Queens Chronicle South Edition 04-13-23

Worst crimes down, with trouble spots

Shootings, murders declining in ’23; police brass lays out new strategies

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

The results were not totally unexpected last week when NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and her ranking staff members released crime statistics for the first quarter of 2023.

Total major, or index, crimes were down the smallest fraction year-to-date with reductions in five of the seven categories. Murders and shootings were down, the latter drastically. But both felony assault and auto thefts rose more than 8 percent.

Crime in the subways and on station platforms has been cut by over 8 percent so far this year compared to last year Sewell said in a video of the April 6 press conference, which can be seen on YouTube at bit.ly/413LOcI.

“And, by the way, shooting incidents and shooting victims continue to decline citywide in 2023, including and extending the downward trend that we saw last year,” Sewell added. “The ongoing reductions in murders and shootings are a direct reflection of the NYPD’s commitment to confront gun violence in our city.”

CompStat numbers obtained from the N YPD through April 9 showed 25 fewer index crimes citywide than the first quarter last year. There were 100 murders, down from 111 in 2022. Shootings are down 23

percent and the number of shooting victims by 18.7 percent.

First-quarter index crimes in Queens South were down 5.3 percent, but Queens North increased 6.8 percent, with total index crimes in the borough so far for the year up by 179 reported incidents.

Murders in the borough have fallen from 17 to 11. Rapes were up one. Robberies, burglaries, felony assault and auto theft all are up in the borough year-to-date. Grand larceny is down by nearly 300 incidents. Shooting incidents dropped from 46 to 40 and gunshot victims from 54 to 43.

Addressing felony assaults, Chief Michael Lipetri of the Crime Control Strategies Unit was blunt.

“The 477 [more] incidents were driven by two categories,” Lipetri said. “Domestic assaults and assaults on police officers in New York City.” He said domestic assaults account for 43 percent of all felony assaults in the city, though the vast majority have resulted in arrests. There also have been more than 150 assaults on officers this year.

“It’s clearly because perpetrators have become more aggressive,” he said. “But also because of a New York City Police Department that has increased enforcement.”

Still, he said youth crime has continued “in a trend that is unacceptable.”

Lipetri said 10 percent of the city’s shooting victims were under 18 last year. This year it is at 12 percent, even with steep reductions in the number of shooting victims.

At the neighborhood level, Dian Yu, executive director of the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub Business Improvement District, said the numbers speak for themselves.

“There are many shops being burglarized,” he said. “Pickpockets are at an all-time high. Shops on Main Street are closed earlier than before, in the prepandemic.”

NYPD brass reiterated that they are not siting still. Lipetri said the department knows full well that Queens, as well as the subways and Manhattan business districts, have seen increases in pickpocketing, and have mobilized to address it.

Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said with summer coming the NYPD will be targeting 25 precincts and four housing districts for increased enforcement.

“All precinct commanders have been instructed to create a focused summer crime strategy,” Maddrey said.

Police also are stepping up quality-of-life enforcement, with a major focus on illegal dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles.

“Just this past Sunday, we removed 365 ATVs and illegal dirtbikes from our streets,” Maddrey said. “We’ll be out in heavy force this year.” But he also said it’s a partnership.

“Addressing violence and quality-of-life issues requires detailed input from our communities,” the chief said. Q

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell briefs the city on crime statistics for the first quarter of 2023. NYPD PHOTO / YOUTUBE

Weed remains a concern for CB 9, plus autism awareness and more Sheriff was in town to talk pot shops

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

Community boards have been awaiting correspondence from licensed recreational cannabis businesses notifying them about intent to open a dispensary in their jurisdictions and Community Board 9 has received two, its district manager announced at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We’re starting to receive 30-day notifications for cannabis shops,” James McClelland said on Tuesday night. “One of the women who came in said she currently has a conditional license for Queens Boulevard. So I reached out to the Office of Cannabis Management and no one has returned my call or email as of yet.”

McClelland said he will bring it up with the Public Safety Committee and keep the board posted. “We have two, but I am almost positive that they won’t be the only two,” he added.

The issue has been the talk of the town as smoke shops illegally selling marijuana have sprung up throughout the area, including in Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park and on Jamaica Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) said he has seen the smoke shop right across from his office selling products to minors.

“Whether they’re buying cigarettes or whether they’re buying something else in that store ... I don’t think they were buying a lamp

shade or, you know, an end table ... probably something they should not be buying.”

The commanding officer of the 102nd Precinct, Capt. Jeremy Kivlin, gave a brief update on the deadly smoke shop robbery in Richmond Hill last month where 20-yearold employee Daryus Clarke of St. Albans was shot and killed.

“The individual behind the counter may have gotten into a scuffle with one of the perpetrators and he did lose his life,” said Kivlin, continuing, “I can’t get into particulars but I can say that we do have some persons of interest ... and I’m hopeful that we

will have that case closed in short order.”

The city is believed to have at least 1,400 illegal pot shops, with more than 300 in Queens.

NYC Sheriff Anthony Miranda attended the meeting and explained the collaboration among agencies in cannabis enforcement. A task force includes the Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Cannabis Management, the NYPD, the city departments of Consumer and Worker Protection and Buildings and others.

The Nuisance Abatement Law, which can be used to close businesses, can take up to two years, Miranda said, but in the mean-

time, enforcement and seizures will continue and each agency can issue its own penalties.

Long-term investigations are also underway into taxes and other issues, including alongside federal agencies.

“We have ongoing investigations that particularly target people, track the money, where the money goes ... and how many different corporations that they have,” Miranda said.

“You’re going to be seeing a combination of some of these long-term investigations that have been going on and continue to see the street level enforcement as well,” he continued.

Legislation to help enforcement is still pending, he said, and following a budget from the state, community complaints will be able to be better addressed.

Also on the board’s agenda was the Education Committee sending of a letter of support for a middle school instead of an elementary school at 120-08 Jamaica Ave.

Board members expressed traffic safety concerns around Kew Gardens, including at Park Lane South and Abingdon Road and near PS 99. Kivlin promised to send officers there.

Chair Sherry Algredo and Janet Forte, vice president of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, were recognized by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-Nassau, Queens) for their dedication to children with autism. April is Autism Awareness Month. Q

Longtime board member says he was booted over Blend controversy Issues around club persist within CB 9

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

A former Community Board 9 chair was not even reappointed as a member this year, and he chalks it up to ongoing issues related to a troublesome nightclub in the neighborhood.

Kenichi Wilson, who served on the board for 10 years including as chair for three years prior to Sherry Algredo’s election in 2022, spoke during the public forum at the monthly meeting on Tuesday night.

Wilson said he wanted to “clear the air” and explain the move was not his choice.

“What recently happened was there was an issue with the Blend Lounge that was brought to your attention a couple of months ago,” Wilson told the board.

There were accusations, he said, of wrongdoing and that he manipulated the process to get the liquor license for the spot approved.

The building that houses Blend is owned, according to city records, by Latchman Bud-

hai, who recently resigned from the board. Wilson said Budhai was insulted by the issue but Algredo insisted he resign because of unrelated personal reasons.

For months, residents of South Richmond Hill have spoken out against the nightclub, which has had ongoing issues, detailed in police precinct reports, including a deadly shooting outside the club.

In February, Juliet Ganpat claimed that the board in December of 2021 recommended in favor of renewing the liquor license for the spot without bringing it before the board. She demanded an investigation and Public Safety Committee Co-chair Maharani Singh at the time said the Borough President’s Office might need to get involved; the office did confirm then that it was made aware of the complaint.

But Wilson on Tuesday insisted there was no wrongdoing. He claimed there were no complaints to the board about the spot and that the automatic renewal was in order.

“The only thing that did happen was that it was mistakenly left off the agenda to report out,” Wilson said. “So that was a oversight.”

He said all procedures were followed and that part of the issue was that nobody was in person at the office due to the pandemic.

An investigation took place, he said, and Algredo met with the legal department that handles boards, but he was not informed.

A spokesperson for Queens Borough President Donovan Richards would not comment on the possibility of any investigation but said community board member reappointment is not guaranteed and is re-evaluated at the conclusion of each two-year term.

“The Queens Borough President’s Office does not comment on internal deliberations regarding specific individuals under consideration for either appointment or reappointment, but the Borough President only appoints individuals whom he believes are best able to represent the interests of their community districts,” the spokesperson said

in an email.

Last month, the State Liquor Authority fined but granted a conditional liquor license to Blend despite the current board as well as state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) calling attention to the ongoing complaints. Q

NYC Sheriff Anthony Miranda addressed concerns about illegal pot shops at the Community Board 9 meeting. Chair Sherry Algredo and Janet Forte, second and third from left, above, were recognized for their work with children with austism.

PHOTOS BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF

Kenichi Wilson addresses Community Board 9 on Tuesday. PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF

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As resiliency projects continue in the Rockaways, city gives update Beach closures to come this summer

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

As the weather warms up and beach season approaches, officials have provided updates on construction that will dictate where New Yorkers will be able to cool off near the Rockaways.

Beaches will be closed on a rolling basis due to ongoing resiliency work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ten to fifteen blocks of beach will be temporarily closed to all access throughout the summer, moving westward from Beach 116 and moving eastward from Beach 143, according to the city Parks Department.

The closures will be rolling, Parks announced in a statement last week, and over the course of the summer, the work zones, open beaches and beach access will shift as the work progresses.

The entirety of the Rockaway boardwalk will remain open and existing concessions will not be impacted.

Beaches officially open on Saturday, May 27.

“There is no question, the Rockaways have been severely impacted by coastal storms and intense erosion over the years and the improvements we’re making as part of our ongoing Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Project will go a long way toward reduc-

ing risk to these communities from future storms,” said Colonel Matthew Luzzatto, commander of the USACE New York District in a prepared statement.

“I continue to be impressed and thankful for the tremendous work done by my team and our partners, especially NYC Parks, as we continue to work diligently at reducing coastal storm risk for the residents of the Rockaways,” continued Luzzatto.

Kizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, said the closures will help protect the “frontline community” and bring a safer and more resilient beach.

The $336 million Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project, which aims to address severe erosion and flooding from coastal storms, began in 2020 and is set to continue through 2026.

The project consists of 14 new stone groin structures, which extend into the ocean and reduce erosion, the rehabilitation of five existing groins, the construction of a reinforced dune system and sand renourishment on the Atlantic side of the peninsula.

As for the western portion of the peninsula, a sand replenishment project at Jacob Riis Park is scheduled to begin this month and finish by mid-June. During that time, sections of the beach will be

closed to the public.

Bays 3 through 5 will remain closed until sand placement has been completed but the boardwalk will remain open, the National Parks Service announced this week.

In 2022, sections of the beach at Jacob Riis Park were closed due to beach erosion, which created unsafe conditions and exposed deteriorated wooden groins, rock-

work and other structures, according to the NPS. The exposed structures were not always visible, especially at high tide, and were dangerous to swimmers. The upcoming sand placement project aims to improve these unsafe conditions.

