Queens Chronicle South Edition 10-06-22

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by Sean Okula Associate Editor

Three Queens City Councilmembers — Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria), Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) and Julie Won (D-Long Island City) — are cosponsoring a bill calling for the abolition of the N YPD’s Criminal Group Database, which allows the department to track those with perceived gang affiliations.

Should the bill become law, it would require the destruction of all records currently in the database and prohibit the creation of any future files with the “same or substantially similar features.”

Eleven other members of the Council are sponsoring the bill with the Queens councilmembers.

Cabán says the database serves merely as a means of intimidation.

“In my years as a public defender, I saw firsthand how prosecutors weaponize this database to coerce false confessions and criminalize our youth,” she said in a statement. “Kids on this list for as little as wearing the wrong colors in the wrong place are threatened with gang conspiracy charges, and more. There’s no way to find out if you’ve been placed on the list, and no way to appeal to the authorities to b e removed from it. We must eliminate the gang database and prevent the creation of a

for end

NYPD gang database

“If they have solutions or better ideas, then they should share them to make policing better,” he said. “Isn’t that what reform is supposed to be?”

The bill follows Cabán’s agenda of limiting reliance on police. Last week, she and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) shared a flier with businesses detailing resources to call other than police in case of emergencies.

On Tuesday, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa visited businesses along Ditmars Boulevard, handing out his own fliers that urged business owners to call the police in case of emergency.

“We got a very strong response,” he told the Chronicle. “People were like, ‘yeah, of course we’re going to call 911. We’re not calling 311, that’s crazy.’”

SLIWA

Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán handed out a flier, left, to businesses in her district last week, offering alternatives to calling the police in case of certain emergencies. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was in the area on Tuesday, handing out his own fliers urging business owners to call the police in case of emergency.

replacement.”

“It does nothing to reduce violence and plenty to intensify the horrors of the criminal punishment system,” she added.

The councilwoman says the database disproportionately targets and criminalizes Black and brown youth, and says the focus for young people should be redirected to mental, physical and financial care.

Krishnan takes issue with the means by which the list is formed.

“This database targets innocent people which makes it ineffective and counterproductive,” he said in a statement. “The police department should focus on actual criminal activity, not arbitrarily profiling young people of color.”

Joe Giacalone, a former NYPD sergeant and current adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, asks the councilmembers to come forward with ideas rather than lambasting what he sees as an integral tool in policing.

The flier reads, “Always, always, always call the NYPD!” in case of a conflict that appears to be escalating, someone experiencing a mental health crisis or someone experiencing a drug overdose. Sliwa says he will continue to visit businesses in the area, specifically along Ditmars Boulevard and Steinway Street, throughout the week.

“I can tell you: The advice she’s giving will jeopardize people,” he said. “Spill a soda on yourself, distract a person and say, ‘Hey, didn’t I go to high school with you?’ I mean, that’s dumber than dumb.”

Memory of Auntie Rita lives on in OP

Corner named after beloved leader and vocalist killed in hit-and-run

The Ozone Park community gathered for a street co-naming in honor of Rita Persaud on Sunday. Romeo Hitlall, second from right, and Councilwoman Joann Ariola, right, joined Persaud’s family members for the event.

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

The skies shed tears last Sunday for Ritawantee Persaud as dozens gathered for a street co-naming near where the community leader was tragically killed in a 2020 car accident.

The corner of 103rd Avenue and 92nd Street was dubbed Ritawantee “Auntie Rita” Persaud Way and community members joined to honor her memory with song and sacred rituals.

Persaud touched the lives of countless peo-

ple, said Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), who hosted the event with Romeo Hitlall of the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club.

“Whether it was through her work at the Shanti Bhavan Mandir, or through her day-today interactions with her friends and neighbors, Rita’s life was a bright light for all who encountered her,” Ariola said in a statement.

Persaud emigrated from Guyana in 1999 and became a fixture in the Hindu community. Aside from her work as an accountant, she spent her time giving back, such as by work-

ing with youth. The 54-year-old’s life was cut short when a Lamborghini struck the Uber vehicle she was in. Nine months later, the driver was charged.

“The manner in which Auntie Rita was killed caused much outrage within the Queens community, and brought several community leaders together to press the NYPD for a swift and detailed investigation,” Hitlall said.

The memory of Persaud, who was known for her beautiful voice, lives on.

“While it was sad, it was also joyful,” said Aminta Kilawan-Narine, founder of the South

Queens Women’s March.

“In times of great grief, like when my grandmother passed away, she was there to sing while we were grieving. It’s those people who you remember the most,” said KilawanNarine, adding that the co-naming also preserves culture.

“Being from a community where we are twice removed from the motherland of India, a lot of people struggle to retain their identity ... We’ve lost so much. But because of people like her who have shown up constantly for our community, we never lose that culture.” Q

Annual Columbus Day festivities return with a bang following hiatus Festival

Italiano in Howard Beach Sunday

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

The annual Columbus Day Parade in Howard Beach at one time drew thousands.

Throughout the pandemic, however, the festivities were on a hiatus until last year, when a lastminute celebration ended up drawing an unexpected 200 people.

So this year, the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation teamed up with Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) to do it right.

Instead of a parade, the Festival Italiano will take place this Sunday, Oct. 9, on Cross Bay Boulevard between 158th and 159th avenues.

The boulevard will be closed for music, entertainment, food and more.

It will begin at 1 p.m. when restaurants will be setting up food and then the music will go from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The masters of ceremonies will be radio personality Joe Causi and singers Carmelo Raccuglia, also

known as “The Pizza Dude,” and Enzo Venuto.

Proceeds from the event will go to St. Helen Church.

“It has been a very long time since we’ve had such a large gathering since the pandemic and shutdowns and Covid restrictions ... so, there’s a lot to celebrate this year,” said Ariola.

She expects Italians and non-Italians alike to come out and experience the culture. It is a time for Italians to stand up for their culture as well.

As a culture war wages on about Indigenous People’s Day replacing Columbus Day, Ariola recently used the floor of City Council to speak up for the thousands of Italian Americans across the city.

“We celebrate every culture and every day there is a parade or an event or a month to celebrate that particular culture,” she told the Chronicle. “Each year, when cancel culture is growing, we really need to hold on to our values and our culture.”

PHOTOS

DANIEL COFFARO HILL, ABOVE;

The Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation held an annual parade in Howard Beach before the pandemic. Now, it returns with a festival on Cross Bay Boulevard.

PHOTO

How To Get Rid of Knee Pain Once and For All... Without Drugs, Shots or Surgery

Living with knee pain can feel like a crippling experience.

Let’s face it, your knees aren’t as young as you used to be, and playing with the kids or grandkids isn’t any easier either. Maybe your knee pain keeps you from walking short distances or playing golf like you used to.

Nothing’s worse than feeling great mentally, but physically feeling held back from life because your knees hurt and the pain just won’t go away!

My name is Dr. Robert F. Gucciardo, D.C., owner of Gucciardo Specific Chiropractic and Natural Health Center. Since we opened seventeen years ago, I’ve seen hundreds of people with knee problems leave the office pain free.

If you’re suffering from these conditions, a new breakthrough in medical technology may completely eliminate your pain and help restore normal function to your knees.

Do You Have Any of the Following Conditions?

• Arthritis

• Knee pain

• Cartilage damage

• ‘Bone-on-bone’

• Tendonitis

• Bursitis

• Crunching and popping sounds

Finally, You Have an Option Other Than Drugs or Surgery

New research in a treatment called Class IV Laser Therapy is having a profound effect on patients suffering with knee pain. Unlike the cutting type of laser seen in movies and used in medical procedures, the Class IV therapeutic laser penetrates the surface of the skin with no heating effect or damage.

