey Moor- as early as October, according to the Parents know that along with li- plies with classmates, kids are likely head, president and CEO of the Visiting Centers for Disease Control and Pre- brary books, art projects and work- to bring home germs from school, and Nurse Associations of America. “With vention. That’s why it’s important for sheets, their kids often bring home then spread them to family members. school back in session and flu season parents to start taking preventative a ton of germs. As students travel on “Visiting Nurse Associations pro- looming, it is important for parents to steps to stop the spread of germs that the school bus, sit in the cafeteria, vide critical support in flu prevention be aware of germs that can pass from can cause cold and flu now, so they are and participate in classroom studies, through immunization clinics and school to home, and everywhere in be- Continued on Page 26 Get ready. Get set. Get ahead. www.mathnasium.com Astoria Bayside Forest Hills FREE TRIAL! With ad. 718-726-MATH 718-747-MATH 718-544-MATH TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 21 EDUCATION Game on! Picking the best video system Kids love video games — software earlier as long as they’re exciting, fun and en- you are adamant on it being grossing. educational,” he said. While games can pro- As children grow, you can mote learning and growth, continue this with games too much video gaming — or that encourage creativity and playing inappropriate games imagination. He said a lot of — can lead to negative con- online education games and sequences. What should par- storybook software are prom- ents know to make good game inent for young children, choices for their children? where they have some inter- “The video game rating action with the story. system works well and is pret- Fiore recommends Disney ty accurate,” said Richard online gaming for young chil- Fiore, an instructor in game dren. All safety features are art and design/visual effects turned on so there is no chat- and motion graphics at The Il- ting with strangers. He likes linois Institute of Art. Club Penguin, because it is The Entertainment Soft- somewhat educational and ware Rating Board provides fun. It allows children to play ratings from “Early Child- with other children around hood” to “Adult Only.” Fiore the world, with preloaded said that while these ratings things they can say to each are accurate, it is up to the other. parent to pay attention to to technology, and tablets are propriate games and provide of Vancouver, said education “It’s enough for kids to feel them. great for children’s hand-eye children with technology that software and software that like they are playing real vid- For young children, Fiore coordination. resembles what their parents makes a child think is bet- eo games and being part of a said tablets are the way to go, “Leapfrog makes tablets have. ter than twitch games, where community,” Fiore said. because they are very tactile. that are tough enough for kids Ken Kavanagh, visual children are simply moving a For online games, Ka- He adds that it is important to play with,” he said. and game programming in- character around. vanagh likes Hooda Math, to get your child acclimated These tablets make age-ap- structor at The Art Institute “You can start a child on Continued on Page 25 IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO APPLY FOR SPRING 2015! www.qcc.cuny.edu/admissions ivate, n n t u -yea colleges and universities $4,900$4,900* $30,094* SAVE uition uition ees ees er er year Average tuition ees er year MORE! * NNewew York State residents * Source: The College Board 222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11364 22 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Student o f Dist SPONSORED BY inction Brandon Maxwell pital for more than 2 years where he plans Student of Distinction and helps facilitate recreational activities January 2015 in collaboration with veterans and staff Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences members. He also assists disabled veterans St. Albans, New York with their recreational activities. Mr. Tai recalls how profoundly touched We are pleased to induct Brandon Max- Brandon was by volunteering at St. Albans well into the Student of Distinction ranks! Veterans Hospital. ”He was inspired by an Brandon is a student of merit at Jamaica elderly veteran with whom he developed Gateway to the Sciences, where, in addi- a strong rapport. The stories the veteran tion to being partial to Biology and Social shared overwhelmed Brandon with empa- Studies, he is an Honor Student with a 3.6 thy,” says Mr. Tai. GPA. The most distinctive trait Brandon pos- So much so, that Brandon would like sesses is his determination to succeed and to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. be a valued, contributing member of his Toward that end, he is an enthusiastic mem- community. ber of the school’s Medical Club, which Regarding tenacity, Brandon has been permitted him to explore the many medical a proud member of the You Can Go To professions. College Committee since 2012. The pro- Brandon’s personality is one of contem- gram introduces participants to a variety plation and commitment. Discussing his of college majors and assists in preparing What is it, though, that propels young choices, Brandon says, “All of the afore- students for college via SAT test prepara- men like Brandon to the forefront? Accord- mentioned experiences have been invalu- tion, workshops, and college tours. His ing to several, the Maxwell family provides able to me and helped me mature into the exemplary participation in the program a wonderfully strong support team. Guid- young man I am today. As I refl ect upon my earned Brandon the 2014 Student of the ance Counselor Wong Tai explains that life, the choice that I have made to become Year Award from the Committee this past “the close family constantly makes sure a Physical Therapist is a direct result of my November. Brandon is doing the right things. I feel that volunteer experiences and my wanting to Awards gravitate toward those most this is what motivates Brandon… his whole give back to my community, specifi cally deserving. Included among Brandon’s cita- family is dedicated to his education.” to enhance and improve the mobility of tions and awards are a Certifi cate of Merit, Rodney Pride, LCSW, United Black Men individuals.” November 2014, New York State Assem- of Queens Foundation, agrees whole- Looking toward the future, Mr. Pride sees bly; Public Advocate, Certifi cate in Recogni- heartedly. “Brandon is a well-grounded a brilliant one for Brandon. “His work ethic tion of Academic Excellence, November young man whose family promotes high and study habits,” he explains, “are highly 2014; Academic Honor Award Recogni- standards, ethics, and integrity. His even commendable and destined to take him far tion, May 2012; Certifi cate of Achievement, temperament uniquely positions him to be a in life. He has exhibited a hunger for knowl- The Links Incorporated Digital Vision Board future leader and an asset to his community edge. Combined with Brandon’s curiosity Workshop; and NASA SEMA Certifi cate, at large.” and eagerness to learn new things, he will York College, July 2011. Brandon has found community service to no doubt do well in his college studies.” In his spare time, Brandon’s athletic skills be both fulfi lling and educationally stimu- Given the support of his family, the are displayed on the Varsity Boys Basket- lating. He volunteers at Addisleigh Park praise of others, and his own personal ball team. One may also enjoy listening Civic Association where he ensures that drive to excel, there is no doubt Brandon to his musical chops on Alto Saxophone. the monthly Civic Association Newsletter is will succeed in the path he lays out for him- Recently, Brandon was selected to perform distributed in a timely fashion. He has also self. We wish him continued success along a solo piece at the 2014 Winter Concert. volunteered at the St. Albans Veterans Hos- his future road! My Over is 35 Convenient branch locations throughout 877-786-6560 • myNYCB.com Queens Bank Anywhere You See NYCB! ©2015 New York Community Bank - Member FDIC TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 23 EDUCATION Do not drive while distracted in school zones When motoring where students walk, keep your eyes on the road and not your phone Every school year, busy school zones without flashing parents tack on more daily lights and in school zones that chores to their to-do lists. had a daily traffic volume of In addition to packing 10,000 or more cars. lunches and getting kids Sometimes these distrac- dressed, they also have to tions have tragic results. Since make sure last night’s home- 2003, 1,353 people have died in work was completed. school-transportation-related For many families, the accidents — an average of 135 morning routine also means fatalities per year — and more getting everyone in the car school-age pedestrians have and on the road in time so the been killed during drop-off kids are not late to class and and pick-up (from 7 a.m. - 8 parents are able to get to work a.m. and from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.) by 9 a.m. than any other times of day, With all this chaos it is no according to statistics from wonder the morning’s mad the National Highway Traffic scramble extends to the school Safety Administration. gates, with traffic snarling “Remember that your kids and tempers flaring as people gate for drivers, many of a 2009 national study of driv- smoking. Other distractions are learning from your driv- jockey for position at drop-off whom are running late, might ing behavior around middle included reaching and look- ing example; don’t teach them area. be receiving important work schools. The study was con- ing behind the driver’s seat, to be a distracted driver,” “Stressed out and distract- e-mails or calls on their smart ducted in 15 states by the Safe grooming and even reading. Fults said. “To ensure that ed drivers mixing with crowds phones, and trying to have Routes to School organization, Drivers of larger vehicles everyone makes it home safely of school kids can be a recipe last-minute conversations which works to increase safe- like sports utility vehicles, at the end of the day, drivers for disaster,” said James Fults, with their kids before they ty and reduce traffic around pickup trucks and minivans should concentrate on the task vice president, personal insur- dash off for the day.” schools. Cell phones and elec- were more distracted than at hand and exercise patience ance auto for Fireman’s Fund In fact, as many as one in tronics were identified as car drivers, according to the and caution when getting into Insurance Company. “School six drivers in school zones the leading distractors, fol- study, and distracted drivers and out of school zones.” zones can be difficult to navi- were reported as distracted in lowed by eating, drinking and appeared more frequently in Continued on Page 26 !"