Approximately 360,000 cubic yards of sand along 5,000 feet of shorefront will be coming. Q

Contract includes pay raise and tour change pilot; prez steps aside Adams, PBA reach tenative agreement

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

After a seven-year impasse over a contract for the Police Benevolent Association, Mayor Adams and the city’s police union have reached a tentative eight-year deal that gives new officers a pay increase and pilots a change in the tours that they work.

Last week, Adams and city Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion announced a tentative contract agreement that will offer pay increases for the first time in six years, retroactive to 2017.

It is the first uniformed employee contract to be reached for the Adams administration and only the second major labor deal.

“As someone who wore the blue uniform and the badge for 22 years, I know that today’s agreement represents an acknowledgment that working people keep this city running and how this administration will always put working people first,” Adams said last Wednesday. “The contract will allow our police officers to work a more flexible schedule, build morale, and ensure that New York remains the safest big city in America.”

The pilot will allow officers to try out working extended tours of 10- and 12-hour shifts instead of the typical eight-hour tour.

Officers will work the same number of hours per year, but the program provides more

After seven years of disagreement over a police contract, the PBA and the city have reached an agreement that will extend until 2025.

flexibility to increase staffing during times of high crime or when issues arise. It may also cut down having to pay officers for overtime.

“To be able to extend those tours and have fewer appearances, we hope will mitigate a number of the overtime hours that we’re seeing,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant

Sewell.

Wage increases will range from 2.25 percent to 4 percent over the contract period. The total cost of the tentative agreement is approximately $5.5 billion through fiscal year 2027. New officers now earn a base pay of $42,500 but that will increase to $53,790. With

differentials, holiday pay and a uniform allowance, however, it will near $60,000.

After five and a half years on the job, officers’ salary is bumped up to $85,292 but under the new agreement, they would make $131,000.

The jump in pay should draw people to join the force, said Joseph Giacalone, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and retired NYPD sergeant who formerly lived in Queens, but it still falls short.

“Even with that gigantic raise up front, it’s still $3,000 less starting pay than that of the New York State police. And the New York State police get to top pay a lot faster, too,” said Giacalone. “So, it’s a start. But you know what? They’re still going to lose a lot of people towards the state police and Suffolk County, who are both giving exams.”

Suffolk cops are among the highest earning in the state.

After the agreement came, PBA President Pat Lynch announced he would not seek reelection after more than 20 years in the position.

“This decision is part of a philosophy I have long held: a rider cannot switch horses in the middle of a battle, and the PBA must not change leadership in the middle of a contract fight,” Lynch said in a statement. “To remain true to my principles, I must allow the change to begin now,” he continued.

PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF / FILE

The Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project began in 2020 and will continue through 2026. Above, work continued on the Rockaway Peninsula last summer. PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF / FILE

EDITORIAL AGEP

Check out our Spring Guide

Are you looking to make that perfect appetizer for a light spring meal but can’t decide what?

Are you planning to try out birdwatching but don’t like going into the woods alone and want to go out with some seasoned birders first? Are you seeking to update your look but realize you’re no fashionista and want some tips without having to buy Vogue?

How lucky for you that you’ve got this week’s Queens Chronicle in hand! (Or that you’re on qchron. com.) Because we’ve got you covered. This week’s paper features our annual Spring Guide, with its 10 stories full of timely tips and information.

Take the piece on recipes. The editor who wrote it also made them. And we can tell you that what she brought to the office was delish. Go on and try ’em!

Yes, there’s a piece on birding, with lots of information from the Queens County Bird Club. The members know their stuff; the club’s been lifting up its binoculars for nearly a century. Think you can spot 175 different kinds of birds in just a couple years, too?

If you’d prefer to take those binoculars, or maybe a more powerful optical instrument, and look right

through our own sky to see the light of stars and planets, we’ve got a piece on astronomy as well.

On the fashion front, we’re told it’s bold, bold, bold! Apparently the muted, casual looks that came to the fore during the pandemic are taking a back seat.

But maybe you kick it old-school and would rather go to a thrift store and avoid contributing to consumer culture, too. We’ve got a story that touches on that as just one way to be more respectful of the environment.

The spring season is also back for several of Queens’ community theater troupes. We tell you just when and where you can see everything from “The Sound of Music” to “Prescription: Murder.”

Spring also brings allergies, alas, and we offer two somewhat different approaches to avoiding and combating them — which is best for you? Or is a blend?

Our piece on art galleries and museums tells you what’s on display at many, while the one on parks lets you know what’s new or planned in our open spaces. And then there’s a story sure to drive both Mets and Yankees fans on a day trip to New Jersey. What more could you want to top off a Spring Guide?

People aren’t garbage

It’s generally bad form for a government to call its citizens “garbage.” And yet that’s exactly what the Department of Sanitation is doing in a new ad campaign designed to fight litter. Litter sucks. Let’s stipulate that right off the bat. So does dumping — essentially littering gone nuclear. And so too does letting your dog do its business and not cleaning up afterward.

These are all garbage moves. We do not tolerate them here at the Chronicle. But the DSNY is dialing it up to 11 with its ads, which show people whose heads have been replaced by things such as cigarette butts and takeout containers and say, “If you litter, you’re garbage.” That’s way over the top. These are slobs, not murderers. But wait, there’s more. The same ads advise people that when they see “a garbage New Yorker, tell ’em where to stick it.” If you’re, say, a retired Marine skilled in martial arts, go ahead. But for most people, it’s probably best not to pick a fight over littering. And it’s insane for the city to advocate it. If someone does this and gets hurt, can he or she blame the ad and sue the city? Why not?

These ads are dangerous and should be pulled now. Also, “em” takes an apostrophe, not the leading quote mark it has in these ads. Also, the I ♥NYC logo is lousy, a pale imitation of the classic I♥NY. All garbage. But the people who did all this aren’t. They’re people.

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Keep traffic moving

Dear Editor:

The idea of closing Austin Street to vehicular traffic is a terrible one. The financial impact on local businesses would be devastating. There already are numerous vacant storefronts on Austin.

an inattentive driver who failed to yield to my daughter and her grandmother while they walked across the street hand-in-hand with the walk signal in Queens.

Raymond G. Sito General Manager

Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Michael Gannon Senior News Editor Deirdre Bardolf Editor

Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

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Jim Berkoff, Beverly Espinoza

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A worse impact from a street closure would be the effect it has on parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. Access to the church parking lot would be hindered. Many elderly people need to drive to church and if they could not access the church parking lot they would have to stay at home.

Numerous studies show that the elderly need social interactions to help avoid mental decline. Therefore, any decision on closing Austin Street to traffic should consider the community health issues it would cause.

Lenny Rodin Forest Hills

Speed cams save lives

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to the multiple letters of frustration recently published regarding the 25 mph speed limit, increased installation of speed cameras and the proposed legislation allowing NYC to control its own speed limits.

I lost my 3-year old daughter, Allison, to traffic violence 10 years ago. She was killed by

My husband and I, along with other grieving families, started a group called Families for Safe Streets. For 10 years, we have embarked on a journey to make streets safer for everyone. The 25-mph speed limit was based on research; most pedestrians have a 70 percent chance of surviving when struck at 25-mph, only a 20 percent chance at 40 mph, and nearly a zero percent chance at speeds over 50 mph.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death for children under the age of 14 as well as senior citizens. Lowering the speed limit and camera enforcement are two basic measures implemented to save lives. In 2020, more than half of drivers who received a first violation of a $50 ticket from a speed safety camera never received a second one.

Change of any magnitude is never easy, but I invite you to see it from our perspective. The perspective of parents and families who have lost their children, spouses, siblings, grandchildren and friends to traffic violence that could have been prevented if we only had the right procedures and enforcement in place. Now ask yourself if your body of just flesh an d bones can withstand an impact from a 2,000 plus pound vehicle, or will you ever forgive yourself for sacrificing a life so that you can arrive minutes faster?

Amy Tam-Liao Fresh Meadows

Kudos on Chronicle’s awards

Dear Editor:

Re your April 6 article “A gritty, lively city newspaper” and editorial “Chronicle awarded”: Congrats on your eight New York Press

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Association awards, especially your first-place honor. The Chronicle has always ranked first in all categories for me, including front pages that a judge said give off “tabloid vibes.” Why the snarky remark? Front-page tabloid headlines are pithy, powerful and penetrating. Could The New York Times ever match the New York Post’s classic headline: “Headless Body in Topless Bar.”

Your headlines aren’t quite that “gritty,” but they still pack a punch. So do your articles, editorials and photos. Keep punching above your weight class and continue your great work.

Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

You’re The Times of Queens

Dear Editor:

The Queens Chronicle being the recipient of eight awards comes as no surprise, since its best description is it is a Queens “Times.” Residents of Queens are fortunate in having available on a weekly basis a highly professional newspaper.

Benjamin Haber Flushing

Another fan to thank

Dear Editor:

Congratulations upon winning awards as the best local paper in town. I appreciate the Chronicle and its presentation of various issues affecting all parts of the borough of Queens. You do a fantastic job and I am so proud.

Cynthia Groopman Little Neck

Save freedom to quit smoking

Dear Editor:

As Gov. Hochul continues her crusade to ban menthol cigarettes and raise taxes on tobacco, lawmakers must not forget the more than 30 million adult smokers, many of whom are struggling to quit. Prohibitionist policies may be convenient, but they often overlook the benefits of embracing less harmful alternative nicotine products.

Nicotine pouches helped me quit smoking more than a year ago, and a key part of my successful transition was the availability of flavored pouches. For myself and many adult smokers, flavors are a major incentive to not only try an alternative product, but to continue using it as a replacement for cigarettes.

While youth tobacco use is an understandable concern, teen smoking rates are at historic lows. Continuing to ban products, and in particular those with flavor, only further restricts adults’ personal freedom to consume the products they wish to use and often eliminate less harmful alternatives that could have been an enticing gateway to a healthier life. It also hinders my path to fully quitting nicotine, taking away my freedom to choose products I feel are best to help slowly quit my addiction altogether.

If New York wants to protect public health and transition more former smokers like myself, then they must stop the outright bans and increase access to the alternative nicotine products that helped me quit.

David Cocheo Bayside

GOP would undo Civil War

Dear Editor:

With the events in Tennessee surrounding two Black legislators, can we please stop being so polite as to what the GOP is doing with so many things — like voting restrictions — they are trying to undo the Civil War.

I wish we would stop the pretense and just say that this is the plan. The opposition to healthcare just for one affects the poor and people of color because, like enslaved people, they are disposable and cost less to maintain. People of color are less than human; women of color like those on the plantations have no bodily self-determination. The plantation owner’s wives like Nikki Haley were often more cruel towards the women and their babies, who were items on a ledger (check out the book “They Were Her Property”).

The Capitol was built by enslaved people and the ancestors of the overseers and poor white men tried to destroy it. How could it be any clearer? It’s an undoing of the Civil War.

Stew Frimer Forest Hills

Overestimated foreign aid

Dear Editor:

When people talk about foreign aid it seems that many Americans have a misconception about how much our government is actually doing. As I began looking into foreign aid I decided to ask my friends how much of the federal budget they thought was going to foreign aid and I received answers ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent.

