Queens Chronicle South Edition 01-04-24 by Queens Chronicle

C M SQ page 1 Y K SOUTH QUEENS EDITION Serving Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, City Line and JFK Airport

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. XLVII

NO. 1

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 2

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Queens, city make some gains on crime NYC down overall, boro up 5 percent; steep drops in murders and shootings by Michael Gannon

Senior News Editor

ike the rest of New York City, Queens saw shar p decreases in murders, shootings and shooting victims in 2023 — with the borough’s progress far exceeding the rest of the city in the latter two categories. But unlike the city as a whole, the borough saw an uptick in total major, or index, crimes by 5.7 percent for the year. The Big Apple as a whole was down 0.32 percent, according to CompStat data obtained from the NYPD’s official website. The statistics also show that major crimes still are up 22.5 percent citywide when compared to two years ago. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban shared the credit for the city’s 2023 gains in a post on X on Dec. 31, less than five hours before 2024 began. “As we reflect on 2023 and look forward to the year ahead, I want to thank the men and women of the NYPD for all of their hard work,” Caban wrote. “We ended this year with fewer murders, shootings, robberies, burglaries and transit crimes. Major felony arrests were up, and nearly 6,500 illegal guns were taken off our streets. “As we move into 2024, New York’s Finest will continue to work with communities

Murders, shootings and shooting victims all were down substantially in 2023, both in Queens and citywide. But while the city secured a small decrease in overall major crimes reported during the year, The World’s Borough saw increases in robbries, felony assults, auto thefts, hate PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT / FILE crimes and crimes in the transit system. across the five boroughs to ensure a safer city for all.” There were 386 murders in New York City, down 11.9 percent from 438 in 2022. In

Queens the figure plummeted 38 percent, from 78 down to 48. Rapes were down 10.5 percent in the city and 4.7 percent in the borough.

As with the rest of the city, Queens saw a decrease in burglaries. But while robberies in the city fell 3.1 percent, they increased by 3.5 percent in Queens. Hate crimes were up 1.8 percent in the city, but increased 46 percent in The World’s Borough, skyrocketing from 91 to 133. The number of shooting incidents in the city fell 24.7 percent, from 1,294 to 974; while shooting victims decreased from 1,566 to 1,150, a 26.6 percent drop. The decreases in both categories were far steeper in Queens. Shooting incidents fell 33.8 percent, from 198 down to 131. Shooting victims decreased 36.1 percent, from 252 to 161. As for stolen cars, the trend in the city continued to be bad, while that in the borough continued to be worse. The city had 15,802 reported car thefts in 2023, up 15 percent. In Queens there were 4,533 cars stolen, an increase of 20.1 percent. Index crimes in the transit system fell 2.6 percent citywide, but increased 5.9 percent in Queens in 2023 from 434 to 470. Murders in Patrol Borough Queens South plummeted 49 percent, from 51 to 26. In the Rockaways, the 100th Precinct dropped from one murder in 2022 to zero, while the 101st fell 50 percent from eight continued on page 10

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 4

C M SQ page 4 Y K YEAR IN REVIEW

2023

SOUTH QUEENS: PART II

Together in victories and tragedies

Neighborhoods experience an eventful second half of the year by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

In the latter half of 2023, South Queens found itself navigating a complex tapestry of highs and lows. The summer months brought both tragedy and resilience, from a shocking shooting spree to the heartening unity displayed at community events. Political storms brewed as Buildings Commissioner and former Councilmember Eric Ulrich faced criminal charges, and a contentious debate surrounded Aqueduct Race Track’s potential transformation into a migrant tent site. The community faced losses, mourning a victim of a hate crime and honoring a school crossing guard who met tragedy while ensuring the safety of the children she served. As the year concluded, South Queens lit up with holiday cheer, illuminating the streets with tree-lighting festivities and celebrating a toll rebate for Queens E-ZPass holders. The completion of a safety project on the Conduit offered a glimmer of hope. The latter half of 2023 in South Queens was a testament to resilience and the indomitable spirit of its people.

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July On the morning of July 8, Thomas Abreu, 25, of Cypress Hills, carried out a shooting spree while riding an illegal scooter in Queens and Brooklyn. He killed an 86-yearold man, Hamod Saeidi of Richmond Hill, and injured three others. Saeidi was on his way to a mosque to pray before the incident. Abreu was arraigned on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and weapon possession. Members of Community Board 9 and their

A woman walks barefoot across hot coals in South Richmond Hill on July 30 at Thimithi, a firewalking ceremony, aided by expert Aya PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN / FILE Goparla Maroude.

After it was disclosed on July 15 that Aqueduct Race Track was being considered for a migrant tent that would have housed 1,000 people, Councilwoman Joann Ariola, with mic, announced at PHOTO BY KRISTEN GUGLIELMO / FILE a rally on July 17 that the site was “off the table” — for now. loved ones dined at Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven on July 7 to show their support for the bar, which is one of the oldest in the country, having been open since 1829. According to board Chairperson Sherry Algredo, Neir’s saw approximately a thousand dollars in additional revenue that evening. On July 18, it was revealed that former Republican Councilmember of Queens’ 32nd District and city Department of Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich was expected to face criminal indictment, according to a report from the New York Daily News, which cited three anonymous sources close to the investigation. Sources told the News the probe involved alleged financial misconduct and possible ties to organized crime. Residents of South Queens gathered in front of Resorts World Casino in South Ozone Park on July 19 to protest plans to turn Aqueduct Race Track into a migrant shelter. It was expected to house around 1,000 adults, according to reports by THE CITY. A letter was penned by the Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), and signed by Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), Assemblymembers Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) and David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) and community board Chairs Betty Braton (CB 10) and Algredo, urging President Biden, Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams to take Aqueduct out of consideration. They also urged Biden to address the border crisis and send the city necessary financial relief, and encouraged Hochul to categorize the migrant crisis as a state of emergency. At the protest, Ariola announced that Aqueduct Race Track had been taken “off the table” as a migrant tent site. The ancient Hindu ritual of firewalking has been practiced in countries of the Indian diaspora for centuries, but it’s believed that

the July 30 event at the Shri Shakti Mariammaa Temple on 101st Avenue in Ozone Park was the first time the celebration, known as Thimithi, had been performed in the United States. The festival, which began in Tamil Nadu, South India, honors Mariamman, the goddess of rain, and traditionally ends with demonstrating faith and virtue by walking across a bed of hot coals without getting burned. Members, all dressed in yellow, walked barefoot to a park on 133rd Street in South Richmond Hill for the firewalk. Children across Howard Beach, Lindenwood and Hamilton Beach participated in a lemonade stand event on July 30, organized by PJ Marcel and the Howard Beach Dads Facebook group, and sponsored by Brina Ciaramella of Sovereign Realty of NY. The community stepped out in numbers to supp o r t t h e ch i ld r e n a n d buy s u g a r y refreshments. August South Queens had a blast celebrating National Night Out Against Crime on Aug. 1 at events hosted by the 102nd and 106th precincts. Residents ate delicious food, played numerous games and got a chance to meet the officers that serve their neighborhood. Local electeds, civic groups and community boards were in attendance. Tatyana Koltunyk, 65, was left in serious but stable condition after being bit by a shark on Aug. 7 while swimming off Beach 59th Street in Rockaway Beach, in what was believed to be the area’s first shark attack in decades. The Dollar Tree location at 137-20 Crossbay Blvd. closed on Aug. 7 due to an apparent rat infestation. The issue was brought to the attention of Sam Esposito, president of the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, when a neighbor reached out to him with a complaint about the store. The office of state

Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) requested that a health inspector be dispatched to the location. Addabbo later announced the site was closed pending an investigation by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. On Aug. 10, it was announced Ulrich had been charged with corruption in a sealed indictment by the Manhattan district attorney, sources told The New York Times and Daily News. Ulrich allegedly told Manhattan prosecutors that Adams told him “watch your back and watch your phones.” The former buildings commissioner allegedly interpreted the comment as a warning that he was being investigated. Adams denied the encounter. The River Fund, a nonprofit based in Richmond Hill, held its 10th annual Child Poverty Awareness Day on Aug. 12. Upwards of 4,000 backpacks fully stocked with notebooks and other supplies were given out, and families lined up for 10 blocks — from 120th Street all the way to 130th Street — to receive the items. Kam Mei Koo, 93, was killed and her upstairs neighbor injured in a two-alarm fire in Ozone Park on Aug. 11. After investigating, the FDNY determined the fire was accidental, caused by a lithium-ion battery, according to a post on the department’s Twitter page. Eighteen people citywide would die in such fires by the end of the year. The streets of Little Guyana were awash in red, black and white on Sunday, Aug. 20, as the intersection of 131st Street and Liberty Avenue was co-named for Trinidad and Tobago. According to reports from the Daily News and the New York Post, new evidence indicated the NYPD, using a controversial DNA procedure, launched a “racial dragnet” targeting Black males after the 2016 murder of jogger Karina Vetrano in Howard Beach. The papers also cited a 2019 story from the News, reporting that 360 Black and Hispanic men previously questioned by police in Howard Beach “were harassed, surveilled and swabbed on questionable consent.” More than 350 people walked through the doors of Majestic Marquise party hall in Ozone Park on the evening of Aug. 28 to attend a Breaking Bread, Building Bonds gathering, part of a citywide initiative by the Adams administration that “aims to cultivate the immense diversity of our city and bring New Yorkers together to learn about common bonds, share cultures and traditions and break down silos between communities.” It was organized by the Ozone Park Residents Block Association. September Parents showed up with creative parade floats and kids with pinchable cheeks decked out in bright colors for a day of fun at the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association’s annual Baby Parade & Carnival on Sept. 3 at continued on page 6

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Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

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South Queens remains strong through 2023 continued from page 4 the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department. More than 600 community residents and leaders gathered at Russo’s On The Bay for the Ozone Park Residents Block Association’s second annual awards gala on Sunday, Sept. 10. Neighborhood movers and shakers were honored for their work in the community. After Ulrich surrendered to the authorities on Sept. 13, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and city Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber announced five indictments against the former official for allegedly misusing his authority in all of his public service positions — including as city councilman in the 32nd District, senior advisor to the mayor and Department of Buildings commissioner. According to the charges, Ulrich used his power to benefit friends and associates in exchange for bribes. The top brass of the NYPD were the guests of honor at Woodhaven Manor on Sept. 20 for Rajkumar’s public safety town hall. Attendees included NYPD Patrol Bureau Inspector William Glynn, Assistant Chief Christine Bastedenbeck, Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs Mark Stewart, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, Queens South Commanding Officer Kevin Williams and, most notably, Police Commissioner Edward Caban. Residents were given the chance to talk directly to the officers to raise concerns and ask questions. Work officially began on the city Department of Transportation’s street improvement project at Conduit Avenue and 79th Street in Lindenwood, as announced in April by the department. The project came in response to numerous requests from community members and elected officials for a safer pedestrian crossing between the north and south sides of Conduit Avenue across the grassy area. Hefty rainfall on Sept. 29 and a full moon bringing about a high tide created a perfect storm for residents of Hamilton Beach, who experienced heavy flooding in their homes and throughout the streets. In a Facebook group dedicated to pictures of the area’s tide levels, neighbors showcased the havoc they experienced throughout that weekend.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

October On Oct. 2, Hochul signed bill A4928/S2022, sponsored by Rajkumar and Addabbo, into law. The legislation requires putrescible and nonputrescible waste transported by rail to be covered with hard tarping to stop dangerous

Mayor Adams consoles the daughter of school crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa, who was struck on the line of duty, at a vigil PHOTO COURTESY NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE / X / FILE on Oct. 23.

while working at the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. On Oct. 23, the community came together for a candlelight vigil hosted by the Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol, attended by many residents who knew Naprawa and elected officials, including the mayor. She was remembered as someone who thoroughly enjoyed and gave her all to her job, and it was noted that Naprawa’s final moments were spent helping children cross the street. On Oct. 30, two allegedly illegal pot shops were raided by police: Howard Puff Convenience, located at 159-55 102 St. in Old Howard Beach, and Magic Pack smoke shop, at 84-17 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven. The incidents came as multiple applicants submitted legal cannabis license applications for the area.