# # www.stagneshs.org 718-353-6276 ext 11 13-20 124th St. College Point, NY 11356 24 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM EDUCATION an hour. When looking at consoles, Video Fiore recommends Nintendo. “It seems like Nintendo Continued from Page 22 has more appropriate games which offers fun flash games for kids,” he said. that have an educational spin For instance, the violence on them. in a game like the Mario Children 6 and older can games isn’t real violence, start to appreciate sandbox- but cartoon violence. He also type games such as Mine- said a lot of children enjoy the craft. Games such as this, with Nintendo 3DS. It’s tough and very few limits, “really fosters doesn’t scratch. Fiore said if the kids’ imaginations,” Fiore a group of children are sitting said. “There’s a whole process together with 3DSs, they are that kids need to learn to build all probably playing the same and create. I think those games game. This way children are way better, because you aren’t playing alone. aren’t simply racing a car or Fiore believes virtual re- collecting coins or fighting.” ality is the future of gaming, He warns that the most im- but not necessarily a good portant thing to remember is idea for children. to turn off the chat function “I see that being a problem because it is the most danger- for kids, and I say keep them ous part for children. out of it,” he said. While educational games He said children’s eyes are are great for children, Fiore still growing and the virtual said playing a game for fun reality glasses can cause a lot every now and then is totally of eye strain. fine. Limiting a child’s screen Once children start buy- time is also a way to ensure ing their own software, it is your child is experiencing important for them to have other things outside the gam- been taught what they should ing world. Fiore allows his buy, Kavanagh said. son to have one hour of screen “You have to care what time a day, but he can earn your children are interacting another hour by reading for with,” he said. ADVERTISEMENT Goals of the Common Core State Standards The Common Core Standards Look for and express regularity in approach than previous state stan- The Mathnasium Method of instruc- (“Standards”) are intended to im- repeated reasoning. dards. tion is delivered by trained and expe- prove student achievement by hav- The Standards place a strong The Mathnasium program has rienced instructors on the premises, ing a “common” set of standards na- emphasis on critical thinking and always complemented and supple- using a combination of guided prac- tionwide. demonstrating knowledge of far mented existing math programs tice, manipulatives, and math games The thinking is this: If students fewer skills and concepts than previ- used in public and private schools. to engage students at every level. are able to achieve these standards, ous standards. The hope is that stu- Our support for the Common Core Multiple independent studies by they will be much more prepared for dents will gain proficient knowledge will be no different. EyeCues Education Systems since college and /or their careers. Also, of these concepts rather than just a Mathnasium’s specialty is mak- 2004 have found Mathnasium to if students are taught and assessed basic knowledge of the many topics ing math make sense to kids. The be effective 100% of the time, in- by the same standards at each grade presented in the past. program is designed for students in creasing student performance on level or subject, the gap between un- In doing so, the Standards are grades 1-12, who usually attend the standard-based tests in 20 sessions derperforming and high-performing directly addressing the criticism Center two times per week for an or fewer. Students’ skills jumped students should narrow. that American curriculum has been hour each session. Mathnasium’s at least a grade level, and in most The Standards are designed to “a mile wide and an inch deep” for focus is on both remediation and en- cases, multiple grade levels. Ad- help students master eight math- many, many years, and has been a richment, providing an opportunity ditionally, a 2010 national study ematical practices: 1) Make sense of main cause for American students for each student to progress from of Mathnasium parents showed problems and persevere in solving testing well behind their foreign their current level of understanding. that 98% agree with the statement: them; 2) Reason abstractly and quan- counterparts. After being given an oral and writ- “Since attending Mathnasium, my titatively; 3) Construct viable argu- At Mathnasium, we understand ten assessment which allows Math- child’s math skills and understand- ments and critique the reasoning of the Common Core. The Common nasium to form a three-dimensional ing have improved.” others; 4) Model with mathematics; Core attempts to closely integrate picture of a student’s strengths and Mathnasium Centers are located 5) Use appropriate tools strategi- number sense and critical thinking weaknesses, a customized program in Astoria (718-726-MATH), Bayside cally; 6) Attend to precision; 7) Look skills and, as such, has been more is assembled for each student that (718-747-MATH), and Forest Hills for and make use of structure; and 8) in common with the Mathnasium caters to individual learning styles. (718-544-MATH). TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 25 EDUCATION parents to wipe germ hot spots around the house that Health are touched most frequently Continued from Page 21 like doorknobs, light switch- es, faucets, high chairs or prepared for flu season when plastic toys with a household it is at its worst. disinfectant. To keep kids healthier • Make hand hygiene fun at school and prevent them — Make sure kids wash their from bringing viruses and hands the right way. They bacteria home, follow these should wash frequently with germ-fighting tips: warm water and soap for at • The elbow cough — Teach least 20 seconds (the time kids to cough into elbows, not hands, since hands are more it takes to sing the “Happy likely to spread bacteria and Birthday” song twice). viruses through touch. • Stay home when sick — • Reach for disinfecting Schools can be petri dishes wipes — The CDC recom- of learning. If possible, keep mends disinfecting surfaces kids home from school when and objects that may be con- they are sick to help prevent taminated with germs like teachers and classmates from the flu. It is important for catching their illness. • Slow down and always It’s never too early to start Safety obey posted school-zone speed limits. Continued from Page 24 • Remember, children do not easily estimate vehicle saving for college This is especially impor- speeds and often misjudge tant since there are so many when it is safe to cross the pedestrians in and around street. Wherever your children are Consider tax-advantaged pace with the increases in col- schools. In 2012, 4,743 pedes- • Learn and obey the in their educational paths, it’s savings options such as a 529 lege costs. trians were killed in traffic school bus laws in your never too early—or too late— college savings plan. These Factor in fees. crashes in the United States, state. to save for college. The FINRA plans, available in every state Most college savings op- and another 76,000 pedestri- • Don’t use cell phones or Investor Education Founda- and the District of Columbia, tions have fees and expenses. ans were injured, according mobile devices, including tion has put together these five allow the money you earn to Small differences in fees and to the NHTSA. In that year, hands-free devices. tips that can help you save for grow tax deferred. Withdraw- expenses can translate into more than one in every five • Don’t eat, read, drink or higher education. als are tax free when used for a large difference over time. children between the ages of 5 groom in the car. Start now. qualified education expenses. If you invest in mutual funds and 15 who were killed in traf- • Don’t tailgate or honk Even as costs continue to You may also be able to take through an Educational Sav- fic crashes were pedestrians. your horn. rise, college remains within advantage of other tax benefits ings Account (ESA) or custo- In order to be as safe as • Don’t yell, glare or ges- reach for many families, espe- associated with a 529 plan. dial account, you should check possible on the way to and ture to other drivers, pedes- cially those that start saving Be mindful of investment the fee table in the prospectus. from school, drivers should trians or cyclists. early. The College Board re- risk. You can use the FINRA Inves- heed these tips: • Try to be on time. Run- ports that half of all full-time With most college savings tor Education Foundation’s • Be hyper-alert for chil- ning late increases your public and private nonprofit investment options, you may Fund Analyzer to compare dren walking or bicycling to chances of speeding and four-year college students at- lose money or your investment fees to see how the costs of a school. reckless driving. tend institutions charging tu- may not grow enough to pay mutual fund or 529 plan add ition and fees of $11,550. Small for college. For example, if you up over time. amounts of money, if invested invest in stock mutual funds, Understand the limitations early, can become sizable in- chances are the funds’ an- and restrictions of your col- vestments through compound- nual performance will mirror lege saving options. ing. For example, if you save the performance of the stock Most tax-advantaged col- $200 a month at a 6 percent market. You may lose money lege savings plans come with annual rate of return for your during a declining market. On rules for how and when you newborn child, you will have the other hand, while savings can use the money that has more than $76,000 for college accounts or U.S. savings bonds been saved. For instance, when she turns 18. typically protect the principal there are income phaseouts Take advantage of tax ad- amount you save, the trade-off for ESAs and educational sav- vantages. is that they likely will not keep ings bonds. 