However, the truth of the matter is that only about 1 percent of the federal budget goes to foreign aid. As citizens we should push our leaders to do more in terms of providing foreign aid. It’s important to call or email leaders in support of legislation such as the international affairs budget. The Borgen Project has many resources that can help reach out to political leaders or learn about the global issues and the legislation that can help. Even a few people voicing support can be enough to influence Congress and provide aid to a massive population of people.

Increasing foreign stability has been shown to have domestic benefits for the United States. For example, living in a stable environment and knowing one’s kids will live fulfilling lives makes people have fewer children thus helping overpopulation. Also having increased stability makes U.S. foreign operations safer to conduct.

Many individuals living in the U.S. overestimate how much foreign aid we contribute, but by encouraging positions and leaders to increase the allocated budget for it we can increase the quality of life globally.

Charles Smith College Point

The writer is a senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an intern with the Borgen Project.

Call Now & End Your Tax Nightmare!

Success to open up in Queens Village

prior proposals shot down, charter set to occupy former pre-K

Salvatore P. Candela, EA, ATA, ABA

61st A NNUAL D INNER DANCE

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

After proposals to open two Success Academy schools in Southeast Queens were pulled in the final period back in January, the Department of Education has identified a former pre-K center in Queens Village to house both elementary schools, according to the charter network.

There was a District 29 pre-K center at 92-53 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village, formerly the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy, which closed in 2018.

Now, Success is set to open two elementary schools there for August, according to Chief Public Affairs Officer Ann Powell.

The two schools will consist of kindergarten through second grade to start, totaling around 200 students each. Grades three and four will follow in the coming years.

“We’ve had tremendous demand and we were not able to provide seats from the other four elementary schools in Queens so we’re very excited about opening and bringing new opportunities for those parents who want that,” said Powell.

The proposals were originally for MS 72 in Springfield Gardens and the Springfield

Gardens Educational Complex but the city pulled them in January, the same week they were set to be voted on by the Panel for Educational Policy. Schools Chancellor David Banks said at the time that the proposals for the two schools, as well as another in the Bronx, were removed after he heard from the community throughout the entire process that they “would create significant challenges for the new schools and the existing colocated schools.”

Success founder and CEO Eva Moskowitz at the time called the move “profoundly disappointing.”

Powell said a Bronx school is now set to open as well.

The city is required to provide either space in a public building or rental assistance for charters.

There was a time crunch for the city to do so in order for the schools to open for the upcoming school year.

“We were trying to keep the faith because that is what the chancellor had said and we were hopeful that he would keep his word,” said Powell. “And he did.”

The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment. Q

Jamaica Avenue cleanup Sat.

The season for spring cleaning is here and Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven will be getting some this coming weekend.

- RSVP by April 14, 2023

745-2713

The Woodhaven Business Improvement District’s annual cleanup is taking place on Saturday, April 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

It will kick off in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 9217 Jamaica Ave. and will finish at Forest Parkway.

A Woodhaven BID cleanup last year. FILE PHOTO

The cleanup is in partnership with the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, the city Department of Sanitation and Community Board 9.

To volunteer, email woodhavenbid@gmail.com.

The event last year followed the same route and the community helped powerwash, paint over graffiti, pick up trash and clean the sidewalks. Q

— Deirdre Bardolf

After

Success Academy, founded by Eva Moskowitz, above, is set to open two charters in a Queens Village location after a prior plan was pulled earlier this year. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE, LEFT; FILE PHOTO

Trapped by fast-moving flames that pose new challenge to firefighters Boy and teen sister killed in e-bike fire

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

The child and young woman killed in Monday afternoon’s fire on 46th Street in Astoria were brother and sister Elias and Arwa Abdulsamed. She was 19 and he was just 7.

The blaze was caused by an e-bike battery that burst aflame while it was charging, according to Fire Department officials. The fierce fire began in the first-floor vestibule at 25-71 46 St. but immediately raced up the stairs and devoured the entire apartment where the Abdulsamed family lived.

The siblings’ father, Salah, and his three other children were home at the time and escaped by jumping out the windows into neighbors’ arms, according to reports. The children’s mother was not home when the fire broke out.

The blaze was reported at 2:18 p.m., according to the Fire Department’s press office. It went to two alarms, with 25 units comprising 106 FDNY personnel deployed, and was brought under control at 3:12 p.m.

Speaking at the scene after the fire was put out, FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens said there were five children and one adult in the building’s second-floor apartment when the blaze broke out. The two who died were in the front room of the apartment, where the fire was most intense, he said. But the fire raged through the entire apartment.

Conflagrations caused by the lithium-ion batteries that charge e-bikes and other electric micromobility devices are fierce and spread rapidly, Hodgens and Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn noted.

Hodgens said firefighters were on the scene within three minutes of being called.

“And if this was not a bike fire, most likely we would have been able to put this fire out without incident,” he said. “But the way these fires occur, it’s like an explosion of fire. It’s an

ongoing problem. We implore everybody to please be very careful and aware of the danger of these devices.”

Flynn said the city has now seen five deaths due to fires caused by the batteries so far this year, compared to six all of last year. The batteries have caused 59 fires so far this year, he said, compared to 220 last year.

“We keep stressing the importance of understanding that these do pose a danger,” Flynn said. “We want people to use them but we want

them to use them safely.”

He said that includes making sure to use chargers that are compatible with the batteries, not charging them in a place where a fire would prevent someone from getting out of a building and planning for what to do if there were a fire.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh issued a statement to the press via email.

“The horrific fire that resulted in the death of two young people Monday afternoon is a stark reminder of the importance of an issue the FDNY has been talking about for some time: education and awareness around lithium-ion batteries,” Kavanagh said. “We know people have e-bikes and similar micro-mobility devices, and we are imploring users to follow all manufacturer safety guidelines and recommendations. We are also calling on our federal, state and local partners to move quickly on regulations that will help ensure tragedies like today’s fire are prevented. We are heartbroken for the family of these victims.”

Lithium-ion batteries such as those used in e-bikes and scooters were one of the top three causes of fires in the city last year, according to the office of City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), chair of the Fire and Emergency Management Committee.

The Red Cross said that after the Astoria fire it had assisted three households with

continued on page 17

FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens, center, addresses the media after the fatal fire on 46th Street in Astoria Monday, flanked by Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn, left, and Chief of Operations John Esposito. Flames shot out of the second-floor apartment as the fire raced through it, burning the entire home and killing a brother and sister. SCREENSHOTS VIA FDNY / TWITTER, LEFT, AND CITIZEN.COM

Shooter had only one round to fire at cop

Devin Spraggins, charged with attempted murder, allegedly dropped magazine

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

He took his shot, but it was all he had.

That may be what saved Officer Brett Boller’s life.

When a man fired one round at Boller during a struggle last Wednesday in Jamaica, it was the only bullet he had in the gun, according to court documents. The shooter, alleged to be Devin Spraggins, 22, variously of Jamaica, Queens Village and the Bronx, had dropped a magazine with 15 bullets in it as he ran, a detective said in a sworn statement in the criminal complaint filed in the case.

Only after that did Boller, also 22, catch up with him and take a bullet to the hip.

Retired NYPD Sgt. Joseph Giacalone, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former Queens resident, said the shooter’s lack of rounds made all the difference in the incident.

“His not having the ability to fire more than one round definitely puts the officer in a better position in regards to his life,” Giacalone said. “But unfortunately, we don’t always get that lucky.”

The incident occurred a little after 3:20 p.m. last Wednesday, officials said during a press briefing that day at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

It began with an argument on a bus, NYPD Chief of Detectives Essig told the press during the briefing, given by him, Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell and Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch.

The driver, who was headed eastbound on Jamaica Avenue near 161st Street, flagged down two officers assigned to the 103rd Precinct’s Field Training Unit, and told them a man was arguing with another passenger over a seat, Essig said. When the offi-

cers approached the bus, the man got out and a slight struggle ensued, the chief said. The man, alleged to be Spraggins, pushed the officers away and fled northbound on 161st Street.

What Essig did not say at the time, but court documents later revealed, was that he allegedly dropped the magazine at the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 161st Street.

Boller caught up with him in front of 90-23 161 St., Essig said, and a struggle ensued, with the perpetrator firing one shot that hit the officer in the right hip. Boller’s partner, Officer Anthony Rock, also 22, fired two rounds at the man. But the man fled up 161st and then westbound on 88th Street into a parking garage. There he took off a black bubble jacket, orange sweatshirt and mask he had been wearing, and left the garage in a white T-shirt and black pants. He was last seen at 161st Street and Hillside Avenue.

But within 30 hours, police arrested Spraggins.

Speaking at a briefing Friday morning at the 103rd Precinct, Essig said police arrested him at a residence on Bronx Boulevard in the Bronx last Thursday night. Spraggins is a transient who bounced around, Essig said, and lived on 93rd Avenue in Jamaica but also spent time at a home on 215th Street in Queens Village, as well as the Bronx.

The Queens Village house is where he went after the shooting, the chief said, before he continued on to the Bronx.

Officers with a number of bureaus carried out the investigation to identify and find Spraggins.

“I think any police officer just feels that rush to get out there and help and do what they can, and in this case particularly the amazing work the Detectives Bureau did and the Force Investigation [Division] to put

this together in such a short period of time,” he said. “It’s difficult to describe an incident when you hear ‘officer shot.’ There’s just so many emotions that go through you when that happens.”

Essig noted that Boller’s father is NYPD Inspector Don Boller, with whom he said he has worked for 15 years. He said he had spoken last Thursday night with the elder Boller, who was not surprised to learn of the quick arrest and has his attention focused on his son’s recovery.

Police recovered a 9 mm pistol that forensics investigators would check to see if it matches up with a shell casing found at the scene of the shooting, he said.

The Queens District Attorney’s Office, however, said on Monday that the gun was not the one used in the shooting.

Spraggins was charged with two counts of attempted murder in the first degree; two counts of attempted murder in the second degree; two counts of assault in the first degree; aggravated assault of a police officer; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; menacing a police officer; and obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree.

If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison on each of the attempted murder counts. He was held without bail.

On Friday, Sewell started off the briefing and said Boller is recovering. She also praised investigators for their quick work on the case.

The NYPD press office said on Friday afternoon that Boller’s condition was stable. On Tuesday, Lt. John Jata of the 103rd Precinct told the Chronicle that Boller is in good spir-

its and getting better by the day [see separate story in some editions or at qchron.com].

At last Thursday’s briefing, Sewell said Boller joined the force last July and was assigned to the 103rd Precinct “three months ago today.”

“He was where our communities tell us they want their officers to be, standing a foot post,” the commissioner said. “He was flagged down by a community member who needed help. He was taking police action. Then he was shot.”

Before turning it over to Adams and Essig, she added, “I want to thank the staff here at Jamaica Hospital, Dr. Katherine McKenzie and the team here for their excellent care of our officers.”