Laser Therapy has been tested for 40 years, had over 2000 papers published on it, and has been shown to aid in damaged tissue regeneration, decrease inflammation, relieve pain and boost the immune system. This means that there is a good chance cold laser therapy could be your knee pain solution, allowing you to live a more active lifestyle.

Professional athletes like The New York Yankees and team members of the New England Patriots rely upon cold laser therapy to treat their sports-related injuries. These guys use the cold laser for one reason only…

It Promotes Rapid Healing of the Injured Tissues.

Before the FDA would clear the Class IV laser for human use, they wanted to see proof that it worked. This lead to two landmark studies.

The fi rst study showed that patients who had laser therapy had 53 percent better improvement than those who had a placebo. The second study showed patients who used the laser therapy had less pain and more range of motion days after treatment. If the Class IV Laser can help these patients, it can help you too.

Could This Noninvasive, Natural Treatment Be the Answer to Your Knee Pain?

For 10 days only, I’m running a very special offer where you can fi nd out if you are a candidate for cold laser therapy.

What does this offer include? Everything I normally do in my “Knee Pain Evaluation.” Just call before October 6th, 2022 and here’s what you’ll get…

• An in-depth consultation about your problem where I will listen … really listen … to the details of your case.

• A complete neuromuscular examination.

• A full set of specialized X-rays to determine if arthritis is contributing to your pain (if necessary). (If you have films please bring them for evaluation).

• A thorough analysis of your exam and X-ray fi ndings so we can start mapping out your plan to being pain free.

• You’ll see everything fi rsthand and fi nd out if this amazing treatment will be your pain solution, as it has been for so many other patients.

Until October 6th, you can get everything I’ve listed here for only $37. The normal price for this type of evaluation including X-rays is $250, so you’re saving a considerable amount by taking me up on this offer.

Remember what it was like before you had knee problems – when you were pain free and could enjoy everything life had to offer. It can be that way again. Don’t neglect your problem any longer – don’t wait until it’s too late.

A new treatment is helping patients with knee pain live a happier, more active lifestyle.

Here’s what to do now:

Due to the expected demand for this special offer, I urge you to call our office at once. The phone number is 718-845-2323.

Call today and we can get started with your consultation, exam and X-rays (if necessary) as soon as there’s an opening in the schedule. Our office is called Gucciardo Specific Chiropractic and Natural Health Center and you can fi nd us at 162-07 91st Street in Howard Beach. Tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Knee Evaluation before October 6th.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert F. Gucciardo, D.C.

P.S. Now you might be wondering…

The FDA cleared the fi rst Class IV Laser in 2002. This was after their study found 76 percent improvement in patients with severe pain. Their only warning – don’t shine it in your eyes.

Of course at our office, the laser is never anywhere near your eyes and we’ll give you a comfortable pair of goggles for safety.

Don’t wait and let your knee problems get worse, disabling you for life. Take me up on my offer and call today (718) 845-2323. For more information go to www.drgucciardo.com and click on the laser therapy tab.

Federal and Medicare restrictions apply. Dr. Robert F. Gucciardo Upper, Cervical Chiropractor, Master Clinician in Nutrition Response Testing 162-07 91st Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414 • (718) 845-2323

“Is this safe? Are there any side effects or dangers to this?”

Now, in Howard Beach, NY, one doctor is helping local residents with knee pain live more active, pain-free lives.

Guns, mental health and recidivism

by Peter Kropf Chronicle Contributor

“Mr. Mayor, I carry pepper spray everywhere I go, but I still don’t feel safe in this city,” lamented one Queens resident at Mayor Adams’ public safety discussion in Forest Hills on Monday.

More than 100 people attended the event, which was held in the gymnasium at JHS 190, the Russell Sage School, between 7 and 8:30 p.m. The audience included the general public, community leaders, NYPD officers, Department of Education representatives and other various agency facilitators.

Mayor Adams and a panel of top city and Queens officials, including Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Borough President Donovan Richards, answered audience questions during the 90-minute session.

Both Adams and Katz began the forum by referencing recent crimes that shook Queens: the fatal stabbing of FDNY EMS Lt. Alison RussoElling in Astoria on Sept. 29 (Adams also attended her wake on Monday) and the vicious beating of a woman at the Howard Beach-JFK subway station on Sept. 20. Then they shared their plans on how to stem the rising tide of crime in Queens and the rest of the city.

“Many rivers feed the sea of violence,” Adams stated. “But we really have to take a look at the proliferation of guns on our streets and the mental health crisis.” He recalled the January subway-shove death of Michelle Go and the Sunset Park subway shooting in April as examples of mental illness leading to serious crime.

Katz — who noted that she attended JHS 190 as a child — shared Adams’ sentiment, believing “more accountability” in the areas of gun violence and mental illness is needed.

The city’s health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, elaborated on the topic of mental wellness.

“We have rising rates of serious mental illness,” Vasan emphasized. “People with mental illness need three things: healthcare, a home and help from the community. The first two are usually covered, but the third aspect is sometimes ignored ... we need communities to get more involved in helping these people.”

Another major theme of the night was how to tackle the root causes of crime. Borough President Richards was passionate when discussing the subject.

“We have an equity problem in this city,” Richards said. “You can’t incarcerate people out of poverty.”

He expressed his gratitude regarding the mayor’s heavy investment in Queens. Richards further mentioned that he would soon be introducing a major health and wellness initiative and also suggested reviewing the protocols at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village.

Echoing Richards’ opinion on crime was Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright.

“We are using an integrated strategy to combat homelessness, improve educational outcomes and help small businesses,” Wright said. “The goal is to use an upstream approach, but to do so in an aligned, coordinated way.”

According to Adams and Katz, the justice system is a central part of the crime problem. The mayor criticized what he felt has become a “catch, release, repeat, revolvingdoor” pattern for arrestees. He rhetorically asked the crowd, “How can someone be arrested 30 or 40 times for burglary?”

Adams and Katz recommended that judges be “empowered” and given more “discretion” when it comes to sentencing and detaining

dangerous criminals. Both denounced Albany for “passing laws to protect criminals instead of protecting innocent New Yorkers.”

In addition, the mayor described the city’s atmosphere in recent years as one that has allowed for lawlessness.

“Our city became a place where anything goes,” Adams said regrettably. “I feel that the police were told not to do their jobs. I told my brother that the city was lost when people were dumping water on cops and cursing at them.”

However, Adams claimed that a “perception problem” about crime was also increasing citizens’ anxiety.

“We have removed 2,000 homeless people from our subway system,” he proudly announced. “And only a handful of felony crimes happen per day with a daily subway ridership of 3.5 million. Plus, the city was far more violent 30 years or so ago when I was a cop.

“That’s why I like having these

direct conversations with the community — it’s the best part of my job. Let’s not talk through the tabloids.”

During the transit safety discussion, an audience member asked the mayor if more cameras are coming to buses in the way they are to subway cars. Adams said his team would “look into it.”

On several occasions throughout the forum, College Point and Whitestone residents asked the mayor about increasing the police presence in their neighborhoods. The topic was broached enough times that Adams essentially guaranteed a visit to the 109th Precinct, which covers that area.

Civic leader Al Centola, 50, of Whitestone, was one of the audience members who had interacted with Adams.

“The 109th Precinct covers one of the largest zones in Queens and we feel it’s understaffed,” Centola told the Chronicle. “They should turn the NYPD Police Academy in College Point into another precinct for the area.”

School safety was another issue brought up multiple times by the audience and panelists. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks assured parents that improving door-locking systems would be a

priority.

Adams suggested “revisiting” pathways for school safety agents to advance in their careers. Banks added that the press should focus more on the positive efforts of school safety personnel.

The conversation then deviated from the most serious crimes as citizens demanded answers to their qualityof-life questions. The ubiquity of illegal dirt bikes and allterrain vehicles on Queens streets was the main concern.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said that thousands of dirt bikes and ATVs have been confiscated and that the police will continue to focus on the problem. Maddrey insisted that Queens residents can help by telling police where the illegally used vehicles are parked.

NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey noted that illegal peddling and noise complaints will continue to be targeted. He also touted the fact that there are 1,400 new NYPD recruits.

As the event was winding down, Mayor Adams concluded that “prevention and intervention” are the two keys to solving crime in Queens and the city.

Attendees of the night’s conversation, as well as the rest of the borough’s denizens, hope he’s

Mayor, top officials talk crime and solutions in Forest Hills

“I told my brother that the city was lost when people were dumping water on cops and cursing at them.”

— Mayor Adams

Joined by top administration and police officials, Mayor Adams addresses questions and concerns of audience members at a public safety conversation held Monday in Forest Hills. He is flanked here by Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman, left, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright, NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey and NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey.

PHOTOS BY PETER KROPF

At left, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz demands “more accountability” when it comes to gun violence and mental illness in Queens and the city during the mayor’s safety forum, which drew more than 100 people.

EDITORIAL AGEP Final nail in the rail coffin

Any hope of restoring train service along the Long Island Rail Road’s old Rockaway Beach Line was always slim to none. Yes, it would be great in theory to have a new public transit connection from Rockaway to Rego Park, but the obstacles were numerous — and the financial one simply overwhelming.

And now hope is officially gone, with the city announcing a $35 million project to turn a 5-acre section of the right-of-way into the first phase of a planned linear park, called the QueensWay and modeled after Manhattan’s High Line. QueensWay has always been the rival to the train revival proposal, first called QueensRail and then, for some reason or another, rebranded as QueensLink. The latter would allow for some park space too.

But it’s just not going to happen. The cost of reestablishing rail service — not just a matter of cutting down trees and shining up the tracks they’re growing over — would be in the billions. The MTA says $8.1 billion, while the rail backers claim $3.7 billion. It almost doesn’t matter, as the park

plan is far easier and cheaper — though repurposing those old rails that have gone unused since 1962 and turning the right-of-way into something safe for people to visit won’t be a picnic either.

The plan will do something nice, at least in many minds, by providing a new pedestrian route connecting the shopping around Trader Joe’s on Metropolitan Avenue with Stop & Shop and the stores on Union Turnpike, as well as the schools in between them. And it’s only the first step in a plan to turn the ROW into a 47-acre park.

One option — if not for the costs — is the one that this page endorsed several years ago, agreeing with the Regional Plan Association. That would be park to the north and rail to the south, with the QueensWay from Rego Park to Woodhaven and trains from Atlantic Avenue down. But that was before the virus came. Now there’s not enough ridership and not enough money (if there ever was).

Another option we kind of liked was keeping the status quo. That one was pretty much free. Let’s see how a modest start to the park plays out.

Get the gas on, NYCHA

People living in public housing deserve hot food, not hot plates. Yet the latter is what they need at the Bland Houses in Flushing, where nearly 400 residents have been without cooking gas since the beginning of May. Some say they also lack gas for heat, which might have been handy in recent days as fall burst in with lower than average temperatures.

Over at the Woodside Houses, the entire complex was without heat and hot water for a while this week, though by press time, the New York City Housing Authority said service had been restored.

A quick blip like that is one thing, and no surprise in old buildings that are not properly maintained. But it’s completely unac-

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Stop chopping trees

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ceptable to go without service for months, as they’ve been doing at the Bland Houses. NYCHA’s alleged excuse is it can’t find a plumber; who believes that? (On a side note, consider plumbing as a career. You’re always in demand.)

If you go to NYCHA’s online list, you’ll see dozens of outages of all kinds: heating gas, cooking gas, hot water, all water, elevators — in all corners of the city. On Wednesday evening it listed 27 elevator outages, many of them planned; and claimed 155 had been repaired in the last 24 hours(!) — almost all of them unplanned.

Our elected officials always talk of NYCHA reform, but they’re obviously not going deep or hard enough to do right by the residents.

Dear Editor:

I have lived in Oakland Gardens near Key Food for over 40 years. But over the last 10 years I have noticed a marked deterioration in the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Old houses have been demolished and replaced by the ugly mega mansions. Before the new homes are built the first thing that occurs is that all the old (over 70 years old) sweet gum trees are cut down. These trees are located in the backyards on the boundary with the adjoining house in the back. The trees are torn down solely because they are in the way of a garage that is built in the exact corner of the property. If these garages were moved forward about and attached to the new home the trees would not have to be chopped down.

On my block more than 20 trees on both sides of the street have been chopped down in the last five years. Oakland Gardens is being decimated and is getting warmer for the lack of backyard trees.

I have tried to talk to my local politicians but they don’t seem to care. NYC law allows this because it is on the person’s property and they can do whatever they want. That is not proper! Queens should follow Nassau County municipalities in requiring property owners to apply for a permit, which is in most cases not approved, before they can chop down a tree.

I am very frustrated by the lack of respect for trees and its effect on global warming in Queens.

Stephen Liebman Oakland Gardens

CB 6 failed the majority

Dear Editor:

I am writing to address your Sept. 22 Central Queens edition article “CB 6 approves Rego Park synagogue plan” by Michael Gannon. When Peter Beadle, the first vice chairman, reminded us to “keep in mind that when we are talking about the needs of the community, the congregants are members of the community. That has to be kept in mind as well,” it seems to me that that is all Community Board 6 kept in mind when they voted against the

majority of residents (380 to be exact) who live on the block or surrounding area.

Why must we lose sight that in a democracy, majority rules? Why must we “keep in mind” the minority and turn a blind eye on the majority? If the board did its job of knowing and responding to their community, they would have “kept in mind” both the 25 families of congregants and the 380 families of noncongregants. A compromise could have been made, by allowing the congregants a synagogue to accommodate their current congregation but not an oversized structure, which would create hardships on the community.

If Rabbi David Akilov’s predictions come true, and in five years he needs a much larger space, then he can move his congregants to a larger building in an area that can absorb crowds without disrupting the quiet and safety

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LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

of a small residential block.

CB 6, you did not “keep in mind” the majority of the community who expressed opposition. You kept in mind the minority. That is called favoritism.

Mary Ann Franklin Rego Park

Paladino wrong on rezone

Dear Editor:

I read Sophie Krichevsky’s Sept. 29 article “Paladino did an about-face on Mizumi plan” (multiple editions), in which Councilmember Vickie Paladino politicized the issue of rezoning next to Alley Pond Park, stating, “If there was a Democrat in this seat you would have been sold down the river, folks.”

Well, she is wrong. I was chair of Community Board 11 for 30 years (1972 to 2002) and during that time there were numerous applications for zoning changes. They included apartment houses, hotels, tennis centers, automobile-related businesses and restaurants.

Whether the CM was Republican or Democrat, the applications opposed by the community and CB 11 were all turned down by the CM’s action at the Council.

CM Paladino will have a difficult time getting re-elected without the support of tens of thousands of votes from Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck, which she lost by not backing the community.

Bernard Haber Douglaston

Right turn on schools

Dear Editor:

On behalf of many parents like myself, I would like to thank Schools Chancellor David Banks for greatly improving the disastrous screened high school admissions policy that was instituted last year by the previous administration. Under that policy, students with an 85 average had the same chances of getting into a highly rigorous high school like Townsend Harris as those with a 99 average, such students made up 60 percent of middle schoolers all hoping to be the few lucky lottery winners out of 55,000 comprising this 60 percent top group.

It is refreshing to see the chancellor listening to and engaging with the real stakeholders, parents of public school students as well the students themselves. Our collective efforts made an impact.

It’s important to point out that while the new system is not ideal by any means, as it still utilizes a lottery aspect, the percentage of all middle schoolers in the top lottery group will be about 20 percent with a minimum average of 90. This means that there will still be some students who may not get into a high school of their choice with a 99 average while someone with a 90 average will.