26 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM EDUCATION Returning to school has never been easier Life is what happens when Begin by researching your credits qualify for transfer to you’re busy making other field of interest. Use a resource your desired program. Com- plans. like O-Net, which includes a ca- plete the school’s evaluations This age-old adage resonates reer assessment tool to help stu- and confirm its credit transfer for many whose personal or pro- dents explore a range of career policies with an academic advi- fessional obligations delayed directions. sor who can answer your ques- or rerouted their educational Researching schools can be tions and help you create an ac- goals. The beginning of a new daunting. Create a list of pros tion plan. year is an ideal time to pause, and cons of each to help nar- •Explore financial aid and take stock in your goals and row your search. Assess each scholarships make a plan for how you can institution’s degree programs, Colleges and universities of- achieve them, including going faculty, student organizations fer an array of financial aid and back to school to finish the edu- and flexible learning options scholarship options, some spe- cation you started and finally to identify those that best align cifically for transfer students. earning that college degree. with your education and career Complete the Free Application College graduates earn ap- objectives. for Federal Student Aid online proximately $17,500 more than • Seek school and career ad- to determine what you qualify adults without a degree, and vice for. In addition, research and they are more likely to be em- Connect with friends, fam- apply for scholarships. Map out ployed than their less-educated ily members or acquaintances financial assistance options, counterparts, according to the who are employed in your ideal policies and deadlines and ap- Pew Research Center. Despite are just some of the reasons size fits all’ institution,” she career field. Their academic ply as early as possible. College these advantages, more than students “opt out” of their edu- said. “Those looking to go back experiences will help you iden- and university resources as 31 million people started col- cation. And the thought of go- to school must research options tify the qualities your ideal well as websites like scholar- lege in the last 20 years, but did ing back to school can be over- to identify which will help them degree program possesses. Or ships.com and fastweb.com can not graduate. In fact, 4 million whelming. Madeleine Slutsky, achieve both their academic use LinkedIn to expand your aid in your search. adults have completed at least vice president of career and stu- and career goals. Breaking the professional reach with those A college-educated work- two years of college, but have dent services at DeVry Univer- journey down into actionable in the field you are considering. force is in demand, and the val- not earned a college degree or sity, has advice for those who steps will help the decision- • Assess credit-transfer op- ue of a college degree continues certificate. want to return to school. making process.” portunities to rise. For adults planning to Family or personal respon- “Every college and univer- Slutsky offers some advice: Obtain official copies of your complete their degree, there’s sibilities and military service sity is unique. 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CNG, Jan. 9-15, 2015, 2015 29 Jamaica Bay’s big project brings cleaner waters City DEP completes $83M project at wastewater plant to reduce nitrogen fl ow into water BY JUAN SOTO According to the DEP, the nitrogen discharges from system upgrade reduces about these four wastewater treat- Jamaica Bay is taking a 6,500 pounds of nitrogen that ments plants by 50 percent in breather from the daily intake goes into the bay per day. the next 10 years on the bay, of nitrogen discharged into its “Jamaica Bay is one of the a diverse ecological resource waters. city’s most diverse natural re- with open water, salt marsh- The completion of a $83 mil- sources and protecting it is a es, coastal woodlands, grass- lion project upgrade to the Ja- top priority,” Lloyd said. lands, 325 species of birds, rep- maica Wastewater Treatment Large amounts of nitrogen tiles and amphibians. Plant has resulted in nitrogen have caused water quality “Jamaica Bay is an out- reduction in the 31-square- problems, although they posed standing natural resource that mile body of water, which no threat to human health. is accessible to millions of New means a cleaner and more eco- Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, Yorkers,” said Joe Martens, logically sound bay. a nonprofit dedicated to the commissioner for the state The new technology in- protection and preservation of Department of Environmen- stalled at the plant “is part of the ecosystem of the bay, wel- tal Conservation. The work to our commitment to improving comed the completion of the reduce nitrogen is “another water quality, protecting the project. giant step toward restoration bay as a premier wildlife refu- “We are extremely pleased and protection of Jamaica Bay gee and continuing the criti- to report that we are already and its watershed,” he said. cally important work to bring noticing significant reduc- State Attorney General back a healthier bay for gen- tions in harmful algae blooms An upgrade at a Jamaica wastewater treatment plant is reducing the Eric Schneiderman noted that erations to come,” said Emily and increases in dissolved amount of nitrogen pollution the city is discharging into Jamaica Bay. “clean and safer waterways Lloyd, commissioner for the oxygen and water clarity due Photo courtesy DEP benefit the quality of life of all Department of Environmental to the activations of this new New Yorkers... [The upgrade] Protection. technology,” said Daniel Mun- of nitrogen are discharged The plant treats 100 million will protect the bay’s precious Nitrogen reduces levels of dy, of Jamaica Bay Ecowatch- daily in the bay from four city gallons of wasterwater per day and natural resources.” oxygen in the water, degrad- ers. sewage plants. from about 728,000 southeast ing “the overall ecology and The New York City Audu- The Jamaica Waterwaste Queens residents. Reach reporter Juan Soto by promoting excessive algae bon, an environmental non- Treatment Plant was built in The DEP is investing $187 e-mail at [email protected] or growth,” DEP officials said. profit, said about 40,000 pounds 1903 and upgraded in the 1940s. million in projects to reduce by phone at (718) 260–4564. #GSO`a]T6]\Sabg6O`Re]`Y;OYW\U G]c`@SOZ3abObS2`SO[aO@SOZWbg 3fWb9W\UR][@SOZbgWaORg\O[WQ`SOZSabObSP`]YS`OUSeSVOdSSOUS`?cSS\a1]c\bg `SOZSabObSOUS\ba`SORgb]aS`dS4]`Sab6WZZa@SU]>O`Y4ZcaVW\U0`WO`e]]R9Se 5O`RS\a8O[OWQOE]]RVOdS\5ZS\ROZSO\ROZZ]TbVS?cSS\aO\R:]\U7aZO\RO`SO EScaSW\\]dObWdSORdS`bWaW\UO\R[O`YSbW\UbSQV\W_cSab]Obb`OQb^]bS\bWOZPcgS`ab]bVS ^`]^S`bWSaeSZWab /\ReSe]`YVO`Rb]WRS\bWTgPcgS`\SSRaa]bVObeSQO\aV]ebVS[ XcabbVS`WUVbV][Sa :SbcaabO`be]`YW\UT]`g]c3[OWZ]`QOZZcaT]`OZZ]Tg]c`:]\U 7aZO\R :O\UcOUSA^]YS\(3\UZWaV 6W\RW >c\XOPW C`Rc /\c`OUAVO`[O :WQ @SOZ3abObSAOZSa^S`a]\a =T¿QS>V]\S(% & $&&&$& ;]PWZS>V]\S(' %&&'#%#' eee SfWbYW\UR][`SOZbg Q][ =T¿QS4Of(% & $& &'% 3[OWZ/\c`OUT`][eSPaWbS 30 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Bayside civil leader Andy Rothman, 56 Oil & Andy Rothman, a Community McEneaney said. Board 11 member and active com- The news about his passing sad- munity leader, died Dec. 26th of den the Bayside and surrounding Bioheat fuel. heart failure. He was 56. communities. Rothman, a computer consul- “Andy Rothman was a civic tant, served in CB 11’s board since leader who worked tirelessly on 2008. He had been involved in com- behalf of us all,” said Warren Savings. Service. Value. munity issues for decades. Schreiber, president of the Bay “He was very involved in the Terrace Community Alliance. “He Oil Heat Ultra Low Sulfur Bioheat/Fuel community,” said Christine Haid- will be missed.” - ǐ !ǐ ǐ er, CB 11’s chairwoman. “With the heartbreaking pass- ǐ air emissions by over 70% “We are really going to miss ing of Andy Rothman, we have lost him,” said Janet McEneaney, also a leader whose life was dedicated ' - ǐ maintenance and a cleaner a community board member. “We to improving our community and environment came to CB 11 board together.” who we could all look up to,” said Rothman was remembered at City Councilman Paul Vallone this month’s community board (D-Bayside). “My thoughts and Call today for special offers! 1.866.539.5295 meeting. prayers are with his family at this He was very active in the air- time.” plane noise and pollution fight, The Bayside Hills Civic Associ- said McEneaney, president of ation said, “Andy was a great com- Oil | Natural Gas Queens Quiet Skies, a civic group munity leader and an honest and Heating | Cooling calling to curb plane noise around good soul”. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. Andy’s funeral was held at the “He was a true expert when it Sinai Funeral Chapel at the Hor- came to aircraft engines and flight ace Harding Expressway. petro.com petro mobile connect on paths in and out of LaGuardia,” —Juan Soto Additional terms and conditions may apply. Some services may not be available in all areas. NYC Lic. No. 1314079. ©2014 Petro. P_14472 SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE AND NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA ADOPT A PET Wishing Everyone a WesPaw Pets Happy and Healthy 4405 Queens Blvd • Sunnyside, NY SAT JAN 10 • 12PM – 5PM New Year! Photo by Ellen Dunn AnimalLeague.org • 516.883.7575 FOLLOW US ON 25 Davis Avenue • Port Washington, NY GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED Eric Ulrich ),8>>97,50,/4110<08.048/9?>39A,>LIVEUNITED.ORG. District 32 Council Member District Offi ces: Ozone Park District Offi ce Rockaway District Offi ce 93-06 101st Avenue 115-06 Beach Channel Drive Suite 103 Ozone Park, NY 11416 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 31 LATE Gianaris authors bill ' ,&$ to limit legal fee funds BY SARINA TRANGLE )$$. The state has no business repay- ing political campaigns in the wake of criminal case acquittals, state Sen. Michael Gianaris said. The Astoria Democrat said he is drafting legislation to prevent New .-, York from having to repeat its recent move in paying a $2.4 million refund to former Sen. Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s dormant war chest and legal fund following his acquittal on federal # $, corruption charges. “The law provides a requirement that legal fees be reimbursed for the defendant. That’s all well and good if the defendant is paying out of pocket,” Gianaris said. “In this case, we’re rais- Former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi (above) $$, ing $2 million of taxpayer dollars to and former state Sens. Hiram Monserrate reimburse a campaign committee that (below), Shirley Huntley and Malcolm Smith hasn’t had any activity other than pay- have used campaign committee funding to ing legal fees for the last two years.” compensate lawyers, according to NYPIRG. New York Attorney General Eric -- Schneiderman’s office wrote in a memo to the state comptroller OK’ing the payment that the “sorry state of election law” left the government with no choice. (,!"