Adams, a former police captain, said he had spoken with the officer’s parents. His mother, Adams said, recalled how the mayor told graduating officers at her son’s Police Academy commencement ceremony that his own mother “exhaled for the first time” after he retired.

“She’s still holding her breath,” Adams said of the young cop’s mother. “Her child was on our street to protect the children of our cities and their families. We cannot thank them enough. And that question mark that some people have when you talk about ensuring we provide for our officers, today that gunshot straightened it to an exclamation point. This is why they place their lives on the line for us.”

A fundraiser to assist Boller has been launched on fundthefirst.com, a site dedicated to charity efforts for law enforcement officers, other first responders, members of the military and teachers. The organizer is Law Enforcement Officers Weekend,

which says on the page that the fundraiser is the only official one for Boller, approved by his family.

“This morning, April 7th, Brett woke up and is doing well,” the organizers say on the page. “However, he has to have a secondary surgery tomorrow to remove a blood clot.

“Brett has a very long road of recovery ahead of him. He comes from a law enforcement family and is following in his fathers footsteps. Let’s help take care of Brett and his family by raising as much money as possible to help cover unexpected costs and anything they’ll need. Let’s show them what the Thin Blue Line is made of!”

The effort had raised more than $21,000 by late Wednesday afternoon, with a goal of $30,000, reduced from an original goal of $250,000.

Spraggins, Essig said on Friday, has no arrest record. That is often not the case for someone charged with a shooting.

“It’s certainly unusual in that the first time he’s been arrested it’s for trying to kill a cop,” Giacalone said. “That’s just off-the-charts crazy.” Q

Rookie cop Brett Boller, 22, was shot last Wednesday, allegedly by Devin Spraggins. The shooter had a distinctive tattoo that reads “Jocelyn,” below. At right, officers outside Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where Boller was treated. PHOTO VIA FUND THE FIRST, LEFT; SCREENSHOTS COURTESY NYPD; PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN

Retired judge submits petitions to challenge Katz in June primary tilt Grasso making it official in DA’s race

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Retired judge and NYPD official George Grasso on Monday submitted about 9,500 signatures to the city Board of Elections, formally challenging Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a Democratic primary on June 27.

Katz filed nearly 23,000 signatures last week.

“I’m all in,” Grasso said at a press conference Monday on the steps of Borough Hall, joined by people whom he has worked with over the last 30 years, as well as representatives of law enforcement organizations endorsing his candidacy.

Grasso, as he has since hitting the campaign trail, accused Katz of refusing to acknowledge increases in crime in the last two yeas, and said her office does not pursue public safety and quality-of-life prosecutions as aggressively as she could, even within the constraints of things like bail reform and a lack of discretion for judges as to the dangerousness of a defendant.

Queens votes

“This is coming. This is happening,” he said. “And why am I doing this? I was the administrative judge right down the block. My term wasn’t up until Dec. 31, 2024. I’ll tell you why. We have a crime wave in Queens right now. Crime in Queens is out of control under the tenure of Melinda Katz.”

Grasso also said he is gathering signatures to get on November’s general election ballot on a Public Safety third-party line

“I’m not putting all my eggs in the Democratic basket,” he said. “No matter what happens in June, I’m going to be on the ballot.”

Quoting CompStat figures, Grasso said major crimes in Patrol Borough Queens South are up 40 percent in the last two years, and 68 percent in Queens North.

“Melinda Katz refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem,” he said.

Among those endorsing Grasso were Yolanda Jimenez, former city commissioner to Combat Domestic Violence and former NYPD deputy commissioner for community affairs; and Herb Woods, former NYPD assistant commissioner for the Department Advocate’s Office, which investigates and tries police misconduct cases.

Organizations backing him Monday included the Retired Transit Police Officers Association, the Superior Officers Association Retired, the Retired Lieutenants Association, New York 10-13 Association, Long Island Shields, the Retired Police Association

RIDE FOR HALF PRICE

of New York and the Retired Sergeants Association.

While taking questions, Grasso said he is not worried about running a law-and-order campaign four years after Democratic Socialist and now Councilwoman Tiffany Cában (D-Astoria) very nearly beat Katz in a primary decided by less than 100 votes.

He said changes like bail reform and their impact had not been felt by the electorate then the way they have in the last four years.

“The political climate has changed,” he said.

The judge also challenged Katz to debate him “anytime, anywhere to discuss the issues I’ve talked about and then some.”

Katz, in statement released last week, said her petitions — with five times the number of Democrats’ signatures needed — demonstrates “a high level of support from every corner of the borough.”

Katz cited her office’s efforts on combating gangs and gun violence; domestic violence; and her new Conviction Integrity Unit that has overturned nearly 100 wrongful convictions.

“This is hard work and serious work, but it’s very gratifying work and I am honored by the faith people continue to put in our office,” Katz said. “The fact that so many people signed these petitions reflects the effective work my office has done on these issues, and the fact that people want us to keep doing it.”

Katz has heavy support from labor unions, including 1199 SEIU, 32BJ/SEIU, the Uniformed Firefighters Association, Teamsters Local 831 Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association and the New York City Building Trades Council. Q

Retired judge George Grasso made his challenge to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz formal on Monday, submitting signature petitions to get on the Democratic primary ballot on June 27.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

Illegal smoke shop crackdown by 105 Pct.

Weed stores promote negative behavior: CM Williams’ Office

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans), a

member of the Committee on Oversight and Investigations, announced last Wednesday that the 105th Precinct and the Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force had worked together to crack down on four illegal smoke shops and arrested five people on March 1.

In a press release, Williams thanked the Sheriff’s Office and the 105th Precinct for their efforts in her district, which covers some or all of Addisleigh Park, Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens and Queens Village.

Some of the illegal smoke shops were also slightly outside her district.

“Such operations are essential in protecting the health and safety of the community and ensuring that businesses operate legally and with proper licenses,” Williams said in a statement on April 5.

Authorities now estimate that approximately 1,400 smoke shops throughout the city are selling marijuana/ cannabis products without licenses and the City Council has been pushing for a clampdown on these businesses, according to Ayanna Camara, Williams’ spokeswoman.

“The Sheriff’s Office decided to conduct the inspections and reported back [information] to the

councilwoman’s office,” Camara told the Queens Chronicle. “Our office has heard the concerns of people in terms of the selling of illegal substances outside of stores — not necessarily in the store but there has been a lot of crimes happening near bodegas.

“Our constituents just want to have a safer community. These illegal smoke shops amplify illegal behavior.”

The contraband reported seized were 754 packages of tobacco products, 2,264 flavored vape products, 397 THC vapes, 2,108 packages of THC “flower” — marijuana buds — weighing a total of 51 pounds and 290 THC edible products weighing 28.5 pounds. The products were sold near houses of worship and schools, Williams’ office added. The inspections led to $241,000 in penalties.

The inspection also led to 14 notices of violations, Sheriff Anthony Miranda said in a prepared statement.

“We will continue in our efforts to enforce the mayor’s vision of a safe and healthy city by enforcing the rules and regulations mandating the sales and licensing of cannabis products,” Miranda said.

Merrick Gift Shop and Candy Corp., located at 234-26 Merrick Blvd. in Rosedale; 216 Exotic Corp., located at 216-13 Jamaica Ave. in Queens Village; Springfield Candy and Convenience Inc., located at 216-17 Merrick Blvd. in

St. Albans; and Smokerz R’ Us, located at 248-49 Jericho Tpke. in Bellerose Manor were the smoke shops that were investigated, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The first store was selling products two-tenths of a mile from PS 270. The second store was selling 276 feet from New Greater Bethel Ministries. The third store was selling two-tenths of a mile from Success Academy Middle School and the last store was selling twotenths of a mile from St. Gregory Catholic Church, the Sheriff’s Office added. The operators at the first and third store and the manager of the last store were charged with criminal possession of cannabis. The names of the defendants

were not released. There was no arrest for the second location, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Adams said that more joint direct action would be taken to shut down illegal smoke shops via the city’s Nuisance Abatement Law and the state’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act to protect the health and well-being of New Yorkers.

“Legalizing cannabis was a major step forward for equity and justice — but we’re not going to take two steps back by letting illegal smoke shops take over this emerging market,” Adams said in a statement on Feb. 7.

The city law states that it is a violation to illegally sell a con-

trolled substance without a license and if it interferes with the quality of life, property value, public health, safety and welfare of the people of a city.

The state law says that only a licensed business can sell regulated adult-use, medical and hemp cannabis products.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there needs to be a standardized industry because illegal smoke shops pose a health risk.

“The NYPD will use every resource available to protect New Yorkers and to ensure that the new cannabis regulations in our state are recognized, accepted and enforced,” Sewell said in a statement. Q

“We will continue to enforce the mayor’s vision.”

— Sheriff Anthony Miranda

An investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force and the 105th Precinct led to a crackdown on illegal smoke shops in Bellerose Manor, Queens Village, Rosedale and St. Albans, according to Councilwoman Nantasha Williams’ office. The shops were operating near schools and churches. Some of the contraband that was seized included 290 THC edible products weighing 28.5 pounds. PHOTOS COURTESY NYC SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The remaining contraband that was seized included 2,108 packages of marijuana, above, now often called THC flower, weighing a total of 51 pounds, Williams’ office added, along with 754 packages of tobacco products, 2,264 flavored vape products and 397 THC vapes.

HB Kiwanis scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach continues to support education by awarding its four annual scholarships to students living in the 11414 ZIP code. The funds will benefit high school seniors who will be continuing their education at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2023.

The five $1,000 scholarships available are:

• the Paul Anthony Bono Scholarship, to be awarded to a student who will major in any field of study;

• the Stanley Merzon Scholarship, for which preference is given to a student who plans to major in journalism or mass media;

• the August Sirgiovanni Scholarship, for which preference is given to a student who plans to major in the sciences or mathematics;

• the Founder’s Scholarship, also to be awarded to a student who will major in any field of study; and

• the James Giustizia family scholarship, which will give preference to any field of study.

Anyone interested should visit the website howardbeachkiwanis.org.

All scholarship applications must be postmarked by May 31. Q

artists to feature their work at performing arts center

JCAL film festival back April 22 10

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning will present its third annual 10-Minute Film Festival on April 22 at 7 p.m.

Out of a pool of 249 submissions, 10 emerging independent film directors will have their work screened at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, located at 153-10 Jamaica Ave., before a peer jury and an audience who will choose who out of the crop will walk away with cash awards immediately following the festival, according to JCAL spokesman and local filmmaker Tyrel Hunt, a

member of the committee.

The winning filmmaker will receive $750, the runner up will get $500 and there will also be an audience award of $500.

The other jurors include Xhosa FrayChinn, a Brooklyn-based artist, filmmaker and photographer whose work centers on the Black experience, and Lonai Mosley, a visual artist, writer, videographer, director, web producer, actress and voice actress who lives in Howard Beach.

Hunt is excited about the event.

“I’m thrilled to help amplify the work of [Black, Indigenous, and people of color] film-

makers via this event,” Hunt told the Chronicle. “As a juror, I’m looking for stories with a lot of heart that are distinctive, original, and entertaining.”