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar hosted the NYPD top brass, including Police Commissioner Edward Caban, for a town hall in Woodhaven on Sept. 20, where residents could ask questions PHOTO BY KRISTEN GUGLIELMO / FILE and raise concerns. spillage and the emission of noxious gases. Previous versions of the bill languished in the Legislature for 13 years. To observe conditions in the often-flooded area after a September storm, Mayor Adams conducted a walkthrough on Oct. 4 of the Jewel Streets neighborhood, accompanied by the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala and Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. The mayor remarked that just days after significant rainfall that flooded many parts of the city, everyone in the area was currently standing on dry ground, a credit to the work already done. After the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, residents from all over the borough and elected officials came together for a vigil on Oct. 9 in Kew Gardens Hills to show that Queens stood united with the victims of the attacks. The vigil was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and held in partnership with the Queens Jewish Community Council and the Jewish Community Relations Council. The School Construction Authority closed on four lots in Richmond Hill on Oct. 12, according to records from the city register. The $18 million acquisition, from Beige Family Realty Company LLC, comprises 120-08, 120-20 and 120-30 Jamaica Ave., and 87-14 121 St. An SCA spokesperson told the Chronicle the authority plans to build a 696seat primary school at the location, though many area parents prefer a middle school instead. Christopher Philippeaux, 26, was arrested and charged on Oct. 19 for a hate crime and assault after he attacked a Sikh teenager on an MTA bus in South Ozone Park on Oct. 15. Philippeaux allegedly told the teen, who was wearing a turban, “We don’t wear that in this country,” before punching him in the head, face and back. Jasmer Singh, 66, died on Oct. 20 after a vehicle collision led to a physical altercation in Richmond Hill. Mayor Adams took to X to address the incident, the second violent instance involving a Sikh man in Richmond Hill within seven days, writing, “... On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences. You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you.” Beloved school crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa, 63, was killed on Oct. 20 when she was struck by a dump truck

November At Community Board 10’s Nov. 2 meeting, the temporary migrant housing site at Floyd Bennett Field, which is in Brooklyn but part of the Jamaica Bay unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, was a hot topic. Of the site, Pheffer Amato said, “This is not a place that’s set up for success. It’s a place set up to get people off the streets ... but we are not stopping our advocacy.” Various elected officials are plaintiffs on a lawsuit that said as much, spearheaded by Ariola. Hochul signed legislation on Nov. 14 at a Diwali celebration in Flushing that officially made the day a citywide school holiday. The legislation was carried by Rajkumar and Addabbo, both of whom lauded the governor for signing it into law. Over 300 concerned residents packed into the cafeteria at St. Helen Catholic Academy in Howard Beach for the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic’s Nov. 28 meeting to discuss a topic making the rounds at civic groups all over Queens: marijuana dispensaries. At the meeting, civic Co-president Phyllis Inserillo asked for a show of hands to see how many people in the crowd, whose concerns involved safety and worries that children would become intrigued by the drug, were opposed to a dispensary application for 157-02 Cross Bay Blvd. The vote was almost unanimous, with only one or two objections. December In a merry spectacle of red and green, harmonized by the joyous notes of seasonal melodies, South Queens illuminated the community with enchanting tree-lighting festivities the weekend of Dec. 2. On Dec. 7, it was announced that all certified residents with New York E-ZPass accounts and vehicles registered to a Queens address will receive a 100 percent rebate of the toll charged when they cross the Cross Bay Bridge using their E-ZPass tag. Pheffer Amato and Addabbo were both staunch advocates of the toll rebate during their time in the state Legislature, and celebrated the news with their constituents. After weeks of discussing applications for pot shops, Community Board 10 declined to recommend any of the entities that filed for legal cannabis dispensary licenses in the area at the group’s Dec. 7 meeting. After years of safety concerns and two fatalities since 2018, including the death of Ozone Park resident Kimberly Ortega, 24, in 2021, the community was able to breathe easier as the safety project on North and South Conduit avenues was completed. The Department of Transportation installed a new concrete pedestrian walkway and traffic signals on both sides of the Conduit at 79th Street. The newly paved walkway enhances safety and accessibility, formalizing a “desire line” worn into the grass across the wide median between North and South Conduit avenues. Visit qchron.com for our summaries of the first half of Q the year’s news in South Queens and elsewhere.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 8

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P Hopes for peace, a migrant deal and a better Queens EDITORIAL

AGE

re you as glad to put 2023 in the rearview mirror as we are? We thought so! But we have to believe that 2024 will be better, right? Let’s make it so. First off we must hope for world peace, naturally, as goodhearted people do. Yet we have two serious wars underway. Russia’s expansionist assault on Ukraine has now produced a stalemate. Can an accord be reached? And what about Israel’s counterattack against the Hamas terrorists? It was just and necessary after the horrors of Oct. 7, but the country now faces attacks from seven fronts. And what is the endgame? Closer to home, but still far away, possible conflict looms between Venezuela and Guyana. Venezuela claims threequarters — yes, three-quarters! — of Guyana’s territory. See, there’s oil and gas there, and Venezuela, a failed state (just ask your newest neighbor), wants it. The dispute goes back more than 100 years, but it’s only just now that Venezuela is getting openly aggressive, conducting military exercises to cow its neighbor, which is one-tenth its size. In response, the United States is strengthening military ties with Guyana, which has only a few thousand soldiers and not much weaponry. The last thing we need is another war to get involved in, and the last thing we need in Queens is another

war to divide our residents. Imagine having relief drives in Corona to aid civilians on one side of a war and similar efforts in Richmond Hill to help those on the other side. Let’s instead have no new wars this year and see an end to those that are ongoing. It’s just a hope, but we have it. One irony about Venezuela’s military threats is that it seems half its men of service age have walked to the United States in the past couple years. We exaggerate, but we cannot exaggerate the impact of the migrant crisis, which has seen more than 160,000 people arrive in the city since the spring of 2022 — men, women and children, largely South Americans but from all over the world. This is the No. 1 issue that must be addressed; accommodating them is expected to cost city taxpayers at least $12 billion over three fiscal years. What we need is a grand compromise in Washington that provides for more border security and more aid to both Ukraine and Israel. The latter are fighting for their very survival — but unchecked, unfunded immigration creates an existential threat of its own. You’re witnessing a humanitarian crisis every time you pass by the tents people are living in at the Creedmoor campus or a woman selling fruit on the median of Woodhaven Boulevard. And as this page has said

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Open-border crisis Dear Editor: There’s an old adage that says it all: “Tell the truth and shame the devil.” Mayor Adams, who was a strong supporter of New York being a sanctuary city, but is now burdened with the inf lux of thousands of migrants and the enormous costs associated with such a harebrained idea, decided to pursue other courses of action. Failing to obtain necessary funds from the Biden administration after enlisting the help of Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in that pursuit, he declared the burden should be shared equally by dispersing the migrants across the United States. And because we as New Yorkers are all in this together, his latest proposal involves all of us going to Washington, DC, en masse to protest over our grievances. Not he nor any other Democrat, barring a very few traditional ones, would stand in solidarity and proclaim in one voice, “Mr. President, close the border, protect our nation from unvetted migrants and save us from financial devastation!” Where are the statesmen whose love of country surpasses the goal of just getting elected? As patriots, we must seek them out and elect them!! Thomas and Constance Dowd Oakland Gardens © Copyright 2024 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part thereof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the publishers. This copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. Reproduction of said advertisement or any part thereof without the express written permission of MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. is strictly prohibited. This publication will not be responsiblefor errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not necessarily in accordance with the views of the QUEENS CHRONICLE. This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objectionable. The Queens Chronicle is published weekly by Mark I Publications, Inc. at a subscription rate of $19 per year and out of state, $25 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid (USPS0013-572) at Flushing, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mark I Publications, Inc., 71-19 80th St., Suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385.

before, the legal consent agreement under which the city feels compelled to provide food and shelter to all comers is based on a misreading of the state Constitution and should be thrown out. The Constitution says care for the needy must be provided “by the state and by such of its subdivisions” as the Legislature may determine. Let the Legislature say the city must provide aid if it wants to. Creedmoor is state land, but Albany is not covering the $12 billion the city may spend. Both the state and feds should be doing more, now. Our other hopes for 2024 include a bus route redesign that doesn’t make older people walk farther than they do already; a more reasonable, less dense housing plan for the Creedmoor campus (that’s after the migrants); more enforcement of the laws against unregistered, uninsured mopeds and Vespa-like scooters; fewer fatal fires caused by uncertified e-mobility batteries; less open solicitation for prostitution where children can see it; the delay (forever if possible) of congestion-pricing tolls; less Covid; less RSV; less flu; more good health; more tolerance; more recognition that the world does not revolve around any one of us, not even you. And of course we always hope for a winning Mets season. Ya gotta believe! And you can be an optimist in January.