I can’t help but notice most media outlets reporting on this as if lottery is out and screens are in. That’s not accurate; it is still a lottery, only the pot is three times smaller. I sincerely hope that this is not the end of the road for Chancellor Banks and further adjustments to this admissions policy will be made next year based on the admissions results from this year under the newly implemented policy. One such

adjustment could be adding the seventh-grade state test scores as a metric for admission — the state test being the most objective metric.

We are moving in the right direction.

Irene Raevsky Forest Hills

Albany’s Glendale divide

Dear Editor:

Whatever the reasons for redrawing state Assembly lines, residents sandwiched in between districts 28 and 38 are a case in point for fairer representation.

Along the border of these two districts lies the community of Glendale. This is a diverse, conservative-leaning community that is nonetheless ill-served, divided for attention between District 38’s capable and energetic Jenifer Rajkumar, hero of the largely Sikh community in Richmond Hill, and 28’s Andrew Hevesi, commonly identified as “of Forest Hills” in this newspaper and apparently beloved of nostalgic fans of his father who reside there. Essentially a stranger in Glendale, where probably few share his overt sympathies for former Mayor Bill de Blasio, does he ever travel south of Austin Street, let alone Cooper Avenue?

Hopefully Glendale can come out of this with an Assembly representative more its own. At the same time, Glendale might hope the coming City Council redistricting will refrain from any mischief aimed at removing the possibility of another such able representative among them, like District 30’s Bob Holden.

Edwin Eppich Glendale

Cabán’s new anti-cop ideas

Dear Editor:

I am pleased Councilmember Tiffany Cabán followed up so quickly on the plea in my Sept.

15 letter to the editor, “Cabán’s gangs gone wild,” and produced not just one but two brilliant ideas to top the one she made about abolishing the NYPD’s gang database.

Last week’s Queens Chronicle editorial “We need all the cops we have” pointed out Ms. Cabán great idea of distributing a public safety tip sheet urging small business owners to put their lives in danger by intervening themselves when a crime is in progress instead of calling the police for protection. The business owners are urged to get training on how to convince criminals to drop their weapons. It even notes that after the criminals correct their behavior, the owners should tell them, “Have a good day.”

Her second bright idea was on her Twitter feed recently when she managed to locate a three-month-old video from Breanna Straus, a Federal Way, Wash., police officer, making a statement about being above the law that Cabán summarizes as “policing culture in a nutshell.” I agree the officer’s statement in the video is not appropriate. However, Ms. Cabán does not seem to understand that officer only spoke for a tiny fraction of her fellow officers. Ms. Cabán continues to portray all police officers as bad apples.

In fact, Ms. Cabán conveniently failed to mention that an official of the Federal Way Police Department sent out a statement that read, “We have viewed the social media video

HALLOWEEN

Rich Hill dating app predator faces 50 yrs.

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

A Richmond Hill man who allegedly lured victims through dating apps was indicted last week on charges of criminal sexual acts and robbery.

Jadu Davindra, 34, of Richmond Hill, allegedly forced strangers he met online to engage in sexual acts and then demanded money from them, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

“Although social networking platforms help us create new connections, this case serves as a dark reminder that these apps are often exploited for brazen criminal activity,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a prepared statement.

“As alleged, this defendant used several apps to sexually assault, threaten and rob two unsuspecting victims, causing not only physical but psychological trauma,” Katz continued.

In the first incident, which occurred in May 2021, Davindra allegedly met a man on the app Grindr, invited him over to his apartment and, after a consensual sexual encounter, ordered him to undress, restrained him with a belt and forced him to

engage in nonconsensual acts. He threatened him with scissors and demanded he transfer him money through an app.

Then, on Oct. 27, 2021, the defendant met a second victim at the victim’s apartment after connecting on the classified advertisement site Locanto. Davindra displayed a knife and demanded money. The victim fled and sought help and Davindra was seen running from the apartment. Items belonging to the victim were missing when he returned.

Davindra was out on bail following arrest for the first incident and surrendered himself in November 2021.

The nine-count indictment, which Davindra could serve consecutive 25-year prison sentences for, includes two counts of criminal sexual acts in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, two counts of menacing and one count of grand larceny.

Davindra was not listed on the city’s inmate registry at the time of publication.

Anyone who believes they were a victim of a similar crime is urged to contact the DA’s Special Victims Bureau at (718) 2866505 or specialvictims@queensda.org. Q

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

continued from previous page

posted by Officer Straus and can assure you that it does not represent the core values and practices of our police department. The Federal Way Police have a reputation of being respectful, courteous, and professional and are focused on serving the community at the highest level.” Officer Straus later received a suspension without pay.

I think Ms. Cabán would benefit from training in overcoming implicit bias.

David Soukup Sunnyside

No dirty pipeline deal

Dear Editor:

As a 20-year-old who wishes to be able to raise children in the future on a healthy Earth, it appalls me that Democrats controlling Congress have made climate change action a key plank of their party platform and yet are doing little to oppose the Dirty Pipeline Deal made behind the backs of the American people between Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and our very own Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

I worry that the current climate crisis will doom future generations to unpredictable weather and natural disasters, which is happening increasingly often these days along with heat waves, floods and rising sea levels threatening coastal areas like New York City.

We saw the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida, which killed 11 people in Queens — the last thing we need is more catastrophes brought on by the effects of climate change.

Should this pipeline deal be approved by Congress, members will have reneged on their campaign promises and broken the trust we put in them not to capitulate to the oil and gas industry. If Congress does not immediately halt this deal, millions of Americans will have to suffer the detrimental effects of the deforestation, destruction of wildlife and greenhouse gas emissions innate in fasttracking federal approval of the building permits necessary for constructing unnecessary oil and natural gas pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure, which is exactly what this deal advances. I am grateful for the letter of opposition signed by over 80 House members already, including those representing Queens such as Reps. Grace Meng, Carolyn Maloney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but to simply sign a statement is not enough. Our representatives in Congress must be more vocal in their opposition to this Dirty Pipeline Deal if they wish to stop the growing climate crisis and prevent its passage for the good of every American.

Ryan Alwi Rego Park

The writer is a student at Baruch College majoring in public affairs and an intern with Food and Water Watch.

Charges upped in HB subway assault

Attempted murder for beating that left woman without vision in eye

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

The man allegedly captured on film brutally beating a woman at a Howard Beach subway station, causing her to lose vision in one eye, has been indicted on attempted murder and assault charges, and faces up to 25 years.

“We have had enough,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a press release.

“There are basic rights that New Yorkers should have in. this City, and one of them is the right to safety when commuting to work, using the subway to take our children to school, and knowing we can safely come home to our families. In Queens, my Office will not tolerate those who rob us of these freedoms,” she said.

Thirty-three-year-old Elizabeth Gomes was headed to her job as a security guard at John F. Kennedy Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 20, when Waheed Foster, 41, tried to engage her in conversation on a northbound A train.

He followed her off at the next stop and allegedly hit her in the head with a hard object, pounced on her and threw her to the ground and proceeded to kick and punch her repeatedly, according to the DA’s Office.

She is seen in surveillance footage, which was posted to Twitter by the page Crime in NYC, pinned down on the floor, up against an unattended tollbooth.

Katz recognized the “good Samaritan” who can be seen attempting to help but being chased off by Foster.

“As alleged, the defendant brutally attacked this victim, was interrupted by a good Samaritan trying to intervene, and then continued the attack relentlessly,” Katz stated.

In addition to expanded assault charges, the DA’s Office upgraded the initial assault charges at the time of Foster’s arrest to include attempted murder.

Foster, who is homeless, was indicted by a

Queens grand jury last Thursday. He was charged with attempted murder, assault in the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Foster reportedly had a long rap sheet, which included killing his foster grandmother at age 14 and several other assaults against women.

The New York Post also reported that he had been released weeks before the attack on Gomes after an arrest for violating parole.