Before the screening begins, the festival will kick off with an opening reception, according to JCAL. The showcase will then be followed with a question-and-answer session spotlighting the accomplishments of producer panelists Luc Stephen, a Haitian-born Bostonian, a multi-hyphenate filmmaker, and Omarr A. Salgado, the Bronx co-founder of Fast Forward Films, a full-service production company that was established in February 2019. Q

Tyrel Hunt, left, Xhosa Fray-Chinn and Lonai Mosley will serve as jurors at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning’s 10-Minute Film Festival, which will be held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on April 22. Producers Omarr A. Salgado and Luc Stephen, far right, will have their work spotlighted after the showcase. PHOTOS COURTESY JCAL

Burial ground honored again; school en route

CB 7 OKs street co-namings, gets update on Water’s Edge Drive school

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

The Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground was honored once again this week as Community Board 7 unanimously voted to co-name the corner of 164th Street and 46th Avenue for the site.

The burial ground, where as many as 1,000 African Americans and Native Americans have been laid to rest, was not recognized as such until Bayside activist Mandingo Oeola Tshaka, who died last May, campaigned for the playground above it to be removed beginning in the early 1990s. Ultimately, the playground stayed, but a memorial for the burial ground was added, which was unveiled in fall 2021.

Robbie Garrison of the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground Conservancy was one of several in attendance advocating for the conaming Monday night.

“We hope that this new title that we came up with, Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground, is appropriate to give respect to everyone who lies there,” she said. “At this point, [that’s] all we’re looking to do.”

Though board member Larry Hughes took issue with the spelling of “Olde Towne” on the sign, arguing it was historically inaccurate for the time when people were buried there, he was alone in that concern. Plus, as First Vice Chair Chuck Apelian pointed out, it would be confus-

ing to have the sign spelled one way and the memorial spelled another.

“We’re just following current precedent of the City of New York so that they match each other,” he said. “Anything else and you’re going to have to hand out leaflets to everybody.”

The board approved two other street co-

namings Monday night: one for Officer Thomas Brophy, a former member of the 109th Precinct who died due to Sept. 11, 2001-related illness, at 14th Avenue and 149th Street, near the Whitestone Diner, which he attended frequently, and another for Piazza Sacco, an organization that partners with St. Luke’s Church, at 149th Street and 12th Road.

The board also got a long-overdue update on the 547-seat primary school slated for Water’s Edge Drive and 24th Avenue in Bay Terrace, which it rejected in July 2021 and had not heard any news on since the City Council approved it that winter.

Ben Goodman, an external affairs manager for the School Construction Authority, shared renderings for the school, construction on which, he said, will likely begin this fall.

When Goodman shared the floorplan, Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone) interrupted to object to the proposal that the school have a gymatorium. “Any school I’ve been in that has these things, whenever they want to host an assembly of any sort ... taking down chairs, putting chairs back up, it’s terribly inconvenient,” she said.

Not everyone seemed bothered by that, though; Arlene Fleischman, the board’s Education Committee chair, said the one at PS 242 “works wonderfully.”

Not only are gymatoriums designed to save space, Goodman said, but the SCA has found many schools do not use auditoriums enough to justify building them.

What was a concern, however, was the plan’s lack of parking for teachers; Goodman said they would need to find street parking.

“There’s no street parking over there now,” Cody shot back. Q

Community Board 7 on Monday saw plans for the new school on Water’s Edge Drive in Bay Terrace. Construction on the building will likely begin this fall. SCA RENDERING / ZOOM SCREENSHOT

AOC, Paladino face off on immigration

Queens lawmakers offer opposing viewpoints at Community Board 7

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Community Board 7’s meeting on Monday quickly became a battleground over the politically divisive migrant crisis between possibly the two most ideologically opposed politicians in Queens: Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-Bronx, Queens) and Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone).

The board used the congresswoman’s rare visit as an opportunity for residents to ask questions. When one person inquired as to what is being done to ease the effects of the city’s influx of migrants, Ocasio-Cortez explained that the city just recently applied for some of the funding Congress authorized in December for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

She added that hotel groups, among other kinds of companies, want migrants to fill their job vacancies, and have asked that the Biden administration speed up the work authorization process to make it happen.

That’s when Paladino cut in: “You’ve been talking about immigration — you and I are going to disagree vehemently on that.”

“To say we’ve passed our maximum capacity doesn’t even cover it,” Paladino said. “There’s no jobs. Everybody’s getting things for free.”

In February, the city’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. Statewide it was 4.2 percent and nationwide 3.6. Economists broadly consider between 3 and 5 percent to be strong.

Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her previous point. “When it comes to jobs, we do know that those jobs are there — we’ve worked with industry professionals ... they have confirmed that those jobs are there,” she said. “What they’re asking is that we help cut the red tape so that they can engage in some of this hiring.”

Soon after, Paladino asked whether the congresswomen had said migrants would be

Fire kills two

continued from page 11

financial aid, with two of them also receiving emergency housing.

A GoFundMe page set up to aid the Abdulsamed family had raised more than $48,000 as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, nearly reaching its initial goal of $50,000. The goal was increased to $60,000 as donations poured in.

“We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return,” the page’s introduction says, first in Arabic and then English. It goes on to greet readers in both languages but then sticks to English.

Councilmember Vickie Paladino, seen at left at an October meeting, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed the city’s migrant crisis on Monday.

“up first” for jobs in the hotel industry. Ocasio-Cortez replied, “I don’t think they have like a waiting list that they’re maintaining, but they’re saying that they have these vacancies, that they’ve been trying to fill them and that they have not been able to.”

She added that the city is aiming to get a significant chunk of the $8 billion allocated for FEMA nationwide; one figure that has been floated, she said, is $4 billion.

Paladino was less than convinced, saying, “We don’t see the money.”

“We’re going broke, and our citizens here who are hurting really, really, really badly are getting stepped over in order to accommodate the immigration problem,” she said, pointing to crime, among other things. “Native New Yorkers are not being cared for the way they should be cared for because of what’s been coming over the border.”

Later, she added, “It’s time to close that damn border.”

Though Ocasio-Cortez agreed both the federal and state government need to ensure the city gets financial compensation and aid, she pushed back on Paladino’s assertion that the migrant crisis has caused the city’s other challenges: “Oftentimes ... people blame this for other dysfunctions that we’re seeing.” Q

“In the afternoon of April 10th, two beautiful lives have passed away,” the introduction says. “Due to the tragic house fire in Astoria, Salah Abdulsamed has lost his daughter, Arwa Abdulsamed, and his son, Elias Abdulsamed. The family has also lost their home. All donations proceeded will help the family out during this difficult time. During the month of Ramadan, with no roof over their heads, anything is appreciated.”

It then concludes with a quote from the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

Some of the contributors said they knew the deceased. “My prayers are with you and your family,” said donor Kristin Gelardi. “Elias will forever be remembered for being the sweet child he was.” Q

PHOTO BY SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY, LEFT, AND ZOOM SCREENSHOT

Mets fans all smiles, in style on Opening Day

Though the Mets’ home opener at Citi Field was postponed a day due to rain, one would not have guessed that from the crowds of people lined up outside the stadium before the gates opened last Friday. Fans bled blue and orange as they geared up to cheer on their Amazin’s in a showdown with the Miami Marlins.

Starting at top right, Medford, LI residents Chris and Kim Ballalizi showed support for their favorite player, Jeff McNeil, as they wore hats with stuffed flying squirrels on top. To their left, Mets Manager Buck Showalter and center fielder Brandon Nimmo make their entrance onto the field for Opening Day ceremonies. Below them, Jamaica native Alexander Roldon shows off his tattoos. To his left, Mets fans bring the hype for

the home opener as they head toward the gates, while at center, Farmingville, LI, resident Diane Harris flashes her Mets-themed manicure, with shoes and jacket to match.

To the right, the Mets’ new sign in honor of broadcaster Bob Murphy sits among the team’s retired numbers. Underneath, Councilman Franciso Moya, left, Borough President Donovan Richards and state Sen. Mike Gianaris pose for a selfie on the field, while Mr. Met prepares for a high-five (or in his case, a high-four) to their left.

Above, Dominic and DJ DeChiara of Glen Cove, LI, spend some father-son time, as do Ethan and John Sadowski, far right. Siblings Hannah and Jordan Freid posed for a photo at right.

— Sophie Krichevsky

PHOTOS BY SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY

Team honors Bob Murphy as they win their first of the year in Queens Mets home opener is a home run, one day late

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

The Mets’ home opener may have been postponed by a day, but neither the delay nor the cloudy skies seemed to put a damper on fans’ spirits as they headed out to Citi Field last Friday. By 10 a.m., dozens of fans could already be found flipping burgers on the grill and sipping cold ones as they tailgated in the Marina Parking Lot.

Perhaps that’s because for many, it was business as usual: Several of the fans the Chronicle spoke with ahead of the Mets’ 1 p.m. game against the Miami Marlins said this was not their first Opening Day. As they lined up outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, waiting for the gates to open, a palpable sense of excitement was in the air as they awaited their Amazin’s 2023 Queens debut.

For John Sadowski, who hails from Suffolk, last Friday marked his 21st Opening Day, the second for his school-aged son, Ethan. But the thrill of it all has never faded — asked what keeps him coming back, he shrugged and said with a smile, “I love the Mets.”

Farmingville, LI, resident Fred Harris has only missed one Mets home opener since 1997: in 2013 (and the next year, he quit his job so he could go to Opening Day). His wife, Diane, came dressed for the occasion, donning an orange, fuzzy jacket with royal blue Converse and, to top it all off, a Mets-themed French manicure.

Indeed, Opening Day is one where the diehards show their stripes — sometimes literally. Alexander Roldon, who, along with his friend, Marky Boodhou, is originally from Jamaica, showed off his sleeve of Mets tattoos. Backed by alternating orange and blue stripes, the back of his left forearm has the Manhattan skyline inked behind the signature Mets lettering. On top of his bicep is Mr. Met, who sits above a Big Apple and the Unisphere.

Others paid tribute to their favorite play-

ers. Chris and Kim Ballalizi of Medford, LI, for example, had attached stuffed flying squirrels to their hats in honor of Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, whose jersey they both sported.

For some, it was a family affair: Shirley, LI, resident Charlie Kamer took his granddaughter, Ariana, to the ballpark last Friday not only for her first Opening Day, but to show her the commemorative brick outside the stadium inscribed with the family name. Though the search for the brick took several minutes, in the end, Ariana’s beaming look seemed to make it worthwhile.

Glen Cove native DJ DeChiara dragged his dad — a Yankees fan — along for the game. “We don’t know how this happened,” his father, Dominic, told the Chronicle with a smile.

They were far from the only families: Owner Steve Cohen greeted the fans on the field along with his wife, Alex, and their daughters. As he punched a fist into the air — displayed on the stadium’s brand-new, 17,400-square-foot jumbotron — fans cheered back a round of “Un-cle Steve-y!”