E DITOR

Reparation hopes fail Dear Editor: Re Naelsha Rose’s Dec. 21 report “Historic reparations legislation signed”: The New York State Legislature’s bill to form a reparations commission is misguided virtue-signaling that could yield disastrous results. Look what happened in California after that state’s Legislature formed a reparations commission in 2021 that recommended payments of $1.2 million to every Black Californian, totaling $800 billion (New York Post, Dec. 20). Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected the recommendation. The price tag would be higher in New York State, which has 700,000 more black residents than California, said the Post. Reparations would place an unfair burden on New Yorkers whose ancestors had nothing to do with slavery, including Hispanic and Asian residents. Identifying slaves’ descendants for payments would be difficult because slavery era records are sketchy or nonexistent. This opens the door to fraud. Instead of paying for reparations linked to

the past, we should invest in preparations to yield a brighter future for all New Yorkers, regardless of race. Playing the race card in state politics is a losing game for everyone. Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

Righting drug-war wrongs Dear Editor: (An open letter to all) The failed War on Drugs began more than 50 years ago when Richard Nixon declared drug abuse public enemy number one. At the time, there were an estimated 300,000 people incarcerated in America. Today, there are approximately 1.8 million, and they are disproportionately Black and Latino. Many have been incarcerated over the years for nonviolent drug offenses lengthened due to the differential treatment of powder and crack cocaine and the unjust treatment of marijuana under federal law. It is a stain on our democracy that has fueled the epidemics

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Dear Editor: Congratulations to my fellow 2023 Letter to the Editor writers. Surveys reveal that the Letters To The Editor section is one of the most widely read and popular parts of any newspaper. Most newspapers will print letters submitted by any writer regardless of where he or she lives, so long as the topic is relevant to readers. It helps to have a snappy introduction and good hook, to be timely and precise and to have an interesting or different viewpoint to increase your odds of being published. Many papers welcome letters commenting on their own editorials, articles or previously published letters. I continue to be grateful that the Queens Chronicle and other newspapers afford both me and my fellow letter writers the opportunity to express our views, including differing opinions on issues of the day. Please join me, a longtime reader and frequent letter-writer, along with your neighbors in reading the Queens Chronicle. Patronize its advertisers; they provide the revenues necessary to keep the paper in business. That includes paying to provide space for your favorite, and not-so-favorite, letter writers. Larry Penner Great Neck, LI

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Evil Putin strikes again Dear Editor: As reported in the media, on orders from Russian President Putin, the country of Ukraine recently was hit with 150 missiles and drones in an 18-hour period. Much damage and loss of lives were reported. This aerial attack struck six cities between Lviv in the west and Kharkiv in the east; more strikes have been launched since then. This monster must be stopped. The United States as well as other countries must provide more weapons for the Ukrainian people to defend themselves or there will be no longer be a Ukraine or its people or culture. Putin is the devil and has no respect for human life. His egregious and nefarious acts against innocent lives are an abomination. Many people in Ukraine have died in this war with Russia, and that includes men, women, children, babies and the unborn. Remember, evil thrives when good people do nothing. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

Say no to ‘City of Yes’ Dear Editor: Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes” initiative might sound promising, but for many New Yorkers, it raises big questions: Are we turning our beloved city into a chaotic mess? While fostering economic growth is important, shouldn’t it come without sacrificing our neighborhoods’ character and residents’ well-being? Look at some potential downsides of “City of Yes”: Unchecked development and uncertain futures: Imagine bustling massage parlors and late-night corner stores popping up on your quiet street. “City of Yes” could turn peaceful residential areas into commercial zones, driving up noise, traffic and congestion. Silencing neighborhood voices: Say goodbye to community input under “City of Yes.” It aims to fast-track development approvals, potentially sidelining vital public review processes, with projects decided behind closed doors, ignoring the needs and concerns of residents. Putting profits over people: “City of Yes” seems to favor developers over residents. Imagine cookie-cutter storefronts replacing local businesses or parking lots replacing playgrounds. These might bring in more tax revenue, but at what cost to the soul of our neighborhoods? We can support economic growth while protecting our communities. Prioritizing responsible development means ensuring safeguards against displacement, preserving input and ben-

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Don’t blame Bernie Goetz Dear Editor: Regarding the “I Have Often Walked” of Dec. 21 devoted to Bernhard Goetz (“Before the gun, Goetz was a toddler in Elmhurst”), Mr. Goetz was not a vigilante, a person who deliberately goes out looking for trouble. He was minding his own business that fateful day. The troublemakers chose the wrong person to threaten and try to rob, probably thinking they had an easy mark. Ken Riebold Bayside

efiting residents, not just developers. Our voices matter. Here’s what you can do: Contact your elected officials and urge them to advocate for responsible development. Join a civic group to amplify your voice and give you access to resources and support. Attend public hearings and meetings to make your voice heard in person. Share your story on social media, using the hashtag #Saveourcommunity and tagging your elected officials. Saying no to “City of Yes” doesn’t mean saying no to progress. It means saying yes to thoughtful, mindful development that puts people first. We deserve a city that thrives while embracing its diverse communities, not one that sacrifices our neighborhoods for quick profits. George Peters Bellerose

of over-criminalization and mass incarceration, which have devastated lives, families and communities. President Biden recently took additional steps forward in undoing the legacy of the failed War on Drugs by commuting the sentences of several individuals with nonviolent drug offenses and pardoning additional Americans convicted of simple possession and use of marijuana. I commend the president for acknowledging that much more needs to be done to right these historic wrongs by urging governors to follow the administration’s lead at the state level. Congress must continue this work by passing the EQUAL Act — which would eliminate the crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity and ensure that those who were convicted or sentenced for a federal offense involving cocaine can receive a resentencing — to help bring to life the principle of liberty and justice for all. Hakeem Jeffries U.S. Representative for the Eighth District House Democratic Leader Brooklyn

E DITOR

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 10

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time capsule burial at 4 p.m. The capsule, slated to be opened in another 100 years, The Woodhaven branch of the Queens will contain photos and notes with patrons’ Public Library at 85-41 Forest Pkwy. is cele- memories about the Woodhaven Library and the neighborhood, as well as QPL cards, brating a century of operation with three including the Mets and Hip Hop 50th annidays of fun-filled activities. versary special edition cards. The centennial festivities kick off on Jan. The library is also hosting an art contest 4, beginning with a family activity at 4 p.m., and a scavenger hunt. The prize for each is a at which attendees can decorate the library for the event. Then, at 6 p.m., adults can par- $20 Target gift card, and winners will be announced on Jan. 6. All completed materiticipate in a watercolor-painting party and als must be turned in to the library by Jan 5. receive a freebie for their participation. RegArtists should submit library-themed artistration is required. The rock band Oof will work in any medium of their choice. There perform to close out the evening. are two separate competitions — one for On Jan. 5, the library will be celebrating teenagers aged 13 through 18, and one for with creativity: painting, drawing and writkids age 5 through 12. For the scavenger ing poems and songs through the lens of the hunt, participants should visit the library for Woodhaven Library’s history at 4 p.m. Finally, on Jan. 6, the main celebration a map, then take a photo in front of at least five historical buildings on the map. truly! At 1 p.m., balloon artist Nick the BalProclamations marking the library’s anniloonatic will share how balloons impact art, versary are expected from state Sen. Joe science, math, geography and even safety. At 2 p.m., the Woodhaven Cultural and Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) Historical Society will teach attendees about and City Councilwoman Joann Ariola the history of Woodhaven. Then, at 3 p.m., Dominican musician (R-Ozone Park). For more information on the centennial Berto Reyes and his band will perform. Q The celebrations will culminate with a celebration, visit queenslibrary.org. Associate Editor

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A male pedestrian is dead after being hit by two vehicles on Monday in Woodhaven. On Jan. 1, at approximately 7 a.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision in the vicinity of 91st Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, police said. Further investigation determined a male, approximately 60 to 65 years of age, was crossing Woodhaven Boulevard east to west mid-block, tripped on the center median and fell into the southbound lanes of Woodhaven Boulevard. The man was struck by a 2002 Toyota traveling southbound on the boulevard,

operated by a 78-year-old male, authorities said. The pedestrian was thrown into the northbound lanes of the boulevard, where he was subsequently struck by a 2008 Jeep, operated by a 51-year-old male. EMS transported the pedestrian to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased, police said. The vehicle operators remained on the scene and no arrests were made. The investigation remains ongoing, authorities said, and there is no identification of the Q deceased available yet. — Kristen Guglielmo

Crime stats

lower numbers, still saw murders decline from 27 to 22, or 18.5 percent. The 104th Precinct in Ridgewood went from three to four. The 108th Precinct in Long Island City saw no murders after one in 2022. The 109th Precinct in Flushing dropped from six to two. The 110th Precinct in Elmhurst went from eight down to three. The 111th Precinct in Bayside saw two murders after having none in 2022. The 112th Precinct in Forest Hills saw no murders after having two in 2022. The 114th Precinct in Astoria went up from four to seven. The 115th in Jackson Q Heights increases from three to four.

continued from page 2 to four. The 102nd Precinct, stationed in Richmond Hill, rose from five to seven. The 103rd Precinct in Jamaica dropped 83 percent, from 12 down to two. The 105th Precinct, with its headquarters in Queens Village dropped from 10 murders in 2022 to two. The 106th in Ozone Park went from five down to two. The 107th Precinct in Flushing stayed level at one. The 113th in Jamaica went from eight to nine. Patrol Borough Queens North, with

C M SQ page 11 Y K

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Adams wants notice for migrant busing Executive order results in NJ transit hubs becoming go-between to NYC by Naeisha Rose

Texas promising weeks ahead of the new year to send an additional 25,000 migrants to the Big In the midst of a virtual forum last Wednes- Apple alone, said the mayor. “We cannot allow buses with people needing day with city leaders from Denver and Chicago, Mayor Adams announced an executive order to our help to arrive without warning at any hour require charter bus drivers transporting of day and night,” Adams said. “This not only migrants into the Big Apple from the Lone Star prevents us from providing assistance in an State to provide 32-hour notice in advance of orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered so much in danger. To be clear, this is not arrival. So far, it has proven ineffective, as the buses stopping people from coming. But about ensurare just dropping them off in northern New Jer- ing the safety of migrants ...” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson took a sey instead, where they can take mass transit to similar measure in the the city. Windy City, and together The measure stipulates that the operators diseme are calling for the with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and a coalition bark between 8:30 a.m. federal declaration of leaders from other and 12 p.m. on Mondays counties, cities and counthrough Fridays, and to of emergency ...” tries, Adams wants to call only drop them off at one on the federal government spot unless directed other— Mayor Adams to do its part and tell wise by the city Department of Emergency Management. Failure to do Abbot to stop using the migrants as political so will result in a Class B misdemeanor, fines, a pawns by busing them to blue states as temperlawsuit and vehicles being impounded, Adams atures drop. “We are calling for the federal declaration of said. The purpose of the action is to give his office emergency, financial support and a national ample time to get sufficient staffing so it is pre- resettlement strategy,” Adams added. On Fox 5’s “Good Day New York” with pared to help asylum seekers in a coordinated way as he estimates 2,500 to 4,500 are coming news anchor Rosanno Scotto on Tuesday, he said the city is at capacity. into the city weekly. “We’re not just saying we’re out of room as a This comes on the heels of Gov. Abbott of Associate Editor

“W

sound bite, we’re out of room literally. People are going to be eventually sleeping on the streets,” said Adams. “I don’t have the authorization to tell people they can’t come into New York City ... It’s against the law.” The mayor also said that the NYPD cannot notify members of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement about migrant-related crimes, in reference to an earlier comment he made about the Big Apple being a sanctuary city. “I cannot break the law and enforce the law,” Adams said. Mayor Sam Joshi of Edison, NJ, is approaching the migrant-busing dilemma in a different manner. Joshi had instructed law enforcement and emergency management to charter a bus with migrants back to the southern Texas-Mexico border. It was unclear if that ever happened but Fox 5 reported on Jan. 2 that two busloads of migrants stopped at Edison and after one charter bus driver had an interaction with police the person turned back. Since Adams’ executive order on Dec. 27, transit stations in the Garden State have become hubs for migrants who utilize the service to get into New York City. “Over the years I have expressed my disagreement with the concept of ‘sanctuary’ cities and states and I won’t allow Edison to be subjected to its consequences,” Joshi said in a Face-

Migrants being bused to a tent city on Creedmoor Psychiatric Center’s grounds in Queens PHOTO BY MIKE SHAIN / FILE Village. book post on Dec. 31. “Our border policies need to be strengthened to stop illegal migrants from entering our country.” Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey campaigned for the Garden State to become a sanctuary state, but has since flip-flopped, according to multiple reports. When the Biden administration recommended redirecting migrants sent to New York to Atlantic City International Airport in September, the governor said he did not believe New Jersey would be able to handle such a move, Q NJ.com reported.