Gomes underwent emergency eye surgery to repair a ruptured right globe, according to the DA’s Office, which added that she currently has lost vision in the eye.

“Every day is an incident in the subway,” she said in a television interview after the incident. “What happened to all these police officers they said they will have there to protect

Outdoor dining wins in court

Reversing a lower court ruling, a state Appellate Division panel on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit seeking to put a stop to the city’s outdoor dining program.

The judges found that the city did not need to perform an environmental review of the program under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, as the plaintiffs and lower court had contended.

“Given the remaining legislative and administrative steps that must be taken by the City before the permanent outdoor dining program is finalized and implemented in place of the presently operating tempo-

rary program, the City’s issuance of the SEQRA negative declaration was not an act that itself inflicts actual, concrete injury,” the judges said. The plaintiffs still could appeal to the state’s highest court.

The City Council and Transportation Department are both working to craft a set of permanent outdoor dining rules.

Supporters of outdoor dining lauded the decision, with the group Alfresco NYC saying it had “taken cars off our streets and saved tens of thousands of jobs in an industry devastated by the pandemic.”

Q

— Peter C. Mastrosimone

Waheed Foster was charged with attempted murder for a brutal subway attack against a woman. SCREENSHOT VIA CRIME IN NYC / TWITTER / FILE

One-stop shop would streamline process and give ‘shot in the arm’ Small biz portal to help cut red tape

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

A new bill passed unanimously by the City Council could help streamline the complicated process of opening and operating a small business in the city.

Introduction 116-A, sponsored by Councilmember Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), would require the Department of Small Business Services to create an online portal that would include all permit and license applications and any other related information into a “one-stop shop” in ten different languages.

“It takes at least 13 different city agencies to open a small business and that is way too many,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, which worked closely with the councilmember on the legislation.

the FDNY, are warranted, Grech said, but there should be a way for businesses to go to one source to manage it all.

“This overly complex regulatory maze creates confusion and red tape that results in delays and uncertainty costing time, money and headaches for small business owners,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, in a statement.

PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF

“The rest of the world is not going to wait around for New York to get its act together,” he said, adding that it is a great “shot in the arm” and will “level the playing field” for the small business community.

Many of the agencies, including the Departments of Health, Buildings, Environmental Protection, Consumer and Worker Protection and

He commended Menin, who previously owned a restaurant, for introducing the legislation, and called on Mayor Adams to sign it into law. Streamlining business procedures in such a way has been a stated goal of Adams’ since he took office. An interagency task force to do so was announced in May.

“Small business owners and entrepreneurs don’t have the time to take days off to figure out the logistics of being in compliance, nor should they have to,” Menin said in a prepared statement.

“We lost so many small businesses during the pandemic and a one-stop shop small business portal provides the necessary support that our small businesses need to survive and thrive.”

online portal

also allow business

status of their permit and

and business owners could

or pay outstanding balances on violations.

It would also require a survey of small businesses every three years to determine how the online portal is working effectively and what improvements could be made.

If the bill becomes law, the portal would

have to be up and running by November 2023 and every year after, the SBS commissioner would be required to consult with the commissioners of several different agencies to review the one-stop shop’s efficiency and effectiveness in facilitating assistance to small businesses, consider other additions that may be included in it, and implement updates and modifications.

Small businesses currently have to navigate over a dozen different city agencies in order to get up and running. New legislation proposes one source to centralize information. FILE PHOTO

Tom Grech speaks at a recent business forum.

by Sophie Krichevsky and Sean Okula Associate Editors

As the city’s meticulous reapportionment process draws on, the Districting Commission is set to vote on a revised proposal for City Council district lines today, Oct. 6.

Thursday’s meeting comes just two weeks after the commission voted 8-7 against its own proposal. The body spent three hours last Thursday night and four and a half hours last Friday tweaking the map, taking into account 286 items of public testimony that had come in after the rejection two weeks ago.

Among the most significant changes to the Queens lines to come from last week’s discussions is the return of part of Fresh Meadows to District 24. Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Hillcrest) had taken issue with the previous draft in large part because, in moving that portion of the neighborhood to District 23, members of the area’s Orthodox Jewish community would be separated from the rest of the enclave. Should the commission approve that draft, District 24’s eastern boundary would be 188th Street, as it is now.

Asked for comment on the proposal, Gennaro said, “This community and I, as

The latest version of the Districting Commission’s Council maps, to be voted on today, would reunite much of Queens’ Orthodox Jewish community. NYC DISTRICTING COMMISSION / YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

its representative, made our objections to the first two proposals loud and clear. Last Friday, the Districting Commission did the right thing by completely reuniting the Orthodox Jewish community within the 24th District.”

Later, he added, “We look forward to this plan being passed by both the commission and the City Council.”

To do that while staying within the required population range, the commission had to move another portion of the district

into District 23: the area between 178th and 182nd streets, bookended by Jamaica and Hillside avenues. Instead of being represented by Gennaro, as the rejected plan had stipulated, residents living on those blocks would be represented by Councilmember Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens), should the plan be approved. Councilmember Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) currently has jurisdiction over the roughly 10-block radius.

When the commission’s preliminary draft was released in the middle of July, Williams had been concerned about losing parts of Jamaica. Though the rejected plan had reincorporated some of that, the new plan would reduce those gains.

Williams’ office did not respond to the Chronicle’s query on the matter by press time.

Advocates in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park had called for the unification of IndoCaribbean and South Asian communities in the area following the release of the revised and rejected maps. Those concerns were not addressed in last week’s meetings, with discussion around the area focusing on a proposal to move a portion of primarily Hispanic enclave in Richmond Hill from District 29 into District 32, splitting the Richmond Hill communi-

continued on page 15

Judge opts to give beleaguered commission another shot at lines IRC to redraw state Assembly maps

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

The state’s redistricting process is beginning to look a bit like Groundhog Day.

Judge Lawrence Love of the Supreme Court of New York County ruled last week that new state Assembly maps are to be drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission.

The IRC will have two opportunities to present maps to the state Legislature for its review, the first of which its members will need to agree upon and submit to lawmakers by April 28, 2023. Should those maps not be approved by the Legislature (and ultimately signed by the governor), the IRC will have to present a new plan by June 16. If those, too, fail, then the Legislature would be allowed to draw the lines.

The decision comes after the state’s firstever IRC failed to agree upon new legislative maps at the beginning of this year. Lawmakers then proceeded to draw their own maps, which they approved in February. That resulted in a lawsuit and a months-long legal battle over whether the Legislature had the power to draw the maps, and ultimately led to the redrawing of the congressional and state Senate districts by a special master and the delaying of primary elections. Since that suit did not include the Assembly maps, however, a

subsequent lawsuit was filed to fill that void.

That suit not only argued that the Legislature-enacted maps were unconstitutional, but that the Assembly primary elections ought to be delayed as well. In June, Love denied the request to push the election back, but agreed that the maps were invalid due to the nature of their creation. He then asked the involved parties to weigh in on how best to redraw the Assembly maps; their arguments, which the court heard last month, are the basis for last week’s ruling.

The petitioners — gubernatorial candidate Paul Nichols; Gary Greenberg, a former state Senate candidate; and Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republican Club — advocated that a special master be appointed to draw the new Assembly lines, as the Court of Appeals ruled in the previous case.

ly anti-democratic emergency response necessarily resorted to in Harkenrider,” referring to the Court of Appeals’ ruling.

But having just gone through the same process, Aaron Foldenauer, the attorney representing Wax in the lawsuit, said he is concerned that the process Love has laid out will lead to the same result.

of time — not only at the state level, but municipally and federally, as well — is confusing for voters.

“I don’t see how the voters benefit from this constant uncertainty,” Browne told the Chronicle. “It seems like an unnecessary evil that we’re dealing with by opening up this Pandora’s box again.”

“There’s got to be a better way.”