The family of legendary Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy was in full form, as well. New this season, his name will hang with the team’s retired numbers in left field. As part of the day’s festivities, his children Bryan, Casey and Kelly threw out the ceremonial first pitch; on the receiving end were former coach Tim Teuful, former pitcher Turk Wendell and legendary outfielder Mookie Wilson.

Despite a lopsided first two series and some injuries — most notably, the team’s newly acquired three-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Justin Verlander and star closer Edwin Diaz — fans were still optimistic about the Mets’ 2023 prospects. That was perhaps most clear at the end of the ceremony, when Diaz hobbled up the dugout stairs on his crutches to greet the crowd, which roared back louder than it

had all afternoon. More than one fan predicted last Friday that the team would earn 100 wins once

again this season. By the end of the game, they were one step closer: The Mets won 9-3. Q

As the Mets won their home opener against the Miami Marlins 9-3 last Friday, the team also unveiled its new jumbotron, the largest in Major League Baseball. PHOTO BY SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY

For some Mets fans, attending Opening Day every year has become a tradition.

Pandemic, insurance rates take toll on option for commuters in transit deserts Just 31 licensed dollar vans left on streets

by Jose Martinez THE CITY

This article was originally published on April 7 at 5:00 a.m. EDT by THE CITY

For nearly 30 years, Carmen Grant-White drove a “dollar van,” shuttling New Yorkers around Southeast Queens as part of the city’s extensive shadow transit network.

These days, her licensed commuter van stands still in the driveway of her St. Albans home, sidelined since March 2020 by the longrunning struggles facing a transportation sector that has been slammed by the pandemic, an increase in competition from unlicensed operators and soaring insurance costs.

“I cannot afford it,” Grant-White told THE CITY this week. “It’s costing $36,000 a year and there is no way in heaven I can afford it, not at all.”

Doing business in heavily immigrant neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and The Bronx that tend to be short on public transportation options, the dollar vans do not have official stops or schedules. They largely emerged during the 1980 transit strike, and proliferated in the latter part of that decade with rides originally costing a buck. They generally still cost less than the $2.75 MTA bus fare, although some routes charge as much as $3.

But Taxi and Limousine Commission data shows there were only 31 TLC-affiliated commuter vans in service as of last Thursday — an 86 percent drop from 2019, when there were 215 on city streets. In 2015, there were 584 dollar vans licensed to operate within certain zones, according to TLC records.

The number of licensed commuter van drivers has shrunk to 69, according to the TLC numbers, as operators have shifted to driving vans that are not licensed or have taken new jobs. There were 223 licensed drivers as recently as 2019.

Grant-White is among those who got out, yet she’s still on the road: The 62-year-old now drives a school bus.

“It’s reasonable and I can get some money,” she said of the new gig. “But right now, I am just living hand to mouth, I can’t hardly pay the bills.”

Vivian Barnes, a licensed van driver in

Southeast Queens who has been behind the wheel along Linden and Merrick boulevards since 1987, said he is being driven to quit by his inability to cover insurance costs.

“It’s the first time I have ever seen it so bad and I don’t know if I can continue with it,” Barnes, 78, told THE CITY last Thursday. “I would really like to continue with it until God tells me no more, that it’s time to go home.

“But I can’t.”

Drivers said routes in sections of the city that have long been strongholds for dollar vans have largely been left to unlicensed carriers, who often operate without insurance, or while underinsured.

“The Brooklyn route and the Queens route have practically almost shut down,” said Winston Williams, 61, a driver for nearly three decades and owner of Blackstreet Van Lines, which operates along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. “The licensed vans, they are mostly in the Chinatown area,” Williams said, referring to the three Chinatowns in Lower Manhattan, Sunset Park and Flushing.

The TLC does not have an estimate of how many unlicensed vans are on city streets.

Drivers said colleagues often give up their TLC licenses to make more money on the road with less hassle.

“A lot of the guys went on to Uber, to school bus companies, some went on to Access-A-Ride and others are operating without permits,” said one unlicensed driver on the Flatbush Avenue route, who asked not to be identified by name. “They still have to support their family and put food on the table.”

Ready to Rreturn

The continued collapse of the licensed commuter van sector contrasts how subways and buses have been faring. Their weekday ridership has climbed back to around 65 percent of prepandemic levels, according to MTA data.

But for the licensed commuter vans, the return has been largely slowed by rising annual insurance rates. Advocates for commuter van

Landrith, first Met, dead at 93

Hobie Landrith, a catcher who was the first player chosen by the fledgling New York Mets in the 1961 expansion draft, died April 6 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

The 14-year major leaguer was 93.

Landrith made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1950. He was left unprotected by the San Francisco Giants in the draft that took place in October 1961, before the Mets and Houston Colt .45s joined the National League.

Mets Manager Casey Stengel was asked why the team went with Landrith, a career journeyman who had spent most of his

time in the majors as a backup.

“Because if you don’t have a catcher, you’re going to have a lot of passed balls,” said the Ol’ Professor, as only he could.

Landrith would play only 23 games for Casey’s lovable losers, but did have a walkoff home run off all-time great hurler Warren Spahn of the Braves. He soon was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles as the player to be named later in the deal that brought “Marvelous Marv” Throneberry to the Mets. He ended his career in 1963 with the Orioles and Washington Senators. Q

— Michael Gannon

operators blamed the higher rates on the vans no longer having a separate insurance classification, but instead being in the same category as charter buses and ambulettes.

“The rates are exorbitant, up to $40,000 per vehicle, and we can’t do business under such rates,” Hector Ricketts, president of the Commuter Van Association of New York, told THE CITY. “We’re ready to come back, customers are waiting for the commuter vans, drivers are ready to go back to work, but the insurance is prohibitive.”

State Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside), a Transportation Committee member whose district includes a portion of the route that runs between largely Asian communities in Flushing, Elmhurst, Lower Manhattan and Sunset Park, told THE CITY that the lack of affordable insurance options is “essentially a death knell” for the licensed commuter van business.

The 2023 state budget includes $11 million in funding for a new Commuter Van Stabilization program, which is designed to subsidize driver insurance rates. But driver advocates and elected officials said that without changes to how much commuter vans pay for insurance, the regulated business will continue to shrink.

“It’s not just the commuter van operators who are suffering, but the public who is being dealt the short end of the stick,” Liu said, point-

ing to the state’s Department of Financial Services as “the main culprit behind the extreme difficulties that are slowly killing off the commuter vans.” The agency supervises and regulates nearly 3,000 financial institutions, including insurers.

While the $11 million has been set aside for the Commuter Van Stabilization program, a DFS spokesperson told THE CITY that the funds will not be allotted until a working group made up of state and local agencies figures out exactly how it can provide financial support to drivers, improve safety and make insurance coverage more affordable.

Responses to a request for proposals for a stabilization program administrator are still being reviewed, the spokesperson added, so one can be brought in to begin distributing funds and managing safety upgrades.

Without changes, Ricketts predicted, more formerly licensed drivers will go behind the wheel in unregulated or underinsured vehicles.

“You can’t put a dollar figure on the safety,” he said. “The licensed vans are obviously safer, they are fully insured, the drivers are fingerprinted and they have a commercial driver’s license and a hack license.”

Another formerly licensed driver who said he now drives his commuter van along Merrick Boulevard in Queens “very, very, very, very sparsely,” said some customers have shifted to riding on nearby MTA bus routes.

“The buses practically run for free,” said the driver, 70, who asked not to be identified by name. “The people aren’t paying and [the bus operators] do not ask for people to pay and the people know that.”

It adds up to a changing scene for riders who relied on commuter vans.

“They used to just walk outside and get vans,” the veteran van driver said. “Now if someone gets in they say, ‘What happened to you guys, where are you?” Q

“THE CITY (www.thecity.nyc) is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.”

Pro mentoring with ‘Passion!’

There’s still room for more college and high school students to attend Passion in Action!, the unique full day of mentoring set for April 22 in Western Queens.

Passion in Action! promises to bring young people together with “passionate professionals” in the arts, sciences, finance, women’s sports, nonprofit sector and more.

It’s free to attend, with signup and more details available under “special events” at queensworldfilmfestival.org or directly at bit.ly/3nyaoDu. It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Charter

School at 35-59 81 St. in Jackson Heights.

Attendees will get to learn from “filmmakers, artists, doctors, rappers, writers and others who have carved out their own career journeys despite the obstacles stacked against them,” the organizers said. “Plan on becoming inspired, motivated, and ready to create your own career journey.”

Producing the event is the leadership of the Queens World Film Festival, along with other entities. A fuller version of this notice is posted at bit.ly/3KTQOel. Q

— Peter C. Mastrosimone

Winston Williams, seen here April 5, has been driving a dollar van along Flatbush Avenue since 1995.

PHOTO BY BEN FRACTENBERG / THE CITY

All together now Queens College exhibits total recall of its collections

by Michael Gannon

Since its founding in 1937, Queens College and its numerous institutions have received donations of art, artifacts and other objects of interest from alumni, philanthropists and cultural institutions.

By nature, the collections of the departments, library and various archives on campus have remained separate and distinct —until this past February, when the school’s Godwin-Ternbach Museum opened “The Gift: Queens College Collects,” an exhibit that runs through May 25.

The two-story exhibit takes items from six campus collections and puts them together for the first time, including art, apparel and antiquities from around the world, and dating back from pop-art master-

pieces to Chinese artifacts from five millennia ago.

Louise Weinberg, co-director and chief curator at the Godwin-Ternbach, said the aim was to do something the museum, founded in 1981, had never done before —and to amaze students and other guests.

“It was inspired by some research I had done into all of the holdings of the college, which are kind of scattered about the campus and hidden in various collections,” Weinberg said. “Some of the items were really off-limits in storage. Others were in walls in offices or in public buildings.”

A number of dresses, gowns and tunics of various styles, vintages and countries of origin came from the Queens College Fashion and Textiles Collection.

A Picasso pen-and-ink drawing and other materials were borrowed from the Art Department.

“We have a Picasso [in the museum’s collection] that isn’t on display,” Weinberg said. The Chinese art, pottery, stone, jade, wood and metalwork are part of the William Daghlian Collection, donated in 2012. The Louis Armstrong House Museum, run by the college, donated many of Satchmo’s beloved collages. Still more items came from the school’s library and, of course, from Godwin-Ternbach’s own collection.

And the wildly varied sources led to some interesting juxtapositions.

Andy Warhol’s 1964 lithograph “Flowers” is

continued on page 23

King Crossword Puzzle

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Maurice Fitzgerald: BP’s promise left unfulfilled

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Maurice Fitzgerald was born Jan. 9, 1897 in Brooklyn, the firstborn of five children of Irish immigrant William Fitzgerald, a dry goods clerk, and his wife. The family moved to South Ozone Park around 1915. Maurice left school early and became a postal clerk. He was active in local civic associations, which helped to lead to his election in the New York State Assembly in 1929. He married Catherine Walsh, 11 years his junior, in April 1930. They bought a humble house at 129-16 134 St. in South Ozone Park.

He rose to Queens County sheriff in 1937 and Queens County public works commissioner in 1942. He now had a family with a daughter and two sons when he was elected borough president of Queens on the Democratic ticket in 1949.