Con men plead guilty in deed theft scheme The two culprits forged signatures to take properties away from heirs by Naeisha Rose

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Associate Editor

Several people will be able to start off the New Year seeing some justice done now that they have secured the deed to their deceased relatives’ homes after two men had set their sights on stealing the properties. This comes as Russell Carbone of Far Rockaway and Terrell Hill of West Hempstead, LI, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to scheming to defraud and offering a false instrument for filing for their involvement in illegally notarizing paperwork to procure the houses of people who died, blocking the heirs from getting what was rightfully theirs and then putting up the properties for rent over the course of four years, according to the office of District Attorney Melinda Katz. Queens Supreme Court restored deeds in Laurelton Gardens, Jamaica, St. Albans and Long Island and returned them to their rightful new owners after Carbone and Hill falsely procured and rented them out from November 2019 to February of this year. Hill, a landscaper, alerted Carbone, a disbarred attorney and a notary public, of homes that appeared abandoned, had gone into foreclosure or that didn’t have a transfer-on-death deed. The defendants then forged their signatures on property records. The pièce de résistance was that Carbone

Two con men recently pleaded guilty to stealing the deeds of several homes in Jamaica, Laurelton Gardens and St. Albans. The culprits also GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE stole deeds in Long Island. used his own legitimate notary stamp on documents and Hill ordered additional ones using the names of actual notaries, then filed the records with the city Department of Finance, according to the charges. In one particular case, the defendants tried to convince a Bronx woman to sell a Jamaica property she inherited to them in November 2019. When she refused they

forged her and her brother’s signatures on a deed transfer, notarized it using Carbone’s credentials and notary stamps available from Amazon, then filed it on March 12, 2021. Records showed that Hill and Carbone’s RC Couture Realty, a corporation that the latter owned with his wife, each owned a 48 percent interest in the house. The deed meant to say 49 percent each, but the two culprits made a mistake while transferring the property to themselves, according to a source from the DA’s Office. The two siblings were left with 1 percent each. Records from the e-commerce company showed that Hill ordered a stamp with another notary’s information on it. In a separate case in Jamaica, the defendants forged the signature of an heir saying that the house was transferred to them, leaving the rightful heir with only a 1 percent share. The heir and the notary whose name was on the paperwork both said they did not sign any documents. The nephew of the original homeowner was also living in the house, but he refused any offers by Carbone to leave, so the disbarred attorney started eviction proceedings against him, prosecutors said. After a civil lawsuit, Hill and Carbone voided the deed, returning the home to the

rightful owner. In another case, the duo procured a third home in Jamaica and sold it to a third party. The DA’s Office will file a motion to apply a state statute to restore the property to the rightful owner, sparing the victim a lengthy and expensive legal proceeding in civil court. Throughout the wide-ranging scheme, 14 deeds were transferred more than once to the defendants and entities connected to them for nine homes, according to Katz’s Office. “When I started the Housing and Worker Protection Bureau three years ago, I promised to protect homeowners from predatory real estate scams that often target vulnerable neighborhoods,” Katz said in a statement. “Since then, we have undone the criminal handiwork of scammers and con artists and pioneered the use of a state statute to return stolen properties to their rightful owners.” In addition to forfeiting the ill-gotten deeds, Carbone’s license as a notary was revoked and he will have to pay $56,960 in restitution,. The money represents the rent payments he collected after illegally leasing the properties and it will go to the legitimate heirs. The company he runs with his wife has to pay a $100,000 fine. Hill is expected to face up to three years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 30, 2024, prosecutors Q said.

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Palestine rally snarls JFK

It’s wake and Traffic, flights delayed; protest fails to shut El Al, Terminal 4 quake in NYC by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Protests organized by a pro-Palestinian advocacy group snarled traffic outside John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports on Monday, though the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates both airports, said on Tuesday that impacts on air travel appeared to be minimal. The group Within Our Lifetime — United for Palestine sent out a press release just after 5 a.m. on Monday calling for drivers to rally outside JFK’s Terminal 4, the New York base of El Al, the national airline of Israel which boards its departures in Terminal 4. The theme of the demonstration was “Flood JFK for Gaza,” and it was set for Terminal 4 at 2 p.m. A caravan met up at Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn beforehand. The office of Chief Philip Rivera of the NYPD’s Transportation Bureau put out an advisory of its own at around 7 a.m., warning of the protests and advising anyone flying out of JFK to arrive early. “There are planned protests today and will cause delays,” the post said. “We don’t want anyone to miss their f lights!” The office would later post that the caravan was inbound to LaGuardia when drivers were unable to access JFK. Police were waiting there. Within Our Lifetime was claiming victory

Monday in a post on X. “Port Authority has effectively shut down all entrances to JFK for people w/o a boarding pass,” according to the post. “AirTrain service is closed, and cars cannot get into the terminal without proof of ticket. Airport is swarming with law enforcement and organizers were removed from Terminal 4.” The group said the protest was inspired by a similar one last week that temporarily shut down the Van Wyck Expressway near JFK. The New York Post reported that last week’s protest resulted in more than two dozen arrests. The paper also reported that up to 60 flights were delayed Monday and that seven protesters were given summonses. Airport officials already were geared up for heavy traffic that could be expected with holiday weekend travel. Travel on the JFK AirTrain between the airport and the Long Island Rail Road’s Jamaica station was limited to ticketed passengers and employees with valid ID for the duration of the protests. So was Terminal 4. “The Port Authority, in coordination with our local, state, and federal partners, deployed safety and security measures to help ensure an uninterrupted travel experience at JFK,” PANYNJ spokesman Seth Stein said. Police were able to block off protesters’ access to the airport from the Belt Parkway,

Marchers from the JFK AirTrain on 157th AveQUEENS CHRONICLE PHOTO nue in Howard Beach. though that required some ticketed passengers to scramble to make their flights. No flights were canceled though 15 were held up for air crews arriving late. A contingent of marchers also took to the streets of Howard Beach for a time. The Office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said there were no arrests, but did not address a question as to whether any of the participants or organizers could face future charges. Authorities said they had no knowledge of reports that balloons were released near the airport in a possible threat to Q aircraft.

Congestion toll hearings set MTA will host hybrid sessions in February, March by Michael Gannon

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Senior News Editor

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced the details of a public comment period for the congestion pricing tolling structure planned for Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. The agency already is accepting written and audio comments and will hold four hybrid public hearings in February and March. The proposed tolling structure can be examined or downloaded online at new.mta.info/document/129191. The proposed toll is $15 for a car with an E-ZPass entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street during peak hours. Fees will be higher for trucks, with overnight discounts for all vehicles. The aim is to raise $1 billion per year for the MTA’s capital program. Members of the public may submit written comments online and by email, mail and fax, and may submit audio comments by leaving a voicemail message through Monday, March 11. All comments will be recorded and submitted for review. Links and phone numbers for comments can be found online at bit.ly/3REjZnK. The hearings begin on Thursday, Feb. 29, and conclude on Monday, March 4. Members of the public who wish to speak at the hearings are required to register in advance online,

The MTA has set public hearing dates to gather input on congestion pricing proposals. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777, or in person. The hearings will be accessible online at mta.info/CBDTP at the following dates and times: • Thursday, Feb. 29, at 6 p.m. • Friday, March 1, at 10 a.m. • Monday, March 4, at 10 a.m. • Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. Registration will open one week before the start time of each hearing and will close 30 minutes after the beginning of the hearing. Speakers will be provided two minutes to speak. The hearings will be hosted in person

at 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, in the William J. Ronan 20th Floor Board Room. People may also register to participate remotely via Zoom or telephone. Each public hearing will be livestreamed o n t h e M TA Yo uTu b e c h a n n e l a t youtube.com/@mta-live and on the project website: mta.info/CBDTP. At the public hearings, American Sign Language and CART Captioning Services will be available. Members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or the free 711 relay service, and then ask to be connected to the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777 to speak with an agent. Members of the public who do not have access to a computer or who do not have access to the internet can listen to each of the hearings by calling the Zoom meeting via a telephone number which will be provided at a later date. If language assistance or any other accommodations are required, one is asked to submit a request at least five business days before the scheduled hearing date in one of the following ways: emailing cbdtp.feedback@mtabt.org, calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777, or by sending a letter to MTA Government & Community Relations, Attn: Central Business District Tolling Program Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY Q 10004.

The second morning of the new year brought a shaky start to some residents of Queens as a 1.7 magnitude earthquake struck Astoria, according to the United States Geological Survey. Officials said the earthquake occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. Tuesday morning at a depth of five kilometers, or 3.1 miles. In the same hour, residents reported hearing an explosion on Roosevelt Island, according to multiple reports, though no explosion in the area was confirmed. Buildings south of the Roosevelt Island Bridge and Tram experienced brief power outages, according to social media posts from nearby residents. A post on X from the Mayor’s Office said, “There have been no reported injuries or impact on transit, traffic, utility Q services or structural stability.” — Kristen Guglielmo

Neir’s celebration Don’t let your Christmas tree go to Neir’s Tavern, at 87-48 78 St. in Woodhaven, is inviting the community to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the night the bar was saved. Founded in 1829, Neir’s almost closed in 2019 due to its rent being too high. Public officials and the community came together to save the bar, allowing it to stay. The celebration will take place on Q Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. All are welcome.

Recycle your Christmas tree Don’t let your Christmas tree go to waste — recycle it at the city Parks and Sanitation departments’ Mulchfest. Trees can be dropped off at any Mulchfest location through Jan. 7 to be recycled as wood chips used to nourish growing city trees. Queens has 15 sites where you can say goodbye to your tree and take a family photo! At some sites, the public is invited to watch the process. On Chipping Weekend, Jan. 6 to 7, you may take home a treemento and some free mulch. Over 58,300 trees were recycled last year, a number the city is hoping to beat. Participants are asked to remove all lights, ornaments and netting before bringing the tree to a site. Bags will be provided for those who wish to take some free mulch home. Queens residents can put trees outside on their regular compost collection day. To find a location or learn about volunteering, Q visit nycgovparks.org. Correction The Dec. 28 version of this article misstated when Queens residents can put out trees for pickup. They may on any compost collection day. We regret the error. Q

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Walden Weprin out at Queens Farm

Executive director’s contract not renewed following Chronicle exposé

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Jennifer Walden Weprin is no longer executive director of the Queens County Farm Museum, according to sources and an internal document obtained by the Chronicle. Her contract expired on Dec. 31 and was not renewed by the farm’s Board of Directors, the sources say, ending her five-year tenure. Walden Weprin did not respond to the Chronicle’s comment requests by press time Wednesday evening, nor did Jim Trent, president of the Board of Directors, and Queens Farm spokespeople Crystine Nicholas and Josh Knoller. Walden Weprin’s exit was confirmed in a Dec. 29 email to staff, written by the farm’s director of public programs and visitor services, Emily Gross. “I have an update I’m sure some of you have heard already, but I wanted to send an official communication that Jennifer Weprin, Executive Director of the farm, will be leaving her position. Her last day at the farm is December 31st,” Gross wrote. “I assume transitioning to new leadership will take some time and I’m here for all of you if you have any questions. If you see Jennifer in these next few days feel free to wish her well.” As of midday Wednesday, Walden Weprin is no longer listed as executive director on the farm’s website; one is not listed at all. Walden Weprin had been named as the farm’s executive director on the website as recently as Tuesday. Walden Weprin’s departure comes on the heels of the Chronicle’s three-page exposé on the farm’s deterioration under her leadership. According to several past and present Queens Farm employees — who were granted anonymity and whose accounts were shared with the Board of Directors at a July meeting — the once-prized institution crumbled under

Jennifer Walden Weprin led the Queens County Farm Museum for five years. FILE PHOTO Walden Weprin, as her demeanor and lack of understanding and knowledge of agriculture led to turnover and damage to the farm. That damage, the staff said, included the neglect of gardens and the suffering of livestock. Employees were denied cost-of-living raises for several years. Prior to heading up the Queens County Farm, a role she assumed in October 2018, Walden Weprin held a number of positions at area institutions. Before a two-year stint as director of cultural affairs and tourism for thenBorough President Melinda Katz, Weprin — who is married to former Assemblyman and Councilman Mark Weprin, the brother of current Assemblyman and ex-Councilman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) and the son of the late Speaker of the Assembly Saul Weprin — she led the marketing departments at the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Great Neck Q Arts Center and Queens Theatre.