+$(#", Gianaris’ bill, which was just draft- ed and has not yet been introduced or &&*$ ('' ,&$ assigned a number, would prevent cam- paign committees and legal funds from receiving reimbursements should state employees charged with an infraction relating to their official duties wind up acquitted or otherwise vindicated. The legislation would also require that legal defense funds must be spent down before any state money is direct- ed towards reimbursements. Although prior legislative efforts to curb campaign committees’ pay- ing legal fees have fumbled, Gianaris said Bruno’s payout was “egregious” enough to merit robust support. As- cording to an analysis by NYPIRG. semblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Man- The analysis noted former state hattan) will carry it in the lower cham- Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s campaign ber, Gianaris said. spent $755,000 unsuccessfully fighting Blair Horner, legislative director a fraud case and former state Sens. Hi- for the good government group New ram Monserrate, Malcolm Smith and York Lawyers for Public Interest, said Shirley Huntley had all dipped into it was too premature to predict the their campaign coffers to lawyer up for bill’s success. corruption cases. “Hope springs eternal,” he said. And Cuomo has acknowledged us- -&$'$ “He’s right, the issue’s keyed up... But ing campaign funds to pay for legal $$ on reform measures, it’s always hard to representation amid U.S. Attorney get anything done because you’re ask- Preet Bharara’s probe of how the gov- ing the winners of the game to change ernor oversaw an anti-corruption com- the rules.” mission. Although Gianaris blamed prior “There is a difference between what bills’ fate on Republicans, several Dem- we think is the right policy and what is ocrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed, and unfortunately right now in an ongoing probe into his handling that is a permissible use. So I’m not ' of an anti-corruption commission, going to fault anybody for doing some- have tapped their campaign coffers to thing permissible,” Gianaris said. % " pay for attorneys. Between 2004 and 2012 nearly $7 Reach reporter Sarina Trangle by million from campaign committees e-mail at [email protected] or by was collectively spent on legal fees, ac- phone at (718) 260–4546. 32 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Honoring Your Loved Ones Guiding Your Family With Compassion Sinai Chapels respects all Jewish traditions and customs, has a compassionate staff that is second to none, and has three generations of experience serving New York’s Jewish families. 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Advertise your Clinical Studies in New York’s largest group of community newspapers. - Weekly bannered directory - Ads will also appear in Classifieds & Online ASK HOW YOU CAN GET EDITORIAL COVERAGE OF YOUR STUDY Call Brian Rice 718-260-4537 VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/THERIGHTSEAT TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 33 How can 155, 886 households in Brooklyn help your business? CNG’s newspapers, Courier-Life, The Brooklyn Paper and Caribbean Life, have been an important part of the Brooklyn advertising landscape for decades. Our weekly newspapers let you target a specifi c neighborhood or reach all parts of the borough with your advertising message. And with the borough’s largest household coverage, that’s a lot of Brooklyn! If that’s not enough, we can spread your message outside of Brooklyn with CNG’s Queens, Bronx and Manhattan newspapers. Give us a call at 718-260-2510. You’ll speak with a CNG advertising professional who can help you develop a plan that’s right for you. 718-260-2510 34 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM TimesLedger, January 9–15, 2015 Sudoku 36 Crossword Puzzle 40 Arts & Entertainment 40 Guide to Dining 41 Forest Hills author Bob Blechman’s A NOVEL mystery story tweets turned into APPROACH old-school book BY TAMMY SCILEPPI Willum Mortimus Granger was beside himself. In fact, when his body was found, the top half was right next to the bottom. So begins author Bob Blechman’s live-tweeted comic mystery tale, “Executive Sev- erance,” the first novel com- pletely composed on Twitter. The longtime Forest Hills resident has taken crime writ- ing and the art of storytelling to a whole new level. You can call it tweeting with a twist. He calls it “Twit- stery.” “New media of communi- cations are often met initially with fear and trepidation,” said Blechman. “I wondered if Twitter didn’t offer other pos- sibilities.” With that, he began live tweeting twice a day, every day for the next 15 months to complete his murder mystery. Robert K. Blechman holds a copy of his novel “Executive Severance,” which began life as a series of tweets sent out on Twitter by the Forest Hills His tantalizing whodunit, writer. Artist David Arshawsky created this image, which serves as the Chapter 1 faceplate. Photos courtesy Peter Blechman and David Arshawsky originally told in 140 charac- ter, 800-plus real-time Twitter blasts, currently has about 800 curious followers who can’t to get people to quickly read the omission of punctuation in As Blechman composed According to the author, seem to get enough of those and enjoy entire novels as they some cases and a lo t of count- each thread, he captured bits with a tweeting detective as edge-of-your seat snippets – go about their day. ing,” he said. “Right off the bat, and pieces of the novel’s hu- its narrator and protagonist, proof that an alternative use “The 140-character limit you’re faced with a critical deci- morous plot in which old school his novel sends up the mur- of this medium may become a of Twitter required intensive sion: Does each tweet have to be detective work meets modern der mystery genre, social me- trend, since it’s a sure fire way wordsmithing, creative editing, interesting on its own?” day CSI-like forensics. Continued on Page 5 TIMESLEDGER.COM TL TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 35 Let Us Cater Your Next Party Delicious Homemade Italian Food CHOICE A $13.95 per person | Choice of 5 items ELEGANT AND TRADITIONAL ITALIAN CUISINE 3TUFFED 3HELLS s 4ORTELLINI W -EAT 3AUCE s 2AVIOLI s "AKED :ITI %GGPLANT 0ARMIGIANA s 3AUSAGE 0EPPERS s "ROILED #HICKEN s 3MALL -EATBALLS ,INGUINI W 2ED OR 7HITE #LAMS s 0ASTA W "ROCCOLI 'ARLIC /IL CHOICE B $15.95 per person \ !NY #HOICES FROM ! s !NY #HOICES FROM " #HICKEN 0ARMIGIANA s #HICKEN &RANCAISE s #HICKEN -ARSALA #HICKEN 0IZZAIOLA s 6EAL #UTLET 0ARMIGIANA s 0ENNE 6ODKA s 4ORTELLINI !LFREDO Above served with either Antipasto, Garden Salad or Caesar Salad, Stands, Sterno, Napkins, Plates, Cups, Forks, Knives & Italian Bread. Delivered to your home or office. (Min. 15 people) PRIVATE Let Us Cater Your Party PARTIES and at Our Restaurant CATERING available Starting at for all occasions $25.95 per person ASK ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUAL TRAYS www.JimmysBayside.com 10% OFF Jimmy’s Trattoria Ristorante DINNER ITALIAN RESTAURANT 45-73 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 s (718) 229-5319 Valid only for 5 or less Good Food At A Price You Can Afford people per table, Monday–Friday 3:30pm–11pm s Open 7 Days Noon to 11pm Not Good on Holidays. www.AuntBellasRestaurant.com 718-225-4700 Saturday 4pm–midnight s Sunday 1pm–10pm UÊ ÌÊÌÊLiÊVLi`Ê 46-19 Marathon Pkwy., Little Neck with any other offer. WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS 2 blocks South of Northern Boulevard Answers in Sports 36 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Oy! Ramen just like your bubbe used to make Adopted in Korea by a Jewish family, Joshua Smookler puts spin on Japanese food in L.I.C. BY SUZANNE PARKER IF YOU GO You know how when all MU RAMEN your friends tell you that you have to see this movie, it never 12-09 Jackson Ave. turns out to be quite as trans- Long Island City formative as they led you to (917) 868-8903 expect? The thing is, if you www.ramennyc.wix.com discovered it on your own you Price Range: “Treats”: $6—14; would have loved it? Ramen: $15--18 Cuisine: Japanese small plates and ramen DINING OUT Setting: Tiny, lovely Service: Friendly but harried That’s kind of what hap- by the popularity. pened to us with Mu Ramen. Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. We were heartbroken at hav- Monday—Saturday. Closed ing missed its incarnation Sunday. Lunch in planning stage. as an after hours pop-up at a Reservations: Call after 3 p.m. Long Island City bagel café, for same day reservations for and were champing at the bit, parties of up to four. waiting for the opening of the Alcohol: Sake, wine, beer permanent location. When Parking: Street our big day came, we found a Dress: Casual small, beautifully decorated Children: Tolerated. No menu. ramen restaurant that serves No boosters or storage space excellent ramen, but not ex- for strollers. actly nirvana. Music: No No other Queens eatery, Takeout: No with the possible exception of Credit cards: Cash only M. Wells Steakhouse, has gen- Noise level: Acceptable erated the amount of media at- Handicap accessible: Sort tention or reverse bridge and of (seating may be tight for tunnel traffic as this petite Chef Joshua Smookler (r.) brings his take on Japanese noodle soup to Mu Ramen in Long Island City. wheelchairs) ramen joint. Part of the rea- Photo by Suzanne Parker WIFI: No son is its founder’s intriguing back story. Jewish Korean-American boy ceiling embellishments, and a ited to a small selection of stuffing. Mr. Snookler stuffs The driving force behind became enamored of Japanese lighting fixture that changes “treats”/appetizers, and bowls them with foie gras and bri- Mu Ramen is Joshua Smookler, food. He honed his craft at Zut- from blue to amber to alert of ramen, like the space, shows oche before he deep fries them a Korean adopted by Jewish to, an izakaya-style Japanese passers-by in the know wheth- a meticulous sensibility. Teba- and serves with a plum dipping American parents and raised restaurant in Tribeca. Now er there is seating open. The saki gyoza (chicken wing sauce. These luxurious pack- on Long Island. He began his that he’s perfected his bowl of seating space is staggered in dumplings) is a style of dump- ages could be the food snob’s