— Brian Browne, political analyst and professor of political science at St. John’s University

“The IRC is doomed to fail,” he told the Chronicle. Noting that the commission’s chair, David Imamura, wrote an op-ed in City and State to that effect earlier this year, Foldenauer added, “Here we are again — where the chair himself has said it was doomed to fail, and it needs to change — and now we’re restarting that same failed process. So it makes little sense.”

Plus, he added, the constant turnover may very well be contributing to low voter turnout.

“Why do you have low-voter primaries? Is that in the best interest, again, of the voters? Ask them to vote in June, ask them to come back and vote in August. And then oh, two years later, you might be voting on a whole new cast of characters,” Browne said.

“There’s got to be a better way.”

In his decision, Love argues that the state constitution calls for the IRC to take on the task of drawing maps, and that the case before the Court of Appeals was unique in that, with primary elections looming, it was time-sensitive. This time around, he writes, “there is no valid reason to resort to the utter-

Brian Browne, a political analyst and professor of government at St. John’s University, was similarly concerned: “Why give them a second chance when they failed so spectacularly the first time around?”

Browne suggested that alterations to the makeup and balance of the IRC might yield different results. But above all, he said, the repeated altering of maps over a short period

Just as before, an appeal of last week’s ruling is not out of the question; in his decision, even Love himself acknowledges that it would be “naive” to ignore that possibility. Asked about that, Foldenauer said he, his cocounsel and the plaintiffs are “exploring every option as far as an appeal.”

Should the ruling stand, the IRC has until Dec. 2 to make its first crack at a draft available to the public, at which point, public hearings on those lines will be held in several cities and major counties throughout the state, including in Queens.

New plan reunites Orthodox Jews; Rich Hill, S. Ozone Park still split Commission to vote on revised maps today

OP shows up for refugees

The Ozone Park community last week banned together to gather a basement’s worth of goods to donate to families in need, especially asylum seekers recently placed in area shelters.

The Ozone Park Residents Block Association and the Ozone Park Howard Beach Woodhaven Lions Club organized the drive at the Living Word Christian Fellowship Church

where it distributed clothing, toys, hygiene products and more to nearly 500 people including over 200 families on Friday.

All the leftover goods were sent to a shelter in the Bronx.

“The community came out big for this, very big,” said block association President Sam Esposito.

— Deirdre Bardolf

First-ever awards gala comes to Ozone Park

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

The inaugural Ozone Park Awards Gala from the Ozone Park Residents Block Association will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16, and honor 18 different members of the community.

The event was in the works for years but thwarted by the Covid pandemic, said block association President Sam Esposito.

“We wanted to honor not only the people within our community, but we wanted the awards to also reflect the movers and shakers of our community who are no longer here,” Esposito told the Chronicle.

The event will take place at Roma View Catering in Howard Beach at 12:30 p.m.

There are 15 different categories, some with a male and female recipient or several recipients, and each category is named after a well-known figure from the area.

The Walter Ward Ozone Park Hometown Hero Award, named after the longtime City

Council member for the area, will be presented to Charles Camarda, a NASA astronaut and engineer who hails from Ozone Park. He flew his first mission into space on board the Space Shuttle mission STS-114 in 2005.

The other awards given will be the Joseph Addabbo Sr. Legislator of the Year; Joe DeCandia Man of the Year; Mary Ann Carey Woman of the Year; Edward Klinger Kiwanian of the Year; Donna Maucere Lion of the Year; Frank Russo Sr. Business of the Year; Det. Simonsen Uniformed Officer of the Year; Mary Kalish Outstanding Senior; Maria Thomson Community Organization of the Year; Al Stabile Citizen of the Year; Sister Marguerite Torre Educator of the Year; Jeremy Lupo Youth Services; Ralph Francisco Volunteer of the Year; and Stanley Merzon Journalist of the Year.

Tickets are $80 per person. Visit the Ozone Park Block Association’s Facebook page for more information. Q

Italian American Organization

SUNDAY, October 16, 2022 1-5 PM - REDISCOVERING CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

3, 2022 marked the 530th anniversary of Christopher Columbus maiden voyage sailing from Palos, Spain to his arrival in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. His mission to

nd a new trade route to the Far East led to his vast discovery of the NEW WORLD, a feat that has been controversial among scholars and historians for many years. The ANTI-COLUMBUS MOVEMENT has resulted in monuments, memorials and holidays being torn down, removed and replaced across our country. Learn more behind the REAL STORY of Columbus and the work that is being done to safeguard his legacy.

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Charles Camarda

FILE PHOTO

City honors a beloved hero slain on duty

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

New York City and Long Island this week bid farewell to a true public servant to both, cut down in the line of duty in a frenzied knife attack launched without mercy or warning, rhyme or reason.

A lieutenant in life, posthumously promoted FDNY Emergency Medical Services Capt. Alison Russo-Elling was mourned at a wake near her hometown in Suffolk County and a funeral in Nassau County by officials serving all five boroughs and countless more loved ones and admirers.

During the funeral, held at the Tilles Center in Brookville, Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh announced Russo-Elling’s promotion to captain and then came down from the dais to present her grieving parents, Frank and Catherine Fuoco, with her captain’s badge before returning to the lectern to resume her remarks.

Among her praises for the dedicat-

ed public servant, Kavanagh said she was a mentor and friend who practiced tough love within the EMS.

She didn’t pause in the face of danger but ran toward it, Kavanagh said, and responded to 25,000 911 calls during her nearly 25-year career.

The funeral followed a wake held Monday and Tuesday at the Commack Abbey funeral home in Commack, near Russo-Elling’s home in Greenlawn.

The funeral service was livestreamed and, at press time on Wednesday, remained available for viewing on the Fire Department’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Among the other speakers at the service were Mayor Adams, several FDNY officials, Frank Fuoco and Russo-Elling’s daughter, Danielle.

Russo-Elling’s life of service to the people of the city and island was abruptly cut short last Thursday when she was murdered in a sudden, berserk knife attack on a street corner in Astoria.

Russo-Elling, 61, who served as an EMT for 24 years including as a first responder in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, was standing on the corner of 20th Avenue and 41st Street at around 2:20 p.m. when she was rushed by a man who stabbed her in an overhand motion, immediately knocking her down, and then plunged the knife into her again and again as she lay on the sidewalk.

She was taken to Mt. Sinai Queens hospital in critical condition but could not be saved.

The suspect, Peter Zisopoulos, 34, ran into a nearby building on 41st Street and was taken into custody following a standoff after barricading himself inside. He was charged by police with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Russo-Elling’s parents lamented the state of crime in the city after her killing, noting that she could have retired but had not done so out of dedication to the job, despite having “run-ins” over the years, according to the New York Post. They reportedly confronted Mayor Adams about the issue when they met during her wake, with Catherine Fuoco telling him, “You know what you have to do.”

Russo-Elling had been working out of FDNY EMS Station 49, around the corner from where she was killed while on her lunch break.

“Today, we lost one of our heroes, Alison Russo-Elling, a 25-year veteran of the Fire Department who was stabbed in an unprovoked attack,” Adams said in a prepared statement. “Our hearts are with her family, her fellow EMS members, and with all New Yorkers who lost a truly amazing woman to a senseless act of violence. The City of New York will

remember Lt. Russo-Elling’s bravery and commitment to service as we mourn her loss along with the FDNY.”

“Members of EMS serve only to save the lives of others. To be attacked while doing that noble work is heartbreaking and enraging for our entire Department,” Kavanagh said in a statement. “Lt. Russo-Elling exemplified FDNY EMS. She was a beloved veteran of the FDNY who served with honor and distinction for more than two decades. We stand together with her family and her colleagues in mourning during this incredibly painful time.”

“The NYPD stands united with the @FDNY as we mourn the loss of a dedicated, courageous public servant,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said on Twitter.