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A bike rider was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a tractor trailer in Downtown Flushing last Thursday morning, the NYPD said. At about 6:15 a.m. on Dec. 28, an 82-year-old man was riding an electric bicycle on Northern Boulevard near Parsons Boulevard, heading east, police said. The biker approached the intersection using the left turn lane. But instead of turning left onto Parsons, the cyclist turned left into the westbound lanes of Northern Boulevard — essentially, a U-turn. In the process, he was hit by a

2015 International tractor trailer, which was traveling west on Northern Boulevard. The rig continued along Northern. Per the state Department of Transportation, bikers turning left at an intersection should either approach the left turn lane like a motorist so as to be visible at the turn or dismount and walk in the crosswalk. The NYPD press office did not respond to the Chronicle’s inquiry as to whether there were any updates by press time, Q including the victim’s name. — Sophie Krichevsky

C M SQ page 17 Y K

Metropolitan Park waits in wings as gaming commission moves slowly by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

As the state prepares to award three casino licenses in the downstate region sometime in 2024, Mets owner Steve Cohen, his chief of staff, Michael Sullivan, and their team of lobbyists with New Green Willets, Queens Future and others are looking to stand out amongst a crowded field of applicants. Cohen’s vision for a casino, hotel, concert venue, Queens food hall and 20 acres of green space next to Citi Field, would be called Metropolitan Park. Queens Future says the plan, which Cohen unveiled on Nov. 7 and Sullivan discussed with the Chronicle during a recent interview at the stadium, would also include extensive bike paths, allowing cyclists to ride from the Flushing Meadows Corona Park footbridge to Flushing Bay without having to navigate through traffic. The lobbying firm also says the Mets-Willets Point No. 7 train station would also get some much-needed upgrades to the longdecrepit boardwalk connecting the subway stop to the Long Island Rail Road station and so as to be handicap accessible. The three proposed parking garages will have solar panels on top. Though little has been said about the Queens food hall or the concert venue, the lobbying group likened the performance

space’s capacity to that of Radio City, which has a little more than 6,000 seats. But without a casino, Queens Future says, Cohen’s plan is not in the cards. Cohen told New York Magazine the same this fall. “It’s economically not feasible,” he said. “Which is disappointing.” Meanwhile, the New York State Gaming Commission is slated to award licenses sometime in 2024 — though precisely when is unclear. At a Dec. 3 commission meeting, however, its executive director, Robert Williams, said staff would be working through the holiday season to respond to the second of two rounds of questions from applicants. Once those answers are made public, he said, those vying for the licenses will have 30 days to submit their final applications. At the same time, the first round of questions, in which applicants can inquire about process logistics or whether the commission would favor certain proposal elements, was due Feb. 3 of last year; the commission responded on Aug. 30. The second round of questions, of which there were roughly 400 compared to about 600 in the first, were due Oct. 6. State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) has not been pleased with the pace of things. “It’s a process moving too slow at this point,” he told the Chronicle.

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Michael Sullivan, chief of staff to Mets owner Steve Cohen, recently discussed elements of the Metropolitan Park proposal with the PHOTO BY SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY Chronicle. And Cohen is far from the only one vying for the licenses — nor is he the only one in Queens. Resorts World in South Ozone Park, which already has electronic table games and slot machines, is widely thought to be one of the favorites, along with Empire City in Yon-

kers. A source familiar with Cohen’s plan said his camp is not concerned about whether there is an appetite for two facilities in the World’s Borough. The same source said the casino actually takes up less than 10 percent of the space Cohen is seeking to develop. But Cohen’s other obstacle is that the Citi Field parking lot is legally parkland. While the land could be alienated by state lawmakers to allow for a casino, that has been a source of criticism from some community members, who object to the notion that parkland would essentially be privatized. Though Cohen’s team has avoided using that language, Sullivan confirmed to the Chronicle that Metropolitan Park’s green space would be privately run. “Our elected officials have said to us that the Parks Department has serious budget constraints, and they’ve asked us to build it, and maintain it and provide the security for it, which we’re willing to do,” he said. “If we don’t keep this park area safe and beautiful, people won’t want to come here.” That is moot, however, if state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights) does not follow Assemblyman Jeff Aubry (D-Corona) in introducing legislation to alienate the land. As lawmakers return to Albany for the beginning of session this week, Ramos has yet to decide Q on that.

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

Cohen team gears up for casino bid

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C M SQ page 18 Y K YEAR IN REVIEW

2023

MID QUEENS: PART I

The more things change ...

Progress marches on, but the old reliables are still there by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Mid Queens was prepped in 2023 for changes in its buses, trains and other things. But remembrances of that horrifying day in 2001 still were as heartfelt as ever; the New York Mets would still find way to Met; and Joe and Jeannette Fuoco still continued teaching and performing music as they have been for the last half century. July An investigation by the Chronicle showed that a national shortage of some prescription drugs such as Adderal, Vyvance and others had reached Queens, sometimes forcing patients to go far out of their way to pharmacies that have supplies. Smaller, independently owned pharmacies, however, often showed better results than national chain drug stores. In a letter dated July 12, Councilmen Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) and Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) voiced their objections to FDNY plans to build a temporary firehouse on the tennis courts of Newtown High School while the city rebuilds the station for Engine Co. 287 and Ladder Co. 136 on Grand Avenue in Maspeth. While both acknowledged that the units must be relocated temporarily — possibly for three years — they decried the lack of community involvement. The city said new courts would be created before the FDNY moved in and that no sports teams would be disrupted. July 12 also saw Community Board 5 thwarted in its effort to notify the state of its disapproval of an application for a legal

Jennette and Joe Fuoco celebrated the 50th anniversary of Joe Fuoco’s Music Center. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON / FILE

Severe weather hindered but could not completely stop some of the annual remembrances of Sept. 11, 2001. In Maspeth, above, the annual ceremony went off without a hitch under clear NYS SENATE PHOTO / FILE skies, just steps from the Maspeth firehouse on 68th Street. marijuana business. The motion to send a letter of disapproval failed with a tied 19-19 vote. August The New York Mets, with a record payroll coming off a 101-win season, threw in the towel on a disappointing year, trading pitchers Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson, Dominic Leone and outfielder Tommy Pham in deadline deals for a f lock of well-regarded minor leag ue prospects. Joe and Jeannette Fuoco met with the Chronicle in Glendale to talk about the 50th anniversary of Joe Fuoco’s Music Center, and the half century they have spent performing, selling instruments and teaching thousands of students. “If you’ve got enough passion ... you’ll make it,” Joe Fuoco said of careers in music. It was announced that a free spaying and neutering service run by the ASPCA in Glendale that catered to cat rescuers would close effective Sept. 1. Rescuers would be forced to use a site in Brooklyn, with the ASPCA saying it planned to open a new site in Queens in 2024. The state on Aug. 16 publicly committed to forging ahead with planning and designing for the Interborough Express, a $5.5 billion light-rail project that will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Jackson Heights, with projected new stations in Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth and Elmhurst. City Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) announced a $1.8 million project to renovate and upgrade the dog run in Forest Park, known in these environs as the Barking Lot.

The Mets announced that the team will retire the numbers of all-time fan favorites Daryl Strawberry (18) and Dwight Gooden (16) during the 2024 season. September During a ceremony at a G train subway station in Long Island City, officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that rehabilitation work on the M train terminus at Metropolitan Avenue in Glendale would be complete by the end of the year. Not quite 10 weeks into the record-high budget approved by the City Council and Mayor Adams at the end of June, the mayor on Sept. 9 called for five percent cuts across all departments for the next three years in order to fund the growing expenses associated with housing and feeding the exploding immigrant population. It would not be the mayor’s last order for spending reductions. On Sept. 11, rain and fast-approaching thunderstorms forced the cancellation of the annual 9/11 memorial ceremony in Juniper Valley Park on Middle Village, though it did not stop organizers from reading the names of all area residents from the terrace of the park’s Memorial Garden, as has been done every year for 22 years. Lighter rain did not stop a subsequent ceremony in Forest Park dedicated to the memory of 42 residents of Glendale, Middle Village, Ridgewood and Woodhaven; and the sun actually was out when Maspeth hosted its annual memorial ceremony, steps away from the firehouse that lost 19 men in the World Trade Center attack, the highest single loss of life from one station on a day

the FDNY lost 343 members. Not even two weeks later, Councilman Holden, Borough President Donovan Richards, Deputy State Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) and Assemblyman Steven Raga (D-Maspeth) sent a letter to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission urging the agency to reconsider its previous refusals to landmark the 68th Street Maspeth firehouse. The Juniper Park Civic Association marked its 85th anniversary on Sept. 23 with a bash in the auditorium at Trinity Lutheran Church in Maspeth. Guests of honor at the ceremonies included Chronicle publisher Mark Weidler; Deputy Inspector Kevin Coleman, commanding officer of the NYPD’s 104th Precinct; and members of the FDNY’s HazMat 1 unit and Squad 288 who serve out of the Maspeth firehouse on 68th Street. A storm that hammered Queens on Sept. 29 and 30 dumped more than 8 inches of water on John F. Kennedy International Airport over a period of 28 hours and flooded major roadways and numerous neighborhood streets. But residents and officials from several areas in the borough that routinely f lood in far lesser storms told the Ch ron icle thei r neighborhoods ca me through the weekend ordeal relatively unscathed in terms of flooding and property damage. October After nearly two decades of trying, a bill in the state legislature requiring that waste being transported by train in New York State be covered with caps or hard tarps was signed into law by Gov. Hochul on Oct. 2. The bill had been shepherded through both houses by state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven). Addabbo had introduced bills every term since joining the Senate in 2015. The new law is set to take effect this month. Its passage was a victory for residents of Glendale, Middle Village and neighborhoods, as well as groups like Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions, which had been trying for years to protect residents from the smell and leakage from open trash trains passing along nearby freight rail lines. Queens appears to have done very well under a four-borough plan that will create 60 miles of greenways in an effort to link parks and recreation areas in the furthest reaches of the city with each other. One proposal is a 12-mile link, billed as the Historic Brooklyn Corridor, is slated to connect Coney Island with the Glendale entrance to Highland Park, located at the Queens-Brooklyn border. Other trails are set to connect Spring Creek Park in Lindenwood with Brookville Park in Southeast continued on page 22

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Installing a security system is a good way to focus on safety in the house, especially as you get older. Resolutions can be made at any age. Seniors who may feel that they are past the point in life where trying something new or setting goals is relevant to them can reconsider, as it’s never too late in life to have aspirations big or small. The golden years may be different from any other period in a person’s life, but seniors can still embrace making positive changes. In fact, according to studies by Rush University, people who view life with a sense of purpose are two to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The following are some potential resolutions for seniors. • Focus on safety. Aging sparks certain changes to the body and mind. Recognizing that you can’t do all of the things you did when you were younger doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve upon those things you can do, especially if you make some safetyminded tweaks. Resolve to improve home safety, such as removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars, checking smoke alarms, and installing a security system. • Find new and enjoyable workouts. The exercise routines you engaged in just a few years ago may no longer suit your physical abilities or interests. Investigate new fitness regimens or methods of movement. Tai chi, yoga, water aerobics, walking clubs, and more can be incorporated into your daily habits.