hospitality career as a wine di- ramen, he and his wife, Heidi, twos, to give some illusion of lings that originated in Mi- answer to Buffalo wings. rector at iconic high end places have become ours in Queens. privacy when seated next to yazaki prefecture on Kyushu U. & I. (pun intended) stands like Bouley and Per Se. He cut Mu Ramen’s hyper-stylish a stranger. Parties of two or island. It uses chicken wings for uni (sea urchin) and ikura his culinary teeth in Per Se’s interior sports a mini succu- four work best, given this ar- as wrappers instead of dough. (salmon roe). The uni reclines kitchen as a volunteer. Some- lent garden set into the com- rangement. In Japan the wings are stuffed on a bubbly bed of roe over where along the way this nice munal table, custom bentwood The Japanese menu, lim- with the usual pork dumpling Continued on Page 4 Flushing Town Hall fi nishes the year on a high note BY NORM HARRIS drums, bassist Eric Wheeler to his original childhood men- and pianist Michael King. tor, Grandpa Doc Cheatham, At Flushing Town Hall The ensemble of young li- young Croaker played a Joe the old year rang out with the ons, all of them in their 20s, Henderson mainstream com- sounds of a new trumpet icon kept the audience’s rapt atten- position, “ Shades of Jade.” during the final performance tion to every beat, every note “I just wanted to let you of the cultural center’s 2014 and creative nuance as they know that we know and can Jazz series. played his original composi- play that older jazz stuff also,” Headlining the late Decem- tions, “Transcend,” “The Fun- Croaker told the crowd. ber show was Theo Croaker, damentals,” “It’s Not You, It’s The finale as a seasonally grandson of the late and leg- Me — But You Didn’t Help,” inspired composition on solo endary trumpet player Doc “Meditations,” “Hash Tag muted trumpet of “Merry Adolphus Cheatham, who per- Truth” and “Light Skinned Christmas,” was dedicated to formed songs from his latest Beauty.” Croaker’s guest of honor and album “AfroPhysicist.” As a segue toward the end grandmother, Mariam, Doc Croaker was accompanied of the evening’s variably com- Cheatham’s widow, who was by his group Dvrkfunk, which Theo Croaker, grandson of legendary jazz trumpet player Doc Adolphus plex, electrofunk inspired sitting front row center en- includes Irwin Hall on alto sax Cheatham, performed at Flushing Town Hall in late December. single set and in commemora- joying her husband’s legacy and flute, Kassa Overall on Photo by Norm Harris tion/celebration of his roots anew. TIMESLEDGER.COM TL TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 37 Children cook up a storm in Forest Hills BY MERLE EXIT was shown how to roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter. Chef competition reality There were star-shaped va- TV shows are growing by the nilla wafers and bear-shaped season. gingerbread cookies. Once There is “Hell’s Kitchen,” the cookies were baked the “The Taste,” “Chopped,” “Cut- students were able to decorate throat Kitchen,” “Top Chef,” them and make them their “Master Chef” and now “Mas- own. ter Chef Junior.” While the cookies were in We recently watched as the oven, Chesleigh taught 8-year-old Oona, who said she the students how to make the had been cooking since the age dough so that the next class of 2, made it into the top four. would be able to have it on It was an 11-year-old who took hand. the title. Where are they get- Several of Chesleigh’s ting these talents children? young chefs were taking their One contestant was 11-year- second or third class, while ole Josh Reisner, who hails others were novices at the from Forest Hills. The pro- school. ducers contacted Young Chef’s Young chef David Marreo’s Academy located at 108-10 72nd mother said her son makes Ave. in Forest Hills and after pancakes on the weekends. a number of interviews, Josh “ H e d o e s i t f r o m s c r a t c h , ” s h e made it to the top 16 of the com- said. “I would do it from a mix. petition. He loves to bake.” Karen and Christopher Other children also ex- Chesleigh opened the school pressed their desire to help in the summer of 2007. mom and dad in the kitchen. “Being parents ourselves, “With both parents work- we wanted to bring something Karen Chesleigh (l.) teaches students James Cunningham and Mickel Washington (r.) the fine art of holiday ing and siblings doing their great to the neighborhood for cookie baking during a class at the Young Chef's Academy in Forest Hills. Photo by Merle Exit own thing, family dinners are kids,” Karen Chesleigh said. less common,” Chesleigh said. “I am nutritionally trained range from ages 7-11, and Se- these kids are capable of, large enough to divide the “Having children participate while Chris loves to cook and nior Chefs are for 12 and up. should other children or their group between two kitchens, in the meal brings them to- loves kids. Kids may not be “Our longest student parents expect that type of baking holiday cookies was gether for at least a period of athletic or musical but every- cooked with us for over six quality and imagination? the topic. time.” one can cook. You’re not going years,” said Chesleigh. “Our “We believe that if you have On the evening prior anoth- Classes are held Wednesday to play soccer all of your life, oldest students are 18 as well a true passion for what you are er class had made the dough, through Sunday. Chesleigh but the life-skill of cooking as some that have continued doing, you can accomplish put it into proportioned ball- also offers private birthday will always be important.” with us through the age of 20.” anything,” Chesleigh said. shapes and stuck it in the re- cooking parties. Kindercooks are the young- When we watch “Master During a recent evening’s frigerator. For further information est at age 4-6, Junior Chefs Chef Junior” and see what Junior Chef class, which was The class of young bakers call (718) 268-0343. tail and bone marrow expertly prepared Japa- Ramen based stock with bits of nese meal in attractive Continued from Page 37 brisket, half sour pickle, surroundings, Mu Ra- menma (seasoned bam- men is hard to surpass, rice, shreds of nori and boo), cabbage and scal- but it has downside. Mu a slice of spicy maguro lions over loads of deli- Ramen, is to some ex- tuna. A little glob of was- cate, yet springy slender tent, a victim of its own a ballad and 16 bars up tempo, and be abi offers extra kick as if noodles. Unlike much success. It has thus far PRODUCTIONS prepared and dressed to move. the dish needed it. A su- ramen we’ve eaten, Mr. been the destination of a When: Wednesday, Jan. 28; Thursday, Jan. shi lover’s delight! Smookler doesn’t rely on foodie stampede, making “Seussical Jr.” — The world of Dr. Seuss Shiraku tempura is a heavy dose of sodium to it hard to secure a table. set to music by Lynn Aherns and Stephen 29 and Friday, Jan. 30, from 7 pm - 9:30 pm; pick one day another tasty morsel, but give his soup intense fla- Once you do, you are not Flaherty comes to life with a group of not for the squeamish. vor, just umami. There encouraged to linger. In young actors. Where: Andrean Hall, Northern Boulevard Picture a light, crunchy is a selection of extras case you’re oblivious to When: Jan. 30 - Feb. 8, Friday at 7 pm, and 157th Street coating surrounding a you can add for a little the other diners waiting Saturday at 2 pm and 7 pm, Sunday at 2 pm Contact: [email protected] creamily bland interior, extra money. We recom- for a table, the help at- Where: Rockaway Theatre Co., The Post served with the appro- mend the lightly poached tempts to remove your Theatre, Building T4, Fort Tilden, Rockaway priate soy-based dipping egg. We preferred the pi- plate if you put your Cost: $10 MEETINGS sauce. For the uniniti- zazz of the spicy miso ra- chopsticks down for a Contact: (718) 374-6400 ated, shiraku is cod milt, men. Red miso is added moment’s rest. Combine Website: www.rockawaytheatrecompany. North Shore Playwrights Circle Meeting a.k.a semen. If you can to the pork base along that with the hard back- org — Formerly known as the Playwrights Circle eat caviar, why not its with scallion, chopped less stools, and you know of Great Neck, this open group features corollary? We wonder pork, menma, corn, ses- that you’re not there for AUDITIONS discussion, workshopping and writing how they harvest it? Oh, ame and chili oil which leisurely dining. But exercises for playwrights in Queens and yeah, they cut open the rests atop curly noodles. then again, what do you “The Wizard of Oz” — The Andrean Nassau counties. fish. The heat of spice nicely expect? It’s a ramen Players announces an open casting call for When: Every other Wednesday, 7:30 pm – Getting down to busi- complemented the depth shop, after all. its May production. Everyone auditioning 9:30 pm ness, we attacked two of of flavor of the broth. must bring a head shot and resume — a Where: Atria, 96 Cutter Mill Road, Great the four ramens offered: Suzanne Parker is the photograph and handwritten resume are Neck Mu and Spicy Miso. The The Bottom Line TimesLedger’s restaurant acceptable, sheet music with 16 bars of Contact: Muriel, (718) 225-7382 signature is a beefy ox- If you want a light, critic. 38 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 TL TIMESLEDGER.COM The Mysterious Bookshop in Tribeca held the "Executive Severance" book launch party. Photo courtesy Robert K. Blechman TWITTER BOOK Continued from Page 35 ed courses. BVS2]cUZOab]\;O\]`>`SaS\ba In order to fit his dia conventions and cell daily “Twitstering” into ESR\SaROg rain or rock 23 24 25 26 27 13. City near Lake 28 29 30 31 32 33 Tahoe 34 35 14. City on the 36 37 38 39 40 Mohawk 16. Alone 41 42 43 44 45 17. "___ Karenina" 46 47 48 49 50 18. Moisten, as a 51 52 53 54 55 turkey 56 57 58 59 19. Signs, as a 60 61 62 63 contract 64 65 66 20. Hazzard's Rosco 67 68 69 P. Coltrane, e.g. 23. Blackboard 56. One of NY's 8. Four duos 42. Modify accessory Finest, e.g. 9. "Yeah, right!" 43. Skater Harding 24. Campbell's metal 60. Hefty 10. Trusted, with "in" and others 25. An end to sex? competitor 11. Sort 44. Sentence enders 28. Erie Canal mule 62. ___-Detoo 12. Tres - uno 45. Majestic 29. Departed 63. Cherry centers 15. Like some 48. Look up to 32. Maine national 64. Famous fiddler photographs park 65. Full 21. Marketing prefix 49. Candidate lists 34. United States 66. Family follower 22. Ancient 50. Smell and sight, Marshal, e.g. 67. Spa treatment Peruvian e.g. 36. Court grp. 68. AAA offerings 26. Half a prison? 