Gertz Department store President Harry Gertz invited him to vacation at his summer home at Silver Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. He accepted the invitation but died in the home of a massive heart attack on Aug. 25, 1951 at age 54, only two years

into his term.

To remember him, PS 199 in Sunnyside is named after him, as is a playground in South Ozone Park. Q

SPORTS EAT

Clock controversy

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

There are several new baseball rules for the 2023 season, with the most attention-getting being the pitch clock. The goal is to shave off time from games, as too many of them were taking almost four hours to play.

I attended last Tuesday’s Phillies-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. Not surprisingly, I got a wide array of opinions on baseball being on the clock for the first time.

Yankees reliever Michael King’s biggest concern is having less time in the bullpen to get ready since the game will be moving at a faster pace. He also thought many fans would miss crucial plays because it is moving faster. Too many people are addicted to their smartphones to put them away and concentrate on the game.

King raises valid points. Having to get loose faster can lead to injuries, especially for veteran pitchers whose arms have accumulated a lot of wear and tear. This must be concerning to Mets fans since their team’s best relievers, Adam Ottavino and David Robertson, are baseball senior citizens at 37.

Former Mets pitcher and current team broadcaster Ron Darling was at this game in his capacity with Turner Sports, which televised it nationally. Darling liked the fact games would take less time but thought the clock should either be turned off or extended in time before penal-

Bties would be assessed, in the ninth inning. I like his idea and suggested the same rules for a relief pitcher’s save, meaning the run difference between the teams in the last frame should be three runs or less before the clock rules would be altered. Darling concurred with my proposal.

Phillies outfielder Jake Cave was voicing his disgust with the pitch clock to teammates when I entered the team’s clubhouse. As a hitter, he does not want to feel rushed when he is facing a pitcher who is throwing more than 90 mph.

I mentioned to Cave how the Mets’ Jeff McNeil was called for a strike by the umpire because he was waiting for Pete Alonso to return to first base from second after a foul ball. He wanted Alonso to be able to catch his breath in case he had to run on the next pitch.

“I saw that play. I would have done the same thing and taken the strike. It is like getting a ticket from a red-light camera because you did not want to risk a rear-end collision on a busy street,” Cave said.

Phillies General Manager Dave Dombrowski was philosophical. He felt the players would get used to the changes and come to embrace them. “They have always been told to be successful in baseball, you must slow the game down. We are now telling them to speed it up, so resistance is understandable.” Q

See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

The home of Queens Borough President Maurice Fitzgerald at 129-16 134 St. in South Ozone Park, as it looked in the 1940s when he lived there.

Jamaica Bay is a refuge for all, new exhibit shows

by Deirdre Bardolf editor

During the pandemic, as human activity ground to a halt, wildlife continued business as usual. In some cases, it even thrived, as air quality improved and greenhouse gas emissions decreased.

As Howard Beach science teacher, author and now artist Angela Carcione writes, ruby-throated hummingbirds still arrived here after a long flight from the tropics, unaware that human flights were canceled.

“Tree swallows still played and fraternized and fought face to face; they were unaware that, for humans, there were orders to socially-distance,” Carcione wrote in a recent thesis. The warblers still sang cheerfully, unaware that Broadway was shuttered. The lady beetles still dined on milkweed, even though restaurants were closed.

You get the picture. And the actual pictures are on view through June at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, in Carcione’s exhibit “Phenology Was My Refuge, Life Thrives at Jamaica Bay Amidst a Pandemic that Stopped the World.”

Carcione described the activities in her thesis statement for the exhibit, which features 20 of her images.

Outside of teaching remotely, she spent nearly every day visiting the refuge near her

home and honing her photography skills.

“Everything was still normal inside that refuge, even though on the outside, everything was falling apart,” Carcione told the Chronicle.

It was there that she found peace, stability and predictability.

First, she was interested in the bugs on her walks. In November 2021, she published her first book, “Buggin’ Out with Natalia

Vedalia: The Neighborhood Naturalist Collection” with her cousin, Annamarie Carcione, who illustrated it. Then, she was captivated by birding — her next book will focus on it.

“I majored in wildlife in college but I learned more that year just by walking than I did in four years of college,” the PS 207 teacher said.

Now, what she learned has culminated in

the exhibit, which opened on April 2. Carcione never expected her hobby to manifest into a public showing but said it is fulfilling to be able to share it with family and friends who have supported it.

“This is a passion project at the end of the day and it’s nice to see people take it seriously, because I did,” she said.

While she was exploring, she was encouraging her students to do the same, even if it meant simply observing the life cycle of a tree on their block.

While Carcione ventured to other boroughs to bird and explore, only what she saw at the refuge is on view there.

“Every single picture that’s on the walls was taken in the refuge ... that was important to me,” she said.

So visitors doing a loop around the East and West Pond trails can read the captions to inform their potential spottings.

And pandemic times or not, the beauty Carcione saw remains all year long.

“Although we were entering our darkest days as a city, the sun continued to rise over East Pond each morning, its soft beams of light turning the phragmites golden,” she wrote.

The refuge is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and its visitor center is open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Q

‘The Gift’ that keeps on giving at Queens College

continued from page 21

displayed behind a practically matching floral print Albert Capraro gown from 1975 similar in design to one he created for former first lady Betty Ford.

The Picasso and a nearby painting by Grant Wood adorn the wall above a series of display cases with rare or vintage books and other printed material.

On one’s left upon entering the gallery is a series of tunics inspired by classic Middle

Crossword Answers

Eastern design that carry the names of Thea Porter and Oscar de la Renta — but which appear to be under the observation of a woman looking off a square of Coptic Egyptian textile from the fifth or sixth century.

Some of the pairings were immediately apparent, Weinberg said. Others came after discussions with Emily Ripley, curator of the textile collection. Others suggested themselves apparent when she began assessing items on the school’s other collections.

“I wanted it to be fun,” she said. ”I wanted it to be surprising. Our mission as a museum is always to engage our student population first, and then the rest of the community, New York City and then the world. To capture the imagination of our students, we want to be able to elicit wonder.”

Information on “The Gift,” future exhibits and the museums permanent collection is available online at gtmuseum.org. The museum is located on the campus at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing. It is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors must show proof of vaccination and ID upon entering campus.

One thing that amazed Weinberg was something she’d looked at a thousand times

Artwork and fashions from multiple Queens College collections are mingled for the first time at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum. On the cover: What do pop-art, haute couture, Louis Armstrong and ancient Chinese carvings have in common? They make up “The Gift” at Queens College.

before and possibly not really seen.

“I borrowed four pieces from the Art Department on the first floor of Klapper Hall, three prints and a watercoler,” she said. “I’ve passed them many times on the way to meetings. I borrowed them for this exhibition and they look magnificent in our gallery.

PHOTOS BY MACKENZIE SLOANE

They’re very well-illuminated on the second floor. People are telling me, ‘You can’t give them back. They look fantastic up here!’” They will be heading back.

“But a change of scenery can make things glow,” Weinberg said. “It gives them a new life.” Q

It’s a

bird ... It’s

a

plane ...

It’s both! Quintessential Jamaica Bay photos by Angela Carcione, left, which show the intersection of wildlife and city life in Queens, are now on view at the visitor center through June.

COURTESY PHOTO, LEFT, AND PHOTO BY ANGELA CARCIONE

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Notice is hereby given that a Seasonal Tavern wine license, Serial #1351537 has been applied for by F Ottomanelli LIC LLC d/b/a Frank Ottomanelli’s to sell beer, wine and cider at retail in a Tavern. For on-premises consumption under the ABC Law at 52-10 Center Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101.

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Notice of Formation of Downstate Adult Health NP, PLLC. Art. of Org. fi led Sec’y of State (SSNY) 3/2/23. Offi ce location: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1836 Norman Street, Ridgewood, NY 11385. Purpose: practice the profession of nurse practitioner in adult health.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007WM1 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH 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 on May 5, 2023 at 12:45 p.m., premises known as 1352 Dickens Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. 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, City and State of New York, Block 15665 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment is $905,788.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index #703799/2021. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme CourtCivil Term website. Austin I. Idehen, Esq., Referee, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff

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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

Bushwick, 376 Cornelia St. 4 BR, 1 Bath. $3,200/mo. Eat-In Kitchen, Hardwood Floors. Avail Now. Call Stellina Napoliano, 646-372-7145. Capri Jet Realty.

College Point, 14-21 121st St, #2. 2 BR. $2,300/mo. Newly Renov, Water incl. Avail Now. Call Jose Tecorral, 347-499-8641. Capri Jet Realty.

Howard Beach, sunny 1 BR, CAC, utils incl. No pets. $1,500/mo. Call 718-848-6431

Williamsburg, 653 Metropolitan Ave, 1-4 BR apts. Luxurious Brand New Apts, Elevator, SS, Dishwasher, Central Air, Modern Amenities, Some Apts have Balconies, Shared Roof Deck, Laundry. Call Agata Landa 914-255-7284. Capri Jet Realty.

Open House

Howard Beach/Lindenwood / Fairfield Arms, Sun 4/16, 2pm-3:30pm, 151-20 88 St. (High-Rise). Agent Pam will be on the lobby. Unit 4C-Lg 2 BR, 2 baths. Reduced $225K. Unit 2D, 3 BRs converted from 2 BRs, 2 full baths. Reduced $248,888. Unit 5D, 2 BR, 2 baths, needs TLC, 5th fl. Reduced $225K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sat 4/15, 12:30-3:30pm, 164-18 90 St. 40x100, Hi-Ranch, unique 5 BRs, 2 full baths, 3 BRs, 1 bath, top flr & 2 BRs on walk-in level, new kit, HW flrs & new baths. Cement & pavers front & back. Full 1 car gar, sep ent to walk-in. Reduced $965K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Having a garage sale? Let everyone know about it by advertising in the Queens Classifieds Call 718-205-8000 and place the ad!

Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of GARDEN PROPERTY 88 LLC

Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/06/2023. 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: GARDEN PROPERTY 88 LLC, 196-15 42ND RD, FLUSHING, NY 11358. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Legal Notices Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS CERTIFICATE TRUSTEE OF BOSCO CREDIT II TRUST SERIES 2010-1, Plaintiff, Against PRADIP SAHA, ET AL.