• Organize medical records. Seeing health pictured systematically and clearly can help you stay on top of appointments and wellness measures. There are many different organizing systems to embrace; find one that works for your needs. • Declutter your home. Resolve to get rid of extraneous items that are no longer serving a purpose beyond collecting dust. Having more room to move around can be safer, particularly if you need a cane or another assistive device, and there will be less to clean if you remove some clutter. If you plan to downsize soon, clearing clutter can make the move easier. • Learn something new. A language, skill, or hobby are all within reach when you map out the steps to achieving your goal. • Make new social connections. Caring Places senior communities indicates socially active older adults have better cognition and lower risks for depression than those who do not consistently reach out to friends. Aspire to make some new companions or to get back in touch with those you haven’t spoken to in some time. Seniors can focus on key resolutions to P make positive changes for the future. — Metro Creative Connection

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New Year’s Resolutions to combat scams in 2024 by Mark Majestic

This year, resolve to protect yourself from scams that can damage your finances and reputation. Ring in 2024 with some smart resolutions to protect your personal information! Stay informed of the latest scam trends Fraudsters continue to change their tactics. Stay informed by: • following reliable news sources; • subscribing to scam alert newsletters; and • staying connected with your local law enforcement agencies. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to identify and avoid scams. Think carefully before sharing personal information Phishing is one of the main ways that scammers attempt to trick people into providing personal information. Pay close attention to emails or messages asking for your username, password, or other personal information. Scammers pretend to be from familiar organizations to gain your trust. Stay alert when receiving unsolicited calls that claim to be from banks, government agencies, or other well-known companies.

When in doubt, contact the organization directly through official channels to verify that the request is real before sharing any personal information or making payment. Use strong passwords Create strong, unique passwords that use upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use passwords that are easy to guess like birthdays or names. Consider using a password manager to generate unique passwords and securely store them for each of your online accounts. Be savvy with QR codes QR codes are increasingly popular in restaurants, on parking meters, in emails, and on social media. Scammers have noticed! They are physically placing fake QR codes on top of official ones or creating fake QR codes on social media advertisements to get access to your personal information. Never scan random QR codes. If the QR code looks odd or altered, do not scan it. Protect your social media profiles Take a moment to review the privacy settings on your social media platforms and limit the amount of personal information you share publicly.

Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

PRIME TIMES 60 PLUS : ASK SOCIAL SECURITY

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SCREENSHOT

Fraudsters may use your social media posts to personalize scams or get access to your accounts without your permission. Regularly check your friends list and remove any unfamiliar or suspicious accounts. As we welcome the new year, let’s make protecting ourselves against scams a top priority. We can significantly reduce the risk of being scammed by staying informed, being alert and careful, and safeguarding our accounts. We wish you a safe and

secure year ahead! Watch our video below to learn how to identify important red flags. Please share this information with those who may need it – and post it on social media. The video is located here: P youtube.com/watch?v=cyaUWTFLw3c Mark Majestic is an Associate Commissioner in the Social Security Administration’s Office of Program Integrity.

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In Mid Queens, not everything changed continued from page 18 Queens along the Belt Parkway corridor; and a 16-mile stretch along the north shore intended to connect Little Bay Park in Bay Terrace with Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. Glendale resident Denise Morgan, 39, was shot and killed in her home on Oct. 1 in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide A gun was found by the body of a man whom she was believed to have broken up with. The native of Ireland was the mother of an 8-year-old girl and was a popular employee at Cottage Bar & Restaurant in Forest Hills. Her family raised money to bring her back to Ireland for burial.

November New York Mets owner Steve Cohen unveiled his plans for Metropolitan Park, a proposal that would turn the parking lot at Citi Field into a casino, a hotel, a live-music venue, a food hall and 20 acres of green space — all while still providing 7,500 parking spaces for the baseball season. All appears to hinge on Cohen getting one of three downstate casino licenses that have been approved in Albany. And while Assemblyman Jeff Aubry (D-Corona) has submitted a bill to alienate the state parkland atop which the parking lot sits for the purpose, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights) has not done so in the Senate. Members of Community Board 5 surprised no one on Nov. 8 when they overwhelmingly objected to license applications for adult-use marijuana dispensaries at 70-24 Myrtle Ave. in Glendale, as well as 63-09 Flushing Ave. and 64-01 Grand Ave., both in Maspeth. Mark Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, NJ, was one of two New Jersey residents filing a federal lawsuit to stop

The proposed Interborough Express can run along an existing railroad right of way; but there would be some changes to accommodate the new rail lines. MTA SCREENSHOT / YOUTUBE /FILE the start of congestion pricing tolls for drivers entering Midtown and Downtown Manhattan beginning next April or May. The suit is demanding a full federal environmental study that takes into account traffic and pollution that could increase west of the Hudson River once the tolls are put into pace.

December Deputy Inspector Kevin Coleman, who had served as commanding officer of the NYPD’s 104th Precinct since 2022, was transferred to the 109th Precinct. He took over for Deputy Inspector Louron Hall, whom Coleman also replaced as CO in the 104th. No permanent replacement for Coleman had been announced as of the Chronicle’s deadline. On Dec. 12, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released its Final Proposed Plan for the complete redesign of the Queens bus system. Four new routes would be added under the proposal, while many more would be at least partially redrawn. Dates for public hearings will be announced. Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) has introduced a bill that would require the city to notify the appropriate City Council office and community board at least 15 days prior to either permanently removing parking spaces for things like Citi Bike stations or car-share-only parking spaces; or blocking them temporarily for things like construction projects or movie and television shoots. The bill is before the Council’s Transportation Committee and is expected to be taken up after Jan. 1. The bill’s nine co-sponsors from Queens include Holden and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone). Mayor Adams announced a $30 million project to construct safety upgrades along Queens Boulevard between Roosevelt Avenue and 73rd Street. Features will include raised bike lanes that will be placed over existing painted lanes, but will rise several inches above the pavement. The stretch of road is straddled by Woodside to the north and Maspeth and Sunnyside to the south. Construction is Q expected to begin next fall.

Bike fees 5 dead on CIP ‘dead man’s curve’ Citi increasing

Notorious bend scene of tragedy on New Year’s Day by Sophie Krichevsky

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Associate Editor

A collision on the Cross Island Parkway in Whitestone took the lives of five people the morning of New Year’s Day and left another in critical but stable condition, police say. The crash occurred near the northbou nd W hitestone Expressway split toward the southbound Cross Island, which continues to a bend with a propensity for accidents, known by many in the area as “dead man’s curve.” Shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, a blue Mazda sedan — being driven by 24-yearold Kazeem Ramsahaida — continued from the northbound Whitestone Expressway to the southbound Cross Island, carrying four passengers, the NYPD said. As the car came around the bend, which is closest to the southbound Exit 36, it hit the median dividing the north- and southbound Cross Island and went over it. That put the car directly in the path of a white 2023 Honda Pilot that was driving on the northbound side, which then struck the Mazda. While the Pilot driver, a 63-year-old man, suffered injuries to his neck and back before being taken to New York Presbyteri-

an-Queens, all five people in the Mazda were pronounced dead on the scene, the NYPD said. In addition to Ramsahaida, who was from North Carolina, the deceased victims include 30 -year-old Mar io Ocampo, 19-year-old Dayanara Benitez-Ocampo, 23-year-old Salma Garcia-Diaz and 20-year-old Jordy Betances. The four were all Queens residents, though the NYPD press office could not say for certain where in the borough. The Collision Investigation Squad’s inquiry into the incident is still ongoing, police said Wednesday. Area residents have been calling for improvements to the infamous curve for years as several accidents have cost people their lives. At times, the deadly bend has even sparked protests — one year after the 2006 death of Long Island resident Chris Arsenault, roughly 30 of his friends stood in a College Point parking lot with signs, pushing for changes to the road. Al Centola, president and founding member of the We Love Whitestone civic association, said community members have been complaining about speeding there for at least five years. In an email to the Chronicle

as well as city Department of Transportation Deputy Queens Borough Commissioner Al Silvestri and Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), among others, Centola wrote Monday, “Aside from the poor design, the speeding on the CIP into the Whitestone Expressway is a well documented tragedy in waiting on a daily basis. “Something needs to be done to make this turn safer.” That, he said later, could include traffic-calming measures, additional lighting, signage, expanding the roadway or even additional police enforcement. State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone), who said she drives along that spot virtually every day, called the crash “horrible.” “Every time I’m a passenger in somebody’s car, I always say to myself, ‘Slow down,’” she told the Chronicle. “You don’t want to be a backseat driver, but it’s a very dangerous curve, and it’s been that way for years.” Stavisky said she plans to send a letter to the state Department of Transportation to see what can be done to make the road safer. One solution, she said, could be to alter the angle of the bend, so that cars are naturally forced back toward the center of Q the lane, away from the median.

New rates for some Citi Bike plans go into effect today, Jan. 4, according to a press release on its website. A n nu al membersh ip pr ices w ill increase effective Jan. 29. CitiBike is run by Lyft. Citi Bike, in a statement posted on citibikenyc.com/pricechange said the increases will fund expansion. “This means you’ll see more station upgrades and next-gen ebikes — doubling the size of our fleet,” the company said. The cost of an annual membership will increase from $205 to $219.99 on Jan. 29. Annual members and Lyft Pink All Access plans will now pay 20 cents per minute over 45 minutes. Ebike fees will increase to 20 cents per minute. Reduced Fare Bike Share members will continue to pay $5 per month, with 20 cents per minute over 45 minutes and 10 cents per minute for ebikes. Nonmembers paying for a single ride will now pay $4.79 to unlock the bike; 30 cents per minute over 30 minutes; and 30 cents per minute for an ebike. Further information is available on Q the website.