53. Jack of rhyme 39. Feel sick 69. Shell alternative 27. Buddy 55. Pool 40. Barely beat 30. Dread measurement 41. Highway Down 31. Green Day and 57. "American ___" patrolman, often 1. Outlines others, e.g. 58. "The Simpsons" 46. Get by 2. Madrid madame 33. Teen chaser? bus driver 47. Dance bit 3. Once a year 34. Destiny 48. Jerk 4. Horse colors 35. Bunches 59. MGM founder 51. Exist 5. Grapefruit variety 36. West Point letters Marcus 52. Connections 6. Itinerary info 37. Broadway lead 60. Economic stat 54. Enigma 7. Gossip 38. "Be well" 61. Harper or Spike DCA # 1098304 #1098306 Design by: © PrintorDesign.com #Z('3"TTPDJBUFTttt7JTJUPVSXFCTJUFBUXXXHGSQV[[MFTDPN 40 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Guide toDINING Jimmy’s Trattoria Ristorante 45-73 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 213-41 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY, 11361 s WWW*IMMYS"AYSIDECOM s APERITIFBISTROBAYSIDECOM Gallagher’s HAPPY Mon - Fri 11:30 - 3:30PM Sat & Sun 12 Noon - 4PM 82-70 Austin Street HOUR Kew Gardens, NY 11415 43-19 37th Street Complimentary Lunch during Happy Hour Long Island City 2000Indoor Valet Parking s All Major Credit Cards Accepted 718-849-3939 718.361.1348 s www.gallaghers2000.net Aunt Bella’s Restaurant MARBELLA 220-33 Northern Blvd. For Reservations Call Bayside ITALIAN RESTAURANT (718) 423-0100 Fax (718) 423-0102 (3 blocks west of Good Food At A Price You Can Afford AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES & CATERING Cross Island Pkwy.) Entertainment by Harpist Victor Gonzalez -ARATHON 0KWY ,ITTLE .ECK s !UNT"ELLAS2ESTAURANTCOM s Zum Stammtisch www.zumstammtisch.com German & -YRTLE !VENUE s 'LENDALE .9 Bavarian (718) 386-3014 Food G\eeJkXk`fe$C@IICfn\iC\m\c 8[aXZ\ekKfK`Zb\kN`e[fnj )() )++$-*,' {ä£ÓÊ Ê 6 ÊUÊ 9- ÊUÊÇ£nÓÓ{ÓÓää www.bourbonstreetny.com nnn%kiXZbjYXi^i`cc%Zfd A community staple since 1933 L^cZI^bZL^cZ7Vg 40-45 235th St., Douglaston, NY 11363 s 347-502-7274 (718) 672-9696 64-21 53rd Drive s Maspeth, NY www.winetimedouglaston.com Learn more at www.oneillsmaspeth.com SUNDAY BRUNCH Facebook.com/winetimedouglaston s [email protected] To be featured in our Guide to Dining call for information: 718.260.4521 TIMESLEDGER.COM TL TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9-15, 2015 41 LIC lands state grant Boro vigils continue in honor of slain cops Funding to plan for future will boost booming nabe BY BILL PARRY city and we stand together as a community.” More than 100 Astoria Constantinides made pub- residents joined Deputy In- lic safety a key part of his spector Kevin Maloney and campaign when he ran for his officers in front of the City Council in 2013 knowing 114th Precinct Dec. 30 for a that Astoria is strongly pro candlelight vigil in honor of police. Gianaris, like Con- Detectives Rafael Ramos and stantinides, was born and Wenjian Liu. Clergy from the raised in the community and three major faiths spoke to he knew the candlelight vigil the crowd. would be a good way to show City Councilman Costa pride in the police force. Constantinides (D-Astoria) “I am proud to have taken organized the vigil in part- part in this powerful display nership with state Sen. Mi- of support alongside out en- chael Gianaris (D-Astoria), tire community for the men Assemblywoman Aravella and women of the NYPD who Simotas (D-Astoria), Assem- spend their days and nights blyman Michael DenDekker keeping us safe,” Gianaris (D-East Elmhurst) and state said. “Moving forward we Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East must continue to honor the LIC Partnership is awarded $100,000 for its first-ever neighborhood study that will produce a comprehensive Elmhurst). memories of the police of- plan for its future. Photo by Bill Parry “The vigil showed just ficers who were tragically how strongly we all support taken from us, as well as all BY BILL PARRY strengthen social and physi- neighborhood’s goals. We hope the 114th Police Precinct and NYPD employees who put cal infrastructure by working to guide city, state and federal showed what a community their lives at risk every day The Long Island City Part- with local and regional stake- action based upon an in-depth can do if we stand united,” in order to protect us.” nership, the non-profit local holders. studied assessment of the facts Constantinides said. “Even development corporation that “Currently experiencing a and current conditions.” as we feel a great loss and Reach reporter Bill Parry by e- has played a key role in the period of explosive transfor- She pointed out that “prior recognize the loss that the mail at [email protected] transformation of the neigh- mation, much of it 30 years sector-based or geographic- officers’ families are feeling, or by phone at (718) 260–4538. borhood, has been awarded in the making, Long Island based efforts, such as the we have stayed united as one a $100,000 grant to create a City is now ready for its own Western Queens Transpor- plan for the future. The New comprehensive look as a mat- tation, Tech Zone, and Civic York City Regional Economic ter of citywide urgency and Action studies, will be aggre- Development Council is mak- as a regional priority,” LIC gated with new information to ing the investment to fund a Partnership President Eliza- inform and drive demand for a roadmap that would bolster beth Lusskin said. “Funding roster of action-oriented solu- economic productivity, help for this study will allow us to tions.” resident overcome barriers to work to set a vision and pri- Funds from the grant, economic opportunities, and orities consonant with the Continued on Page 49 House OKs terrorist risk bill BY BILL PARRY to taxpayers.” Maloney, a senior member After months of debate and of the House Financial Ser- negotiation, the House of Rep- vices Committee, was the lead resentatives passed a bill to Democratic cosponsor of the extend the Terrorism Risk In- TRIA Reauthorization Act of surance Act for an additional 2013, which would have ex- six years by a vote of 417-7 tended the program without any changes. Similar legisla- Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Carolyn U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney ap- Maloney (D-Astoria), the lead tion proposed by Sen. Charles Democratic author on legisla- plauds House leaders for their Schumer passed in the Senate tion to extend the law, and a quick action on the Terrorism Risk in October but ultimately, Sen- key participant in the negotia- Insurance Act. AP/Mel Evans ate Republicans blocked the tion of the final bill, hailed the House legislation in the final passage as essential to New omy suffered a devastating hours of the 113th Congress York’s economy. blow. Nowhere was that more and TRIA expired December “After Sept. 11, it was im- true in New York. The Terror- 31.”Today, the House took the possible for businesses to buy ism Risk Insurance Act was first step in reviving this vi- the terrorism insurance they the solution and it remains the tal economic backstop and I needed to move forward with solution. By providing a gov- strongly urge the Senate to act major construction projects,” ernment backstop, it ensures quickly and renew TRIA,” U.S. Maloney said. “Development that terrorism insurance is Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Candlelight vigils continue at precincts throughout the borough fol- came to a halt, money for new available and affordable, and Heights) said. lowing the funerals for Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. projects dried up and our econ- the program works at no cost Continued on Page 49 Courtesy of Costa Constantinides office 42 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Bridal Fashion THE VANDERBILT AT SOUTH BEACH OKG JEWELRY BRIDAL STYLES BOUTIQUE 300 Father Capodanno Blvd., Staten Island 248-25 Northern Blvd., Little Neck, NY 718-423-2526 (718) 447–0800, www.vanderbiltsouthbeach.com www.okgjewelry.com Like Us on Facebook 905 Ave. U, Brooklyn, (718) 339–3222, www.bridalstylesboutique.com PARADISE CATERING HALL Open Tuesday - Saturday SANDRA DIAZ 51 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY 11223 (718) 372-4352 www.theparadisecateringhall.com Limousine Services Located near the Verrazano Bridge in Bay Ridge Brooklyn MILA LIMOUSINE CORPORATION 347-251-7423 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Nominate a person who has made a difference in the great borough of Queens 25 people will have their important work featured in the newspaper and will be feted at a reception gala in their honor. It can be anyone who has had an impact on the borough in any fi eld. Name of nominee: ______ Why are you nominating them? ______ How can we reach you or your nominee for more information? Your name: ______Phone: ______Email: ______ Email your nomination info to: [email protected], or fax this form to: 718-224-5821, Att: Linda Lindenauer Or mail this form to: Queens Impact Awards Nominees CNG — TimesLedger Newspapers 41-02 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 Att: Linda Lindenauer Body language can tell you all sorts of things. Like someone is having a stroke. strokeassociation.org Know the sudden signs. Spot a stroke F. A . S .T. 44 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM Sports Best of the gridiron Flushing’s Chavis, DeSantis lead All-Queens honorees BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI Football continues to thrive in Queens. Flushing kept itself among the PSAL’s elite teams by reach- ing the city conference semifi- nals. Christ the King enjoyed a resurgent season. The athletic and determined Royals earned a spot in the CHSFL Class AA playoffs for the first time since 2010. A young Holy Cross team found its footing in the second half of the year and Bayside reached the PSAL Bowl con- Queens College's Madison Rowland (11) drives to the basket during ference semifinals. After an- Saturday's game against Immaculata at Madison Square Garden. other fine campaign, here are Photo by Steven Schnibbe the players deemed the best in Queens. Queens women shine All-Queens Football Player of the Year: Terrence Chavis, Flushing The senior signal caller put Flushing quarterback Terrance Chavis (3) scrambles and brakes free at 40th-year rematch Flushing on his back many from South Shore's defense. Photo by Steven Schnibbe times this season. His play- BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI drew inspiration from a pre- making ability was often the the CHSFL’s top receivers. Bah offense and tossed eight touch- game speech from Queen Col- difference in key wins that caught 23 passes for 387 yards downs passes to help fuel the St. The moment and what it lege legend Gail Marquis, who kept Flushing in the top tier and six touchdowns to fuel the Francis Prep offense. meant didn’t pass Madison was honored at halftime along of the PSAL. Chavis threw for Knights’ second-half surge. Rowland by. with others who played