“The deadly, senseless attack on an on-duty EMT is a direct assault on our society. Please keep the family of EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling and the #FDNY in your hearts and prayers.”

Russo-Elling was appointed to the FDNY as an EMT in March 1998, the Fire Department said. She aided in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center after the terror attacks and was promoted to paramedic in 2002 and lieutenant in 2016. She worked at multiple EMS stations, including Station 20, Station 17, Station 16, Station 45, Queens Tactical Response Group and Station 49.

“Lieutenant Russo had a heart of gold; she was here for the whole station, she made sure that we were all

ok,” FDNY Paramedic Madelyn Higueros said on the department’s Instagram account. “We are a closeknit station. She made sure everyone went home safe. I have known her for over 13 years, she was the mother of the station. She was full of life; she was such a great person. It is a tragedy that we have to go through this again.”

The FDNY noted that RussoElling is the 1,158th member of the department to make the supreme sacrifice while serving the city. The last member of the department to die in the line of duty was Firefighter Timothy Klein of Ladder 170 on April 24, 2022.

Members of the service lined up outside the hospital as her body, draped in a U.S. flag, was removed and taken away in an FDNY ambulance in what is known as a dignified transfer. On Wednesday many more did so at her funeral.

In addition to her service as a city EMT, Russo-Elling had been a volunteer with the Huntington Community First Aid Squad since 1992, according to the Daily News. Further information about her life could not be released without her family’s permission, which had not been granted, a representative of Commack Abbey told the Chronicle.

A cremation was private. In lieu of flowers, mourners were asked to donate to the EMS FDNY Help Fund, PO Box 604362, Bayside, NY 11360-4362 or Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center, 33 Warner Road, Huntington, NY 11743. Q

“A direct assault on our society.”

— NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell

Firefighters salute as FDNY Emergency Medical Services Capt. Alison Russo-Elling takes her final ride, the last of thousands, in a department ambulance. SCREENSHOTS VIA FDNY / FACEBOOK; FDNY PHOTO, ABOVE

Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh presents Capt. Alison RussoElling’s parents with her captain’s badge after announcing her promotion.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL COFFARO HILL / COPCP

Youth take lead in cleanup

The Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol took to the street last week with about 15 volunteers, many of whom were kids, and gathered 20 bags of trash around Cross Bay Boulevard and Liberty Avenue and beyond.

The group targeted the area around Bayside Cemetery with help from Councilwoman Joann Ariola.

They also tackled areas with chronic

household dumping.

“We encourage our neighbors to take pride in their community by not littering and helping clean [it],” the group said in a statement.

It will be hosting more cleanups, weather permitting, and will continue reporting conditions and reaching out to businesses and property owners.

— Deirdre Bardolf

Commission draws new maps

12

ty that Commissioner Maf Misbah Uddin said had been largely confined to District 29 by design. That proposal, the larger aim of which was to unite Glendale in one district, was ultimately discarded during Friday’s session.

Richard David, a Democratic district leader in District 31, said, in his experience attending a public hearing with the commission, there was little back-andforth dialogue between the members and those offering their input. He said the testimony felt more like a formality,

something the commission had to do as part of the process, than an informing factor in the mapmaking, something he said was reflected in the decision not to address the concerns related to Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.

“There was almost a consensus from people who were testifying that it would be an injustice if these maps were published and there wasn’t an improvement in that [area],” he said. “To see the commission proceed in having this conversation and not centering the conversation on that ... is disappointing.”

School admissions policy is reformed

Top tier narrowed to prioritize high grades; mixed reviews on decision

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

A highly anticipated New York City high school admissions update came last week as Department of Education officials announced a policy change that greater emphasizes top performing students within a lottery system.

Under the new system, eighth-graders in the top 15 percent of their schools or citywide with an average GPA of 90 or above will be given first access to screened schools.

“Six months ago, I promised that we would reform our enrollment and admissions policies and expand access to quality schools,” Schools Chancellor David Banks said in a prepared statement last Thursday. “Today, I present changes that take steps toward streamlining our policies, promoting transparency, and making it easier for families to find the right school for their child,” he continued.

The DOE said the move came as a result of community and school feedback. For schools that do not have their own school-based assessment, top-performing applicants from across each middle school and citywide will be

admitted, the agency announced.

The move narrows the “top tier” of students from last year when it included students with over an 85 average, accounting for 60 percent of eighth-graders. Now, it will limit that group to about 20 percent.

“I don’t think it’s perfect but I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” said Jean Hahn, a Rego Park parent and head of the group Queens Parents United, who would still like to see state test scores returned as admissions criteria.

“We thought they would keep the lottery but tighten the top band because I think the lottery [to them] speaks to equity, and tightening the top band speaks to quality,” Hahn said.

Banks said at a press conference that the revamped process would give “access to communities who have historically been locked out of screened schools” and also reward “those who work hard academically and make it to the top of their middle school class.”

Forest Hills parent Irene Raevsky applauded the decision in a letter to the Chronicle, noting that it is still a lottery but one in which the

“pot is three times smaller.” She still hopes further adjustments to the policy are made, however.

“One such adjustment could be adding the 7th grade state test scores as a metric for admission — the state test being the most objective metric,” Raevsky wrote.

She criticized the previous policy for giving students with an 85 average the same chances of getting into a “highly rigorous” school like Townsend Harris the same as those with a 99.

Last week’s announcement also included other updates to the admissions process. Application timelines will be offered earlier. The high school application will open on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and the deadline to apply is Thursday, Dec. 1. Students will receive offers in early March, according to the DOE.

There will be a central open house calendar through MySchools for families looking to learn more about all admissions events.

The waitlist process will be more transparent in part by making the number of offers a program has made in the past available so families can assess their chances of receiving an offer. The waitlist time period will also be extended through mid-September.

The criteria for virtual auditions for schools that accept students that way will be improved.

Middle-school admissions will be left up to superintendents and districts to determine if there should be a screened program.

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test will be given at students’ home schools on a school day instead of on the weekend, in an attempt to make them more accessible.

The group PLACE NYC applauded Banks for returning to academic screening. Other improvements, the group said, were an earlier application and notification timeline as well as more centralized support for gathering data on prospective schools and submitting virtual auditions and additional materials.

Yiatin Chu, co-president of Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum Education, said, “We formed PLACE NYC to advocate for academic rigor and merit in our schools. We are very pleased that Chancellor Banks has listened to parents and made significant improvements from last year’s admissions process.”

The group continued in its statement, “No student should ever have to rely on random luck or engage in a fight to receive their appropriate education.”

Another key part of the announcement was that a new “accelerated learning academy” will be opened by the fall of 2024 in Southeast Queens, with geographic priority.

Alysa O’Shea, co-president of PLACE NYC and a resident of Southeast Queens, said in a statement that she is excited for the coming addition to her neighborhood.

“Chancellor Banks’ plan for providing learning academies to academically advanced children in underserved geographic areas is the welcome change that families have been asking for,” O’Shea said, adding, “Expanding access to quality schools can be further improved, particularly in Queens, by adding seats to existing accelerated schools. Let’s con-

School lottery admissions will remain but the bar will be raised for top performers. FILE PHOTO

tinue to take what works and expand on it!”

State Sen. John Liu (D-Flushing) reacted with caution.

“At first glance, the DOE’s plan appears to edge away from that widely loathed lottery and place greater emphasis on academic diligence and achievement,” he said in a statement.

“Equity and achievement should never be mutually exclusive, and it remains unclear if the administration’s efforts to narrow the lottery bands, even to 15%, fosters true educational achievement and equity.”

Liu called on more engagement with those who felt “excluded by previous administrations” and left out of the process.

Councilwoman Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) in a statement commended the decision to abandon the “ill-advised and unjust” lottery system but said she too has reservations.

“I look forward to working with DOE, as well as collecting feedback from principals, students and parents, to continue to make the admissions process as fair as possible for all of our public school students.”