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

Light and shadow

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

January 4, 2024

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Noguchi exhibit illumines sculpture with film and music

Although the twinkling lights of the holiday season have gone dim, the second floor of the Noguchi Museum in Astoria will remain illuminated for another month. Open until Feb. 4, “A Glorious Bewilderment: Marie Menken’s ‘Visual Variations on Noguchi’” is a celebration of Isamu Noguchi’s and Marie Menken’s mutual affinity for light and movement as shown in the former’s sculptures and the latter’s 16mm film capturing them through rapid circular motion. “Visual Variations on Noguchi,” Menken’s first solo film shot from 1945-46, set a precedent in avant-garde film for its usage of a handheld camera. Curator Kate Wiener said this method freed filmmakers from their perceived need to mimic Hollywood’s smooth pans, but film discourses rarely mentioned Noguchi.

continued on page 25

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by Stephanie G. Meditz

“Many people say that she kind of transforms or obscures Noguchi’s work,” she said. “After seeing the film, I just felt really curious about it ... the heart of the show is trying to tease out the resonances between their practices and tell the story of collaboration.” By 1953, Lucia Dlugoszewski’s score would accompany Menken’s film, fostering a sense of synchronization among three artistic media in the face of their otherwise disorienting effect. Menken’s film was inspired by her collaboration with Noguchi on the 1947 ballet “The Seasons.” While Noguchi designed the scenery and costumes, Menken’s now lost films of fire, ice and rain were projected behind the dancers. “I think there’s this incredible movement in Noguchi’s work, but many people have also talked about the incredible movement in Menken’s film and described her almost having a dance pulse of actually moving her body and creating her own sort of rhythm,” Wiener said. In curating the exhibition, she tried to feature as many Noguchi sculptures that appear in Menken’s film as possible.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 24

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I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

King Crossword Puzzle Carol Heiss kept her promise in 1960 Olympics

ACROSS

1 Melville captain 5 Male swans 9 Luau dish 12 Humorist Barry 13 Med. plan options 14 PC program 15 Barrel bottom bit 16 Concerning 17 Old Olds 18 Voice in an iPhone 19 Half of XIV 20 Rooters 21 Formerly called 23 “Morning Edition” airer 25 Humidor contents 28 Salad base 32 Maxim 33 Sean of “Rudy” 34 Bequest 36 Surround with light 37 Judge Lance 38 Approves 39 Iowa crop 42 WWII service member 44 “See ya!” 48 Some 49 “Legally Blonde” role 50 Branches 51 Wish otherwise 52 Intend 53 Harvest 54 Curvy letter 55 “Garfield” dog 56 Catches some rays

DOWN 1 Totals

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

2 Mata -3 Say it’s so 4 2013 Keira Knightley film 5 Sour cream tidbits 6 Hotel chain 7 Ho-hum 8 Away from NNW 9 Brazilian rubber 10 Frank 11 Wall St. debuts

20 Clean slate 22 Upright 24 Bit of mischief 25 Baseball’s Ripken 26 Chemical suffix 27 Joke 29 JFK info 30 Goose egg 31 -- -cone 35 Cried in pain

36 Tertiary Period epoch 39 Give a darn 40 Burden 41 Deli loaves 43 Jai -45 Bailiwick 46 Eliot Ness, e.g. 47 Nile vipers 49 Punk rock offshoot

Edward Heiss arrived in New York City from Hamburg, Germany, on Nov. 28, 1927. In May 1936 he mar r ied Mar ie Gadermann. He secured a goodpaying job as a baker for Cushman’s Bakery in The Bronx. They purchased a home in Ozone Park at 107-41 105 St. Their first child was Carol, born on Jan. 20, 1940, followed by Nancy and Bruce. Carol started ice skating at age 6. Her love for the sport enabled her to win a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics. While her mother was dying of cancer, Heiss promised her she would win the 1960 gold medal at the Olympics. She succeeded. Heiss also won the Women’s World Championship five straight years from 1956-60. Heiss married fellow skater Hayes Alan Jenkins in May 1960. She made a movie, “Snow White and the Three Stooges” in 1961, but retired from acting to raise her three children in Akron, Ohio, where her

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Home of Olympic skating gold medal winner Carol Heiss at 107-41 105 St. in Ozone Park, as it looked in the 1940s when she grew up SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PHOTO, LEFT there. husband came from. Her dad, Edward, continued to live in the Ozone Park house until his death in July 1987. Heiss became a coach, helping Q others achieve success, too.

C M SQ page 25 Y K

by Mark Lord qboro contributor

Tina Finkelman Berkett, whose contemporary dance troupe, BodyTraffic, is about to make a return appearance at Queens Theatre, has been living in Los Angeles for the past 18 years, but make no mistake about it: This native of Whitestone is a Queens girl at heart. “It is so special to come home,” Finkelman Berkett said in a recent telephone interview. “I love full-circle moments.” And the three-performance engagement of her company at the theater, where it last performed during the 2017-2018 season, is one of those moments. The theater, she said, is “literally around the corner” from where she grew up. She was particularly excited that the proximity means that her “grandparents can pop over” to see the upcoming show. Even if you happened to catch the dancers the last time they were in town, you’re in for an all-new experience, with the program’s four pieces being performed here for the first time. They range from “Snap,” which was inspired by the ethnically diverse yet isolating crowds of Los Angeles, to “PacoPepePluto,” which consists of three solos for male dancers set to songs popular-

BodyTraffic founder Tina Finkelman Berkett, left, returns to her native Queens this PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY HERNANDEZ month with members of her Los Angeles dance troupe. ized by the late crooner, Dean Martin. “We have a real LA feel,” Finkelman Berkett said. The show “feels like the wild west,” full of “youthful energy. It’s how you feel when you live in LA.” That particular vibe, she said, is what sets her troupe apart from so many others. She founded the company in 2007, the goal being to “get the world moving.” It serves as a home for an eclectic range of

styles that tell vital stories. It’s that diversity that is one of the most attractive aspects of the company for dancer Tiare Keeno, who explained that each dance has its own choreographer, making each piece “unique from one another.” The physicality required by the different styles of dance is “challenging,” Keeno admitted. “It challenges us to dive into the characters. It colors and shades

our artistic process.” Fellow dancer Jordyn Santiago, who hails from North Carolina and lived in Jamaica when she first moved to New York around 2013, joined the company in 2021. “I really enjoy narrative and telling a story” through dance, she said. Each of the pieces on the program “has a pretty clear story.” As an example, she pointed out that “Snap” is autobiographical, based on choreographer Micaela Taylor’s efforts in “finding her voice, being one’s true self.” As for the company’s name, Finkelman Berkett, who boasts an impressive dance resume, including an international tour with Mikhail Baryshnikov, said that she “wanted something that screamed LA.” The word “traffic” is “a common thing” out there, she said, explaining that the word “body” was joined to it to suggest the idea of dance. Performances take place at Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Ave. South in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, on Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. The Saturday matinee will be audio described. Tickets range from $32 to $42. For further information or to order tickets, visit queenstheatre.org or call (718) Q 760-0064.

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

LA dance performance is a Queens homecoming

Three artists keep spirits bright at Noguchi Museum

Crossword Answers

over the front of it, so these cutouts end up becoming animated and sort of dancing across the screen.” The exhibition also features Noguchi’s and Menken’s other works with similar themes of movement, light and fracture. Noguchi, who was the first to place a lightbulb inside Japanese paper lanterns, continued experimenting with light into the 1940s. Constructed from cement with embedded light bulbs, his works “Lunar Infant” and “Red Lunar Fist” appear in Menken’s film. In the same room, the glitter in Menken’s painting “Untitled (Folding Screen)” makes it change with light and viewers’ movement around it. Her film “Lights” is a frenzied depiction of lights at midnight on Christmas Eve, a further testament to the motifs of light and movement in her work. Wiener said each work is situated in the exhibition to invite viewers to move around them like Menken did. “Far from obscuring Noguchi’s work, I actually think that she gets to the heart of some really important aspects of his sculpture,” she said. “He said sculptures move because we move, and I think very much so

Visitors to the “A Glorious Bewilderment: Marie Menken’s ‘Visual Variations on Noguchi’” exhibit can relax afterward in the Noguchi Museum’s reading room and view footage of the collection that emphasizes light and movement in his work. On the cover: Noguchi’s works in the exhibit — and a folding screen of Menken’s — allow visitors to view them from all sides in various exposures of light. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ was trying to impel people’s movement in and around his work.” She hopes visitors gain an appreciation for Noguchi’s, Menken’s and Dlugoszewski’s immersion of themselves in the anguish

of the World War II and postwar eras. “I think there is something connected in celebrating this fragmented, precarious life in all of its complexity and finding these Q outlets for a new reality.”

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continued from page 23 One such sculpture, “Gregory,” was inspired by Franz Kafka’s novella “The Metamorphosis,” in which protagonist Gregor Samsa wakes up as a large insect. “What I think is so interesting about how Menken filmed this piece is she doesn’t step back, she doesn’t force this to kind of cohere into one portrait,” Wiener said. “Instead, what she’s doing is taking her camera and turning it and kind of lacing

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 26

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Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR BCAT 2015-13BTT, Plaintiff against RASEL PETTER, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 31, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at steps of Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on January 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Premises known as 99-23 215th Street, Queens Village, NY 11429. Block 11089 Lot 7. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Fourth Ward of the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $512,495.47 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 710013/2018. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 11th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee. Janet L. Brown, Esq., Referee File # 2296-001049

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SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-WM1 ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, vs. SABRINA EDERY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANN LEWITINN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 25, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on January 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., premises known Notice is hereby given that as 13-52 Dickens Street, Far an On-Premise Full Liquor Rockaway, NY 11691. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of Restaurant License, Applica- land, with the buildings and tion ID NA-0340-23-147048 improvements thereon erected, has been applied for by Haoban situate, lying and being in the Borough and County 8 LLC serving beer, wine, cider of Queens, City and State of and liquor to be sold at retail New York, Block 15665 and for on premises consumption Lot 38. Approximate amount of in a restaurant for the premises judgment is $905,788.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will located at 3528 Farrington St., be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # Fl 1, Flushing, NY 11354-2827. 703799/2021. The Referee shall 248TH STREET, LLC. Arts. comply with the Eleventh Judicial of Org. fi led with the SSNY District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of on 11/17/23. Offi ce: Queens foreclosed properties. These County. SSNY designated policies, along with the Queens as agent of the LLC upon County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the whom process against it may Queens Supreme Court - Civil be served. SSNY shall mail Term website. Austin I. Idehen, copy of process to the LLC, Esq., Referee, Eckert Seamans 183 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, Heights, NY 11577. Purpose: New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff Any lawful purpose.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 28

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Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR NOMURA HOME EQUITY LOAN, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006HE1, Plaintiff, v. CHRISTOPHER DUNN A/K/A CHRISTOPHER R. DUNN, ET AL. Defendants. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Queens County on March 10, 2023, I, Jeffrey Kim, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 26, 2024 at the Courthouse Steps of the Queens County S upreme C our t , 8 8 -11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, at 12:30 PM the premises described as follows: 134-57 232nd Street, Laurelton, NY 11413 SBL No.: Block 13160 Lot 6 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 712819/2018 in the amount of $603,538.04 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 500 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 100112-4 78757

Notice

APEX 7806 LLC Articles of

Notice of Formation of GATEWAY SUFFICIENTCYS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/08/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 11144 144TH ST, JAMAICA, NY 11435. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/21/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 15253 10th Ave. Ste 211, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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Legal Notices

NY,

LLC.