and 19 touchdowns and scored six RB/DB Roy Harvey, Cam- The Queens College sopho- coached 40 years ago. more on the ground. He com- RB/LB D’Andre Sapp, pus Magnet more star embraced every bit When the game started, it piled 2,153 total yards of offense Flushing Harvey has been a catalyst of playing at Madison Square was all business for Rowland, and always thrived in the big Sapp did a little bit of every- for Campus Magnet throughout in a game commemorating who fell a point short of the moment. thing for Flushing. The senior his career and he excelled in his the 40-year anniversary of the Maggie Dixon Classic record. scored seven offensive touch- larger role. Harvey compiled first women’s college basket- It is a performance Queens All-Queens Football downs and posted 994 yard of 742 yards of total offense and ball game at the World’s Most coach Bet Naumovski fully Coach of the Year: Jim De- total offense. Defensively, he scored six times. He also made Famous Arena. expected. Santis, Flushing made 24 tackles, scored a touch- 41 tackles on defense. Rowland ensured history “Her competitive drive DeSantis did not let Flush- down and collected two inter- did not repeat itself by scoring is stronger than anyone I’ve ing be a one-hit wonder after ceptions. WR/DB Keron Hermitt, 28 points and grabbing 11 re- ever coached hands down,” reaching its first PSAL City Flushing bounds to lead the Knights to a Naumovski said. “I know she Conference semifinal since the DL Charles Driver, Cam- The senior loved to wear 76-60 victory over Immaculata may have been nervous, but as early 1990s. He pushed a veteran pus Magnet Superman Under Armour and as part of the Maggie Dixon I told her mom, ‘As soon as that group to be great and produced Driver was a versatile force he often played like a hero. Her- Classic last Sunday. Queens ball is tipped her competitive one of the city’s most explosive for the Bulldogs. The senior aid- mitt was a big time playmaker College lost the inaugural con- juices are going to start flow- and determined clubs. Flush- ed Campus Magnet’s rushing on both sides of the ball. He had test 65-61. ing and we will be just fine.’” ing went 8-4 and lost to eventual attack with 391 yards and four nine touchdown and 724 yards “It was getting revenge for The Knights, who play in champion Lincoln in the quar- scores, but his real impact came of total offense and three inter- losing the game 40 years ago,” Division II, led just 25-24 at the terfinals. on defense. Driver made 51 tack- ceptions on defense. Rowland said. “Forty years half against a hot-shooting Im- les, recorded 18 sacks and added ago, the game was so close, maculata team that plays in All-Queens Football a fumble recovery. OL Will LeClaire, Holy they were so close to winning Division III. First Team: Cross it, but we got it back for them.” Naumovski asked her team QB Robert Einersen, St. The senior stalwart has been She admitted to being ner- to attack the basket more and WR Amed Bah, Holy Francis Prep a corner stone on the Knights’ vous before the contest and it was Rowland who led by Cross It was a tough year for the offensive life. called the experience of play- example. Immaculata (4-6) led The talented junior was lim- Terriers, but Einersen still The united play improved as ing at the Garden “surreal.” just once on the first basket of ited by injuries, but when he excelled under center. The se- the year went on and Holy Cross Rowland and her teammates Continued on Page 46 was on the field, he was one of nior posted 1,198 yards of total Continued on Page 46 TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 45 UConn too much for SJU at Classic BY STEPHEN ZITOLO to the country today.” Thompson surpassed the re- St. John’s had a strong day cord on Jan. 2 in a key victory The St. John’s women’s bas- on the defensive side of the over No. 23 Seton Hall. ketball team hung right with ball as it held UConn (12-1) to Stewart had 18 points and national power Connecticut its lowest point total of the sea- 11 rebounds and redshirt soph- for a half before the Huskies’ son and got only narrowly out- omore forward Morgan Tuck depth and size became too rebounded, 41-37, by a much had a game-high 23 points for much to overcome. larger Huskies front line. UConn. Junior guard Moriah The Red Storm ultimately On the offensive side of the Jefferson had 16 points. fell 70-54 to No. 2 Connecticut ball, UConn’s size in the front- In the first half, St. John’s in the main event of the Mag- court was too much for the was able to stay with the de- gie Dixon Classic last Sunday Red Storm to overcome. The fending national champions at Madison Square Garden. length of UConn hampered as it won the battle on the St. John’s (12-2) trailed just 38- St. John’s ability to attack the boards, 22-18, and scored nine 31 at the break. It was a strong basket. It had to settle for too points off of UConn’s four showing for a program that’s many jump shots. St. John’s turnovers. made five straight NCAA only shot 37 percent from the In the second half, UConn tournaments. field. came out and gave St. John’s a “We did a great job of ex- When St. John’s tried to ecuting some of the things we attack the basket its shots tough time. The Huskies went were trying to do against a were swatted away by junior on a 13-2 run right out of the tremendous team with some Breanna Stewart and senior break and the Red Storm were great players,” St. John’s head Kiah Stokes, who combined never really able to get back coach Joe Tartamella said. “I for eight blocks. into the game after that. thought our kids fought real Aliyyah Handford paced “I think they capitalized on hard throughout the entire the Red Storm with 20 points our turnovers,” junior guard game, so I’m very proud from and eight rebounds and Dan- Aliyyah Handford said. “We that standpoint. We were re- aejah Grant added 13 points. also helped them by coming lentless on both ends of the Senior forward Amber Thomp- down and shooting after one court and that’s what we’ve son grabbed eight rebounds to pass. That’s what they wanted been talking about doing all extend her St. John’s all-time us to do and it helped them get St. John's Aliyyah Handford (3) sets up a play against UConn in the Maggie year. I thought we showed that rebounding record to 883. on a run.” Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden. Photo by Steven Schnibbe St. John’s must quickly regain early momentum rejoined the Johnnies’ lineup Joseph against Villanova Jan. 6 after Staszewski a leave of absence because of the death of his grandmother. ■ Jordan has been a disciplin- Block ary problem in the past and, according to reports, further Shots infractions also led to his cur- rent hiatus. Head coach Steve Lavin met with him over the t. John’s season is at a weekend. Senior D’Angelo crossroads. Harrison spoke with Jordan A year that started so prior to practice on Monday Spromising hangs in the and said his backcourt mate balance in the weeks to come. knew he let the team down. The Red Storm men’s basket- They are moving forward. ball team had a chance to roar “We’re all a family and into the New Year, potentially family sticks together through claim a top 10 ranking nation- tough times and good times,” ally and brand themselves the senior Phil Greene IV said. favorites to win the Big East. “We have each other’s back and It would have been a real- it’s going to stay like that.” A dejected D’Angelo Harrison (l.) sits on bench after fouling out with 1:35 left in second half of a Big East battle ization of what was expected It has to. between St. John’s and Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in Newark Dec. 31. Photo by Robert Cole not only this year, but also The St. John’s roster has a year ago. Instead, losses just six Big East caliber play- Pointer and Jamal Branch Sustaining that will be a “I just want to win,” Har- to Seton Hall and Butler left ers because only two of Lavin’s playing well. They proved that tough task over a long season rison said. “I’m just trying to that opportunity somewhere three true freshmen recruits in the non-conference portion and the grind of the Big East do whatever it takes to win between Newark and Queens. over the last two seasons are of the schedule. Lose one or schedule, especially for a team games.” The worry now is this promis- eligible to play. Jordan just have one’s game slip and we’ve that needs the energy to turn The group deserved a bet- ing season starts to resemble took a leave of absence, Amar seen what happened against people over to score. ter hand than it was dealt. the lost one that preceded it Alibegovic has played just 24 Seton Hall and Butler. One thing is for certain, Still, the team’s handicapped with the Red Storm in position minutes and Adonis De La Ro- “The positive is we have however. This group will give roster might not stop them to dig a hole similar to last sea- sa’s SAT score remains under the rotation, the pieces in everything it has to be suc- from making the NCAA tour- son’s 0-5 start to conference investigation by the NCAA. place that led to the 11-2 start,” cessful. It’s why the expecta- nament like they so desper- play. The Johnnies can win with Lavin said. “We’re a tough tions are so high for St. John’s ately want to. In order for that The good news is star soph- Harrison, Greene, Jordan, matchup when we have those right now. They’ve willed to happen, this season cannot omore guard Rysheed Jordan Chris Obepka, Sir’Dominic six players at our disposal.” them there. start to look like last year. 46 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM REGISTRATION The League Starting January 3rd that feels Every Saturday 8am–12pm all children Every Monday evening 7–9pm should be playing (Except Mon. 1/19 will be Tue. 1/20 in observance of and having fun Martin Luther King) Baseball for boys and girls Through January 26th for ages 4–17 Girls softball available We accept Checks, Money Orders for ages 10 and up and Credit Cards. The Club House VISIT THE WEBSITE: 25-32 168th Street BaysideLittleLeague.com Lower Level FOR THE APPLICATION AND INFO TIMESLEDGER.COM NE TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 47 MSG Continued from Page 45 the second half. Queens (8-2) put the game away with an 11-3 run that in- cluded a three-point play from Rowland and two sweet dishes from Joya McFarland. The Knights led 59-49 with 8:40 to go in the contest and never looked back. Imani Davidson scored 13 points and grabbed nine boards and Mackenzie Rowland, Madi- son’s sister, chipped 13 points and eight rebounds. Sara Smith led Immaculata with 15 points and Adriana Sciascia had 13. The win was just another step under the Queens’ motto of “restore the glory” to the proud program with a rich his- tory. The Knights have won five straight and are one of the favorites to win the East Coast Conference. As much as this win was about remembering the past, the Knights also want- ed to put its present and future on display. “We had this opportunity because of what our alumni ac- complished 40 years ago, but I wanted today to be about them and their experience and what they can do at Queens College.” Naumovski said of her current roster. “It was not only about Queens Colege’s Imani Davidson (r.) battles for a rebound against Immaculata’s Sara Smith during the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square honoring the past, but honor- Garden Saturday. Photo by Steven Schnibbe ing today and our future.” fine Knights defense. bounce back season and the se- nior had 36 catches and aver- WR Marcus Layne, Christ the All-Queens nior running back was a major aged 10.3 yard per grab. King RB Garfield McDonald, Ja- Continued from Page 45 LB Richard Posch, St. factor in it. He posted 813 total Francis Prep yards and scored 10 times on the Honorable Mention maica surged late. LeClaire was a big Posch was all over the field ground. His hard-nosed running WR/DB Lawrence Binger, OL Jeremy Medina, Holy reason why. for the Terriers in the CHSFL style made him capable of break- Beach Channel Cross ‘AAA.’ He led the team in tack- ing a big play any moment. LB/K Francis Cole, St. Fran- RB/LB Demetrie Narcisse, LB Chris Manfre, Holy les with 64, including 53 of the cis Prep Flushing Cross solo variety. The senior added WR/QB Paul Yodice, Holy LB Jeshua Darnell, Campus DE Angle Ortiz, Christ the Manfre made certain his two sacks, an interception and Cross Magnet King presence was felt and was the a fumble recovery to his fine de- Yodice excelled wherever he QB Charles Flugg, Bayside WR/LB Tyrell Plaza, Bay- Knights’ surest and hardest hit- fensive year. played on offense, but was more OL/DL Abel Joseph Flushing side ting tackler. The senior made a comfortable as one of the CHS- QB Darren Koomson Beach OL Anthony Pravata, St. team-leading 98 tackles, 75 for a RB Jamen Williams, FL’s top receivers. He compiled Channel Francis Prep loss, and picked up two sacks. Christ the King 688 yards of offense running, DB Christian Layne, Christ OL Rashawn Williams, He was the leader of another Christ the King had a major passing and receiving. The se- the King Christ the King 48 TIMESLEDGER, JAN. 9–15, 2015 BT FT TL TIMESLEDGER.COM tel development, an increase Slowdown Grant in cultural activity and a resurgence in the industrial Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 42 sector, all of which have after the non-indictment in the changed the dynamic of the chokehold death of Eric Gar- which are being provided by neighborhood. The Cornell ner, an unarmed black man Empire State Development, Tech campus, which is com- killed during a confrontation the state’s chief economic ing to Roosevelt Island in the for a minor offense with the development agency, will next couple of years, will look police in Staten Island. De Bla- leverage public and private to LIC for services and space sio also supported the protests support to create a pool of re- for its entrepreneurial spin- that followed the decision by a sources to produce the study. offs. Staten Island grand jury. “Our goal in supporting Several elected officials “People in this city appreci- this study is to help Long supported the grant on behalf ate our police,” de Blasio said Island City identify key ar- of the LIC Partnership. at the news conference to an- eas that will spur economic “Long Island City is one nounce a 4.6 percent overall growth and strengthen the lo- of New York’s most exciting drop in crime citywide. cal community,” NYCREDC neighborhoods,” state Sen. And as the mayor touted Executive Director Joe Taze- Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) the citywide drop in crime for well said. “The comprehen- said. “I look forward to work- 2014, Bratton tried to explain sive plan resulting from the ing with everyone who loves the decline in arrests and study will generate economic Long Island City to ensure summonses. In the past few weeks, police officers are making fewer arrests and issu- opportunities and engage in our community continues to Bratton noted, “We had a ing less summonses as the rift between the force and the mayor grows. key local stakeholders to en- grow in a responsible way.” lot of things that have been im- Photo by Michael Shain sure that this booming New Borough President Melin- pacting on activity levels,” re- York City business district da Katz said the plan would ferring to a decline in calls to crisis by any stretch of the In the police precincts continues to thrive.” make the neighborhood “an 911, the protests over Garner imagination in New York City covering northern Queens, In recent years LIC has even more attractive area for and other police cases as well at this time.” serious offenses declined by seen office development, an residents, visitors and busi- as the deaths of Ramons and De Blasio spoke at Queens about 3.2 percent. As of Dec. influx of residential and ho- ness owners.” Liu, among others. College Wednesday, welcom- 28 authorities reported a total “We are taking a long view ing the new recruit class for of 11,764 crimes, down from look,” Bratton said “We are the Police Academy in a bid 12,153 offenses in the same pe- looking at very specific pre- to improve his relationships riod in 2013. dry weather and we’ve also cincts, to borough, to tours of with cops. In southern Queens, which Bay measured high levels of bac- duty.” “You are joining at a cru- covers the 100, 101, 102, 103, teria,” Shapley said. According to the New York cial time,”he told the recruits. 105, 106, 107 and 113 police Continued from Page 9 The team and Riverkeep- Post, from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, “We are going to keep driving precincts, the drop in major er are hosting a workshop at the number of arrests were crime down... We are going to crime was down by almost 7.4 The scientists tested for a Flushing Town Hall Jan. 21 down 56 percent compared draw this police department percent. The biggest declines bacteria called enterococcus, to encourage citizens to clean to the same period last year, closer and closer to the com- were in robbery and burglary, a recommended indicator for up waterways and inform from 10,818 to 4,221. Parking munities it serves and in the with drops of 21.5 and 21 per- assessing water quality for them of the oyster reef goal. violation were down about 93 process make everyone safer.” cent, respectively. sewage or fecal contamina- The team still has to con- percent, traffic violations 92 And the city appears to be According to the statistics, tion. Rain tends to trigger sult Queens Community percent and criminal court safer, indeed, at least judging in northern Queens, covering contamination at Flushing Board 7 and other entities, summonses 91 percent. from the crime statistics. the 104, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, Bay, said Dan Shapley, River- Fromson said. But Bratton emphasized In both, Patrol Borough 114 and 115 precincts, the big- keeper’s water quality pro- “There’s a lot of things we that the city is in no crisis Queens North and Queens gest declines occurred in rob- gram manager. need to discuss,” she said. mode. He said calls to 911 “are South, overall major crime beries, with a decline of 14.8 “At this location, we defi- “It just might be a fabulous down fairly dramatically dur- was down for the year, accord- percent, and rape, with 13.9 nitely see that we get a lot of thing. We’re exploring it. ing this last couple of weeks, ing to the latest statistics made percent fewer offenses. high bacterial counts associ- We’re going to spend this so we are not in a public safety available by the NYPD. ated with rain, but there are winter doing more research also times when there’s been on it.” man Peter Koo (D-Flushing), building could stimulate eco- Queens Borough President nomic activity in the surround- RKO Melinda Katz and the commu- ing area and make downtown try to figure this out,” Kim Continued from Page 2 nity in general, Karlik said. Flushing more attractive. McDonalds said. “If this is an isolated in- He said that when the part- “This historic building has cident involving one individ- apartments and brought the ners first bought the building, become an eyesore in the com- Continued from Page 6 ual, I don’t think calling for a number of units down to 270. there was “really nothing to munity,” Koo said in an e-mail. boycott of the entire business He and the other principal save.” “The creation of much-needed tents of the video but that he is the most responsible thing owners — Eddie Mi, Min Ouy- “It was in horrendous con- housing units, along with the could not comment further to do.” ang and Henry Lam — hired dition,” Karlik said. “The building’s revitalization, is given that the incident is He said that he spoke with historic landmark consultants landmarked area was so de- something I would welcome. pending litigation. the McDonald’s owner prior to help renovate and bring teriorated that we had to take I will continue working with “If there’s a trend of hostil- to the boycott and that they back the landmarked interior. dramatic steps in order to se- the stakeholders in this proj- ity toward one specific type of are trying to determine how The proposed building has cure it from the elements.” ect to make sure the needs of demographic of seniors, then to proceed on the matter once received support from Queens Koo praised the proposed all are properly balanced.” I think we have a stronger the litigation is resolved. Community Board 7, Council- plans, saying that the new case to go to McDonald’s and Raj and Stern for financial as- no evidence behind a witness ing by as much as $7 billion Trial sistance. tampering charge Tabone was Maloney in the event of a major attack. “Halloran, he says, ‘Hey, he hit with for allegedly going to The bill to extend TRIA now Continued from Page 2 [Tabone] can be bought off,’” the late Queens GOP President Continued from Page 42 moves to the Senate . Ring said. “What my client Phil Ragusa’s home in an at- “After months of negotia- because he was going through says comports in no way with tempt to convince him not to RAND Corp. found that tions, I am so pleased we were a divorce and his home was in what Daniel Halloran says.” give a deposition. eliminating the program able to pass this essential leg- foreclosure, so he leaned on Ring insisted there was could increase federal spend- islation,” Maloney said. 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