Bloomberg Touts Prison Record
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• JAMAICA TIMES • ASTORIA TIMES • FOREST HILLS LEDGER • LAURELTON TIMES LARGEST AUDITED • QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES COMMUNITY • RIDGEWOOD LEDGER NEWSPAPER IN QUEENS • HOWARD BEACH TIMES • RICHMOND HILL TIMES Jan. 3-9, 2014 Your Neighborhood - Your News® FREE ALSO COVERING ELMHURST, JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND CITY, MASPETH, MIDDLE VILLAGE, REGO PARK, SUNNYSIDE Family moves to Far Rock Images of after son’s brain surgery despair Page 3 QGuide Page 25 DOT closes exit Bloomberg touts prison record on Queensboro after cop death Mayor stops by Jamaica probation offi ce to highlight record low incarceration rate BY RICH BOCKMANN rates at the same time the city is and having a lower crime rate,” bottom line — while locking up BY BILL PARRY experiencing record-low levels of Bloomberg said during a news fewer people and the connection Just a few days before he left crime. conference at the city Department is exactly what you think because A new era began on the Ed office, Mayor Michael Bloomberg “Now we think that this is of Probation office at the corner all the evidence shows that all too Koch-Queensboro Bridge with was in downtown Jamaica last a huge success and that there of Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and often repeated spells behind bars the closing of the entire Queens- week touting his administration’s is a connection between incar- Jamaica Avenue. can lock inmates into a cycle of bound outer roadway Monday work to reduce incarceration cerating fewer young people “We kept our city safer — the Continued on Page 38 night. Motorists are no longer al- lowed to use the lane between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. follow- OSCAR WINNER VISITS FAR ROCK ing a city Department of Trans- portation review of existing safety measures, traffic volumes and travel speeds ordered after a deadly crash early on the morn- ing of Dec. 10. The daily closure and reopen- ing is managed by NYPD officers and agents already stationed on the bridge to oversee the weekday reversal of the two Queens-bound lanes of the upper roadway to ac- commodate Manhattan-bound traffic. Off-duty Police Officer Elisa Toro, a 36-year-old mother of two, was heading to Queens around 2 a.m. when she struck a guard rail on the exit ramp and lost control of her Ford Focus. The car flipped over a concrete barrier and went airborne before flying into the side of a vacant storefront on Queensboro Plaza South, the same location as two other fatal crashes two years ago. Toro was Actor Adrien Brody is surrounded by children as he visits a rehearsal of of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” during the The Action Center’s Post- thrown from her car and killed. Sandy Holiday Party in Far Rockaway. The Action Center provides after-school and out-of-school-time programs for children in the community, and the party The concrete barrier that Of- was organized by Bulgari and Save the Children, which started helping the Far Rockaway center after Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Lev Radin ficer Toro hit was one of several Continued on Page 31 A CNG Publication Vol. 2 No. 1 44 total pages 2 Landlord in Woodside TL Astoria gastropub opens COM lets space to academy . Two rival restaurant owners join forces to complete new hotspot BY BILL PARRY ple and I’d do anything for them. Whatever they can TIMESLEDGER BY BILL PARRY Christmas came early pay that’s what they pay,” for the owners of the Edge Vrettos said. Two successful Asto- Tae Kwon Do Academy this Edge Tae Kwon Do ria restaurant owners have year. Academy, at 44-10 48th Ave., . 3-9, 2014 2014. 3-9, joined together to create The husband and wife made the move two months AN the neighborhood’s latest who run the school were ap- later with a grand opening , J gastropub lounge. proached by their landlord in May. EDGER Matthew Katakis and in the spring and he had “We now have double L Nick Neocleous teamed up a novel idea. The butcher the space, so when I finish IMES T to create Markets, at 37-17 shop next door, La Casa de my kicks I have room to put 30th Ave., which is nearly Carne, had just gone out my leg down,” Arias said. ready for its grand opening of business when the prop- The expansion took after several weeks of a soft erty owner, Chris Vrettos, Hernandez by surprise. opening. hatched his plan. “A round here you “I’ve been working on “He came to me and are more likely to close Marketa for several years said, ‘Sandy, you need this down than expand,” she now,” Katakis said. “Build- space,’” said academy own- said. “It’s very difficult for ing it out the right way was er Sandy Arias. “I couldn’t businesses here. There’s expensive, so Nick joined believe it. He said he loves no Sunnyside Shines and me a year and a half ago to what we’re doing for the the Chamber of Commerce help me finish the project.” kids, so he gave us a break never looks south of Green- The two were born and on the rent.” point Avenue.” raised in Astoria and have The 72-year-old Vret- Instead of relying been friends for more than tos, president of Ionian Ser- on commercial support 20 years. Katakis already vices LLC, has owned three groups, the couple went owns Pita Pan at 37-15 30th properties along 48th Av- about building their own Ave., as well as Butcher Two Astoria restaurant owners unite to open Marketa, a three story gastropub on Steinway Street. enue in Woodside for more community. They say the Bar, at 37-08 30th Ave., and Photo by Bill Parry than 30 years. He said for amount of support they get with Marketa he will have years it because of he was from neighborhood parents three restaurants on the 300 diners depending on brunch on weekends and never satisfied with any of is immeasurable. same block. the season. a special late night menu his tenants until Arias and “It would’ve been “Plus I just took over The kitchen is run by It will be like available. Eventually they his wife Norma Hernandez impossible to do without The Thai Pavillion and I’m two top chefs: Yair Lench- will host special events like moved in. the help of the parents,” going to expand Butcher ner, who worked at Jean- a piece of wine tastings and pairings “They’re excellent peo- Continued on Page 38 Bar into that property,” Georges and The Mark, Manhattan right and classes taught by the Katakis said. and Carlos Pico, from La chefs. Neocleous, who owns Morina. They put together here in Astoria, “We plan on making a sushi restaurant and bar a wide-ranging menu that this a unique space that called Central, at 20-30 includes roasted bone mar- with something will be constantly chang- Steinway St., said, “Nick row, Cornish game hen, ing like the seasons,” Kata- has a background in mar- a truffle-grilled cheese for everyone. kis said. “It will be like a keting, but his experience spread with duck pate and Matthew Katakis piece of Manhattan right running a lounge is what passion fruit pork belly here in Astoria, with some- really helps.” with mint and grapefruit. thing for everyone.” Marketa is three sto- Entrees range from $13 with the freshest local and ries high with a sidewalk to $21. Many of the items seasonal ingredients,” Kat- Reach reporter Bill café, rooftop garden and have a Spanish influence, akis said. “We don’t even Parry by e-mail at bparry@ backyard patio in addition but there is one thing they have a freezer everything’s cnglocal.com or by phone at to the restaurant and bar. all have in common. so fresh.” 718-260-4538. Woodside’s Edge Tae Kwon Do Academy gets larger space, thanks Marketa can seat nearly “Everything is made Marketa will have to a landlord’s support. 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TIMESLEDGER 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 2014. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, N.Y.. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the TimesLedger C/O News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, N.Y. 11361. 3 Family moves into Far Rock home in time for Christmas TL T The Mitchells’ 5-year-old-son, Nile, underwent brain surgery while waiting to settle into his new home IMES L EDGER BY SARINA TRANGLE dispatching skilled workers to and maintain his balance. Think- had grown adept at removing tu- help with their ducts and vents. ing he was suffering from the flu mors from them via their nose.