Articles

of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 12/11/2023 in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process service against, 108-29 173rd Street, Jamaica, NY, 11433 for any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of Caminos Unidos LLP Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/12/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: UNITED STATE CORPORATION AGENTS, INC, 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 302, BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. Notice

Formation

CHRISTINA CASPER NUTRITION LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/18/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY,

6960

108TH

ST.,

APT 15, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of ESSENTIAL FIRST AID LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/26/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABLITLTY COMPANY, 6930 62ND ST APT 4F, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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SHERIFF’S SALE

BY VIRTUE OF AN EXECUTION ISSUED OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT, QUEENS COUNTY, in favor of KUNGA GYAMTSO, the judgement creditor, and against SHAZIA KAUSAR, the judgement debtor, to me directed and delivered, I WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION, by Dennis Alestra DCA# 0840217., auctioneer, as the law directs, FOR CASH ONLY, on the 6th day of MARCH, 2024, at 1:00 PM, at: QUEENS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 30-10 STARR AVENUE, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101 in the county of QUEENS all the rights, title and interest which SHAZIA KAUSAR, the judgment debtor, had on the 16th day of May, 2023, or at any time thereafter, of, in and to the following properties: Address: 25-07 Curtis Street, East Elmhurst , NY 11369 Block: 1655 Lot: 15 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York, known and designated on a Map filed or Intended to be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Queens County entitled Map No. 1 situated at East Elmhurst in the 2nd Ward of the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York, belonging to the Bankers Land and Mortgage Corporation, Homer L. Barlett, C.S.. April 1904, as and by the Lot Numbers 325 and 326 in Block-3, situated on Sound View Terrace, being more particularly bounded and described as follows:

Real Estate EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718-722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Apts. For Rent

Houses For Sale Howard Beach (Old Side), 2 houses, both legal 2 fam, each w/2 BR, 1 1/2 bath, 2 BR, 1 1/2 bath, walkin 1 BR, 1 bath, gar & drvy. $1,088,000 each. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136 Howard Beach, Charming Colonial Home. All updated, 3 BR, 1 1/2 bath. Wrap-around deck, 4 car dvwy, EIK, XL LR, split CAC, Low Taxes. Asking $829 K, Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Open House Howard Beach/Rockwood Park. Brick/Frame Hi-Ranch on 40x100, 3 BRs, 2 Baths, Original Hi-Ranch Converted to Colonial With Mint Kitchen, Granite & S.S. Appliances, Sliding Door to Yard. Natural Gas Baseboard Heating, Hot Water. Reduced $849K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Rego Park. Non-Smoker. Ideal, large studio. New kitchen appliances, new bathroom, large walkin closet. Walking to transporta- Ozone Park, small, modern 3-desk tion & shopping. Reasonable rent, office. Busy area. $1,050/mo. Call utilities included. Available 718-551-4836 01/08/24. References, income, Classified Ad Special. Pay for 3 credit report checked. Call owner, and the 4th is FREE! Call 718205-8000 718-897-9735. No Brokers

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BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of Curtis Street, formerly Sound View Terrace, 50 feet wide distant 60 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the easterly side of Curtis Street with the southerly side of 25th Avenue, formerly Schurz Avenue, 70 feet wide: RUNNING THENCE easterly and parallel with the southerly side of 25th Avenue, 100 feet: THENCE southerly parallel with easterly side of Curtis Street. 40 feet; THENCE westerly and parallel with the southerly side of 25th Avenue, 100 feet to the easterly side of Curtis street: THENCE northerly along the easterly side of Curtis Street, 40 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. The above described premises being commonly known as 2507 Curtis street, East Elmhurst, NY 11369 and identified on the Tax Map of the City of New York for the Borough of Queens as tax lot #15 in tax block 1655. ANTHONY MIRANDA DEPUTY SHERIFF V. LEONETTI 523 Sheriff of the City of New York LEONETTIV@SHERIFF.NYC.GOV (718) 707-2050 CASE# 23037982 NYC Department of Finance-Office of the Sheriff -nyc.gov/finance

Notice of Formation of MBP GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/21/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: WALTER R QUINTUNA, 1863 MENAHAN ST, UNIT 3R, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of MURAFA PLLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/28/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: 413 WOODWARD AVENUE, 3L, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: c/o Paypal Patel, 265-04 E Williston Ave., Floral Park, NY 11001. Purp: any lawful.

Notice of Formation of PARADIES LAGARDERE @ JFK T5 2023, LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/18/23. Offi ce location: Queens County. Princ. offi ce of LLC: 2849 Paces Ferry Rd., Ste. 400, Atlanta, GA 30339. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Safety Blanket Homecare Agency Limited Liability Company. Articles of Organization ﬁ led with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 8/28/23. Ofﬁ ce located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC at 13844C Queens Blvd., Unit 213, Briarwood, NY 11435. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of SOZA LLC Articles of Organization were ﬁ led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/27/2023. Ofﬁ ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: SOZA LLC, 139-26 228TH STREET, LAURELTON, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

WINDHAM HOME LLC, Arts. of Org. ﬁ led with the SSNY on 12/06/2023. Ofﬁ ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 37-14 55 St., Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

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Niyati LLC ﬁ led 12/12/23.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS, INDEX NO. 708584/2015 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE FOR JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF POPULAR ABS INC. MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-5, Plaintiff, vs. DINDYAL SINGH if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff SABITA RAMNARINE if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 145-34 123RD AVENUE JAMAICA, NY 11436 District: Section: Block: 12049 Lot: 16. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $433,500.00 and interest, recorded on October 11, 2005, at Instrument number 2005000563884, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 145-34 123RD AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY 11436. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: December 19th, 2023, RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff DANIEL GREENBAUM, ESQ. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 713690/2022 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 11330 199TH STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 Block: 10993, Lot: 320 MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC Plaintiff, vs. ERECH SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; SARAH SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; ERNEST SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; EDWIN A. SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; SAMARA SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifi c lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; QUEENS COLLEGE SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND; MICHAEL “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #3; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #4; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #5, “JOHN DOE #6” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last seven names being fi ctitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a defi ciency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $420,000.00 and interest, recorded on May 19, 2004, in Instrument Number 2004000315670, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 11330 199TH STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. The relief sought in the within action is a fi nal judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: October 23rd, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, William Knox, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 30

C M SQ page 30 Y K SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 702456/2020 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 87-47 98TH STREET, WOODHAVEN, NY 11421 Block: 9286, Lot: 109 AMERICAN ADVISORS GROUP, Plaintiff, vs. CARMEN L. SANTANA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE ROMAN; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE ROMAN, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MARIA CORSINO; JULIO “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); JORGE “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); MARIELLA “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); VINNY “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME), “JOHN DOE #6” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last seven names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $938,250.00 and interest, recorded on October 04, 2016, in Liber CRFN 2016000348211, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 87-47 98TH STREET, WOODHAVEN, NY 11421. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: November 27th, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Matthew Rothstein, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 706683/2023 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 90-02 215TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428 Block: 10648, Lot: 27 U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS COLLATERAL TRUST TRUSTEE OF FIRSTKEY MASTER FUNDING 2021-A COLLATERAL TRUST Plaintiff, vs. JEAN PAUL PAREJA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF IVAN BORSIC; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF IVAN BORSIC, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” AS “JOHN DOE #1”; “JANE DOE” AS “JOHN DOE #2”, “JOHN DOE #3” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last ten names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $356,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 06, 2005, in CRFN 2005000379613, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 90-02 215TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: December 8th, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, Orit Avraham, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590. 516-280-7675

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 722148/2022 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 49-06 ENFIELD PLACE , BAYSIDE, NY 11364 Block: 7490, Lot: 58 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-OA6 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA6 Plaintiff, vs. HYE SUN CHANG, if living, and if she/ he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; RCS RECOVERY SERVICES, LLC; BNB BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; WILLIAM WOO, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $623,000.00 and interest, recorded on January 11, 2006, in CRFN 2006000018332, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 49-06 ENFIELD PLACE, BAYSIDE, NY 11364. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: December 12th, 2023, ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, Matthew Rothstein, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

C M SQ page 31 Y K

BEAT

CENTURY 21 AMIABLE II

A bullish start to 2024 by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

While no one can predict what the stock market will do this year, 2024 gets off to a bullish start this weekend as the Professional Bull Riders will hold its annual Monster Energy BuckOff at Madison Square Garden. The preliminary competition gets underway Friday evening with the finals set for Sunday afternoon. Bull riding is like gymnastics in that judges determine the quality of the ride in setting a score. To even get judicial consideration, a rider must last at least eight seconds on a mount before getting tossed off. The ornerier the bovine, the higher the score for the rider. One myth that needs to be dispelled is that most riders are from Texas and Oklahoma. Many of PBR’s best are from South America as evidenced by 2023 champion Jose Vitor Leme, who is from Brazil. Its 2022 champion, Daylon Swearingen, hails from upstate New York. Interestingly, one of the best bull riders in history, Bobby DelVecchio, grew up in the Bronx and has been inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. Surprisingly, DelVecchio has not yet been honored with a spot on the Bronx Walk of Fame located on the Grand Concourse. It is fun to watch the bulls, who clearly enjoy trying to toss off their riders as quickly as possible. Most of the time, a bull will go back to the corral as soon as the rider gets tossed. Some,

however, love soaking up the applause from the crowd by taking a victory lap around the ring. Last week New York Jets CEO Woody Johnson told New York Post Jets beat writer Brian Costello that General Manager Joe Douglas and Head Coach Robert Saleh will return in 2024 despite the Jets’ continued failure to reach the playoffs. Johnson cited the loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the start of the season, which doomed the Jets, as a reason for not dismissing them. A new regime would set the Jets back even further, so one can understand his thinking. Johnson, however, should insist Saleh drop his slogan of “all gas, no brakes” once and for all. I never understood its motivational purpose, but it seems counterproductive given the Jets’ propensity to rack up numerous penalties, especially costly ones for unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalties are a function of poor coaching. In this case, it may also be related to a coach’s ill-conceived slogan. The Jets end their miserable season Sunday in Foxboro, Mass., when they face the New England Patriots in what could be Bill Belichick’s last game as the Pats’ head coach. Belichick’s teams have beaten the Jets 15 straight times. The Patriots have a worse record, but never underestimate the Belichick mystique. Q Expect “sweet 16” this Sunday. See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

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Unveil the potential of this 1 BR 700+ sq. ft. Co-op , sizable LR (13’x17’), a spacious primary BR (18’x11’). Recently refreshed to give the new owner a head start. All the paneling removed then, painted & plastered; updated intercom system, upgraded electrical panel, new AC sleeve in the LR installed. The inclusive monthly maintenance covers all utilities, including cable!

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Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024

SPORTS

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 4, 2024 Page 32

C M SQ page 32 Y K EVERY WEDNESDAY IS

SENIOR DISCOUNT Take Your neighborhood market since 1937

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