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 05/23/2022, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the Courthouse steps of the Queens Supreme Court located at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY on 4/28/2023 at 12:00PM, premises known as 90-34 191st Street, Hollis, NY 11423, And Described As Follows: 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, City And State Of New York. Block 10446 Lot 29 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $266,249.74 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 719792/2021 If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagees attorney. Gerald Chiariello, Esq., Referee. Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504

Dated: 12/21/2022 File Number: 6957747 LD

Notice of Formation of Andrei Andreas LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/17/2023. 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: ANASTASIA ALLEN, 137-07 232ND STREET, LAURELTON, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: QUEENS COUNTY. DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005FREI ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Pltf. vs. AISHA KELLY ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF STEFANUS WATSON, et al, Defts. Index #710728/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Nov. 30, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the front steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY on May 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. premises k/a 112-50 175th Place, St. Albans, NY 11433 a/k/a Block 10291, Lot 19. Said property beginning at a point on the Westerly side of 175th Place (Woodrick St.) distant 520 ft. Northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Westerly side of 175th Place with the Northerly side of 114th Avenue (now known as Hurdock Avenue), being a plot 100 ft. x 40 ft. Approximate amount of judgment is $675,722.31 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of fi led judgment and terms of sale. WILLIAM DRISCOLL, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 165 Eileen Way, Ste. 101, Syosset, NY 11791. #100158

Notice of Formation of ATALIE LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/12/2023. 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: SONIA ROCCO, 13702 WHITELAW STREET, OZONE PARK, NY 11417. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of COMPLIANCE SERVICES CONSULTANTS LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/07/2023. 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: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 8046 161ST ST., JAMAICA, NY, 11432. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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 April 28, 2023 at 10:15 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 and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led 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 certifi ed bank check made payable to the referee. Janet L. Brown, Esq., Referee 2296-001049

Daisuke Osanai Dental, PLLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/15/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 4705 Center Blvd., apt. PH1, Long Island City, NY 11109. Purpose: Dentistry

Notice of Formation of DAVIS LEGACY 2023 LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/28/2023. 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: FLOYD DAVIS, 11843 228TH ST., CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY, 11411. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS INDEX NO. 713526/2020 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 130-21 147TH STREET, JAMAICA, NY 11436 Block: 12110, Lot: 24 & 25 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 2006-C, Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR, 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; SYLVIA SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; DARNELL SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; KENNY SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; CAROLYN SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; KAYLA SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; LISA SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; KELLY SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; JAHIHYME SINCLAIR AKA J.R.S., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; MALCOLM BOYD, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; LAI-SHEK SINCLAIR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR, 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 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; DOMINIQUE BOYD, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY SINCLAIR A/K/A DOROTHY E. SINCLAIR; ATLANTIC CREDIT & FINANCE INC.; MIDLAND FUNDING LLC; CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A.; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; CRIMINAL COURT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; SHATASIA BROWN, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven 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 $247,000.00 and interest, recorded on December 17, 2004, in CRFN 2004000777162, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 130-21 147TH STREET, JAMAICA, NY 11436. 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 fi led this foreclosure proceeding against you and fi ling 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: March 15, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, Matthew Rothstein, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF Queens, SC Park Lane II, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. Wali Ahmed, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confi rming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 22, 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 on April 28, 2023 at 11:15 a.m., premises known as 35-20 Leverich Street, Unit #B226, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. 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, City and State of New York, Block 1270 and Lot 1111 together with an undivided 0.6091 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $647,245.66 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index # 724727/2020. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Austin I. Idehen, Esq., Referee, Vallely Law PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 105, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of Formation of Soho City LLC. Articles of Org. fi led with Sec’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/27/16. Offi ce location is Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 10712 90th St, Ozone Park NY 11417. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Take Taco Mexican Grill, LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/3/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Ching Wan Chan, 48-82 188th St., Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.

General Purpose

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Legal Notices Legal Notices Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of HATS, HORSES AND HOLLYWOOD

LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/23.

Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Law Offi ces of Anthony S. Cannatella, 53 Orchard St., Manhasset, NY 11030.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

MPACIFIC 2435 LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 03/06/2023. 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, 48-02 25th Avenue, Suite 400, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of NEVSKY REALTY LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/31/2019. 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: OLGA SHUBINA, 88-10 34TH AVE, APT. 2E, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of QUEENS PRO EDITING LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/04/2023. 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: ARMAND RUCI, 2045 GATES AVE 2L, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of United 45 Holding LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/08/2023. 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: TSZ LEONG CHEUNG, 43-45 160TH STREET, FLUSHING, NY, 11358.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS Index No. 710658/2022 Date Filed: 3/10/2023 SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS Plaintiff designates Queens County as the Place of Trial Designation of Venue is based upon the situs of the Subject Property Subject Property: 129-34 155th Street a/k/a 12934 155th Street, Jamaica, NY 11434. U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for MASTR Asset-Backed Securities Trust 2005-FRE1 Mortgage PassThrough Certifi cates, Series 2005-FRE1, Plaintiff, -against- Ann Marie Hurgus a/k/a Ann Marie A. Hurgus, if she be living or if she be dead, her spouses, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; City of New York Environmental Control Board; City of New York Parking Violations Bureau; U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated November 1, 2005 MASTR Asset-Backed Securities Trust 2005-FRE1 Mortgage Pass-Through Certifi cates, Series 2005FRE1; State of New York “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve 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 Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants. 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 twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (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 sixty (60) days after the 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. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Tracy Catapano-Fox, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, entered March 8, 2023 and fi led with the complaint and other papers in the Queens County Clerk’s Offi ce. THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded on August 22, 2005 at CRFN 2005000469726, in the Public Records of the County of Queens, State of New York, covering premises known as 129-34 155th Street a/k/a 12934 155th Street, Jamaica, NY 11434 a/k/a Block 12259, Lot 57, part of Old Lot 54. 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 fi led this foreclosure proceeding against you and fi ling 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 payment to the mortgage company will not stop this 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: July 22, 2022 Rochester, NY, LOGS Legal Group LLP By: Frank M. Cassara,

Esq.,

Attorney for Plaintiff, 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard, Rochester, New York 14624 Telephone: (585) 247-9000#100251

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS WITH NOTICE Supreme Court of New York, Queens County. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstTHE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-LAW, next-of-kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through the decedents BLOSSOM MEDLEY and BERYL BARHAM, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein; LLOYD ALLEN; FRANK ALLEN; AYESHIA HILLARD; AUDIE ROBINSON; WAYNE MEDLEY; HORTELL BARHAM; ANDREW BARHAM; DEAN O. BARHAM; STATE OF NEW YORK; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); CRIMINAL COURT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE TAX COMPLIANCE DIVISION; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; TIFFANY MILES; DWAIN MEDLEY; TEVIN MEDLEY; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10” inclusive the names of the ten last name Defendants being fictitious, real names unknown to the Plaintiff, the parties intended being persons or corporations having an interest in, or tenants or persons in possession of, portions of the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, Defendants Index No. 719213/2019. Mortgaged Premises: 146-28 220th Street Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 Block: 13453 Lot: 116. To The Above Named Defendant(s): 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 upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. If you fail to so 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-entitled action is to foreclose the following: (a) a mortgage bearing date December 20, 1999 given by Blossom Medley and Catris Allen (deceased) to Roslyn National Mortgage Corporation to secure the sum of $95,000.00 and recorded in Reel 5491 at Page 1 in the office of the County Clerk/ City Register of Queens County on January 28, 2000 and which mortgage was assigned to Chase Mortgage Company as evidenced by written instrument dated June 1, 2000 and recorded in Reel 5856 at Page 2008 in the office of the County Clerk/City Register of Queens County on April 26, 2001; and (b) a mortgage bearing date April 11, 2005 given by Blossom Medley and Catris Allen (deceased) to JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA to secure the sum of $4,970.74 and recorded in CRFN: 2005000283569 in the office of the County Clerk/City Register of Queens County on May 16, 2005; and (c) a consolidation, extension and modification agreement bearing date April 11, 2005 given by Blossom Medley and Catris Allen (deceased) to JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA and recorded in CRFN: 2005000283571 in the office of the County Clerk/City Register of Queens County on May 16, 2005 and which agreement by its terms consolidated both mortgages in (a) and (b) to form a single lien in the amount of $95,000.00 and which mortgages as consolidated were assigned to the Plaintiff herein as evidenced by written instrument dated April 1, 2019 and recorded with the Queens County Clerk/ City Register on April 9, 2019 in CRFN 2019000112349 covering the premises described as follows: 146-28 220th Street, Springfield Gardens, New York 11413. The relief sought in the within action is final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against any Defendants in this action. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. 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 your mortgage company will not stop this 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. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS–SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS– FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC, Plaintiff, -against- MARICELA OVIEDO ALFARO, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEDRO ALFARO, DECEASED; ANY AND ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST PEDRO ALFARO, DECEASED; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL HOUSING COMMISSION; JESSICA “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); JOHN DOE #2 (REFUSED NAME), JOHN DOE #3 (REFUSED NAME), JOHN DOE #4 (REFUSED NAME), JOHN DOE #5 (REFUSED NAME), JOHN DOE #6 (REFUSED NAME), JOHN DOE #7 (REFUSED NAME), Defendants - Index No. 713991/2022 Plaintiff Designates Queens County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Queens County. 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(s) 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); 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. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated February 22, 2023. 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 (FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Phillip Hom, J.S.C. Dated: February 22, 2023 Filed: February 24, 2023. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 95-20 89th Street, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Dated: November 15, 2022 Filed: March 31, 2023. Greenspoon

Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Angelo A. Regina, Esq., 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022 P: (212) 5245000 F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120 F: (954) 343-6982

The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals has scheduled a virtual or hybrid public hearing on the following application on April 24th or April 25th, 2023: BSA Cal. No. 2022-81-BZ Premises: 204-34 45th Drive, Queens - Block 7303, Lot 18 Variance (§72-21) to permit the construction of a cellar and two-story, one-family residential building that does not provide a required front yard pursuant to ZR § 23-45. R3-1 zoning district. Applicant: Rothkrug Rothkrug & Spector LLP. An agenda listing the specific session (including the final date and time) with call-in details will be posted as an announcement on the front page of the Board’s website (www.nyc.gov/bsa) the Friday before. The public hearing will be livestreamed on the Board’s website and on YouTube. Interested persons or associations may watch online and call in to present testimony during the public hearing. Please see the Board’s Virtual Hearing Guides located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/ public-hearings/public-hearings.page However, the Board may determine that it must conduct the public hearing as a “hybrid,” during which the Commissioners will meet in person at the Board’s office in Manhattan and also appear virtually on live streamed YouTube and on an interactive Zoom Webinar. In the event of a “hybrid” hearing, applicants and the public may attend in person or participate remotely by calling into the Zoom Webinar and watching the YouTube livestream. The in-person portion of the hearing will take place at 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor, Spector Hall, New York, NY 10007. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing in person must present identification and go through a security checkpoint upon arrival into the building. Details for the hearing and whether it will be conducted as a hybrid will be posted on the Board’s website the Friday before the hearing. If the hearing is announced as a hybrid, in the interest of accommodating social distancing with limited seating capacity and to address ongoing health concerns, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate in the hearing remotely. You may submit a written statement by using the “Public Comment form” on the Board’s website located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/contact-bsa/public-comments.page For any communication, please include or refer to BSA Calendar No. 2022-81-BZ and the property address: 204-34 45th Drive, Queens - Block 7303, Lot 18. To coordinate review of the application materials, inquire about continued hearing dates and/or assistance, please contact the Board office at (212) 386-0009.

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Flipping the power switch

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, center, toured the Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City on Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, right, to highlight President Biden’s Investing in America agenda that includes funding for

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