Former Bayside High School Principal Mike Athy slammed the move in a letter to the chancellor, saying, “In short, there was a chance — actually several chances — to demonstrate engagement, transparency and a truly equitable and comprehensive vision for admissions. You blew it.”

Among many points he disagreed with were no changes to the SHSAT, calling specialized high schools “skim schools,” with discriminatory screening processes.

Athy called the retention of zones and geographical priorities “de facto segregation” and said that the “accelerated learning” schools undermine efforts to bring quality academics to all schools.

In a statement, City Comptroller Brad Lander said that middle-school screens will “reinforce segregation in our schools.”

“It elevates the notion that some children deserve ‘good schools’ while the vast majority do not,” he said in a prepared statement.

He continued, “At most, restoring middle school screens will enable a very small percentage of New York City’s students to access schools with high expectations, while the vast majority will wind up with schools with fewer high-achieving students, a greater percentage of students experiencing poverty, lower expectations, and less attention to enrichment in their learning.”

“I

don’t think it’s perfect but I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

— Jean Hahn, Queens Parents United

ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY HIGH SCHOOL

83-53 Manton St., Briarwood

Website: molloyhs.org

admissions@molloyhs.org

(718) 441-2100, ext. 3

Sun., Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

350 East 56 St., Manhattan Website: cathedralhs.org jcastex@cathedralhs.org (212) 688-1545

Sun., Oct. 16, 12 to 3 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required.

OPEN HOUSES

CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL 56-25 92 St., Elmhurst Website: cathedralprep.org admissions@cathedralprep.org

(718) 592-6800, ext. 137 or 150

Sun., Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Mass offered at 11 a.m.

MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL

60-02 Maspeth Ave., Maspeth Website: martinluthernyc.org info@martinluthernyc.org (718) 894-4000

Sat., Oct. 15, 10 a.m

Virtual: Thu., Oct. 27, 4:30 p.m.

DOMINICAN ACADEMY

44 East 68 St., Manhattan Website: dominicanacademy.org admissions@dominicanacademy.org (212) 744-0195

Wed., Oct. 26, 5 to 7 p.m.

Pre-registration is required.

HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL 26-20 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing Website: holycrosshs.org admissions@holycrosshs.org (718) 886-7250, ext. 524

Sun., Oct. 16, 12 p.m.

MONSIGNOR MCCLANCY

MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

71-06 31 Ave., East Elmhurst Website: msgrmcclancy.org admissions@msgrmcclancy.info

(718) 898-3800, ext. 10

Sat., Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m.

Pre-registration is required.

ST. EDMUND PREPARATORY

HIGH SCHOOL

2474 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn Website: stedmundprep.org admissions@stedmundprep.org

(718) 743-6100, ext. 5043

Sat., Oct. 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Tue., Oct. 25, 7:00 p.m.

ST. FRANCIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

6100 Francis Lewis Blvd., Fresh Meadows Website: sfponline.org admissions@SFPonline.org

(718) 423-8810, ext. 229

Sat., Oct. 15, 12 to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required.

ST. JOHN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL

21-21 Crescent St., Astoria Website: stjohnsprepschool.org admissions@stjohnsprepschool.org (718) 721-7200

Sat., Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates Website: tmla.org ; admissions@tmla.org (718) 297-2120, ext. 233

Sun., Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Why choose a Catholic high school?

As parents, you want the best for your children. It is because you wish them success in all of life’s challenges that Catholic schools are the right choice. Catholic schools provide an educational program based on religious beliefs and values, enabling your children to grow in their understanding of themselves, their relationship with God and their relationship with others.

Catholic schools promote the education of young people to their full potential; their teachers respect and encourage real learning experiences. Your children acquire knowledge and

develop the skills necessary for success in higher educational pursuits and a wide range of careers.

Catholic schools offer a community environment in which your children can discuss and live out the values upon which their education is based.

They are encouraged to contribute to society and to assume leadership roles in shaping public attitudes and programs. In Catholic schools, young people learn to question, to establish confidence in their own good choices in life

and to experience the sense of accomplishment stemming from individual achievement and responsibility. Take this opportunity to learn about Catholic schools in Queens.

Whichever school you choose, you can be assured that your child will receive a strong academic education in an environment structured to have a lasting value.

Catholic high schools :

• build character;

• foster community service;

• encourage involvement;

• develop real-world skills;

• shape leaders;

• reward achievement;

• reinforce values;

• allow for spiritual growth;

• embrace differences;

• raise standards;

• empower each student; and

• celebrate school spirit. Q

— diocese of brooklyn.org/high school

Holy Cross High School Inspires

Holy Cross High School is dedicated to providing a challenging college preparatory education aligned with state and national criteria through various academic programs. We have invested over $1,000,000 in enhancements to our STREAM program (Science, Theology, Robotic, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) curriculum, which ensures we remain on the forefront of education.

A Holy Cross education is supported by the Four Pillars of Faith, Community, Service, and Wisdom The professional faculty at Holy Cross is well experienced and adept at implementing educational practices and techniques designed to meet each student’s individual learning style. With a 13:1 studentteacher ratio and over 60 electives and 45 advanced placement and honors courses, Holy Cross High School offers an inspiring selection of classes to spark new interests and allow students to carve a personalized career path, from pre-med, computer science, and engineering.

We have a strong alumni network offering invaluable guidance to students as they explore their colleges of choice. The Congregation of the Holy Cross also sponsors six colleges and universities in the United States including St. Edward’s University, the University of Portland, Stonehill College, King’s College, Holy Cross College and the University of Notre Dame. Our graduates have a competitive edge in regards to scholarships and programs when applying to colleges, as schools are aware of the quality education our students receive at Holy Cross. Last spring, 82% of graduates received an academic award, with the Class of 2022 earning over $50,000,000 in academic scholarships.

We will be holding our Open House on Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. RSVP is required at holycrosshs.org/rsvp. For more information

admissions at 718-886-7250

Dominican Academy

Catholic College Preparatory School for Girls

Cathedral High School

524

STUDY

Starting on the Path to a Career in Medicine, Business/Finance and Law or STEM

Cathedral has been synonymous with academic success since its’ founding in 1905. Cathedral educates generations of young women to reach their scholastic potential. Its Honors Academy builds upon the honors classes and Advanced Placement courses and offers a rich academic and extracurricular program.

In the Cathedral’s Medical Gateways Academy through partnerships with New York’s world-class medical community, students have opportunities to observe medical professionals at work and to participate in internships while still in high school. The Academy includes a partnership with The Memorial Sloan Kettering Science Enrichment Program and Internship.

The Business/Finance and Law Academy features internship opportunities and career awareness.

The Science and Technology Academy is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as 3-D printers, paired with courses in biology, physics, chemistry, technology and extracurricular, such as coding and robotics.

The Art Program provides a wide array of exposure to different art mediums and styles.

A full complement of extracurricular activities keeps the career-minded student body well rounded. From clubs such as the Drama, Newspaper, Dance and Billiards to sports which include basketball, cheerleading, soccer, softball, lacrosse, track, volleyball and more.

Cathedral prepares its students for the world that lies ahead of them. The Class of 2022 received over $35 million in college scholarships and grants and were accepted into schools such as Barnard, Cornell, New York University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Notre Dame.

Open House will be hosted on Sunday, October 16th and Wednesday, October 26th. Please rsvp at cathedralhs.org/visitour-school

For more information please contact Johanna Velez at (212) 688-1545 ext. 224 or jcastex@cathdralhs.org. Visit Cathedral’s website at www.cathedralhs.org.

SERVICE PRAYER

over 125 years, Dominican Academy

school

“How we educate the MIND will change with the times; How we cultivate the HEART is and will remain TIMELESS.”

Protectinglovedonesfromelderabuse

by Nilsa Henriquez

Are you concerned about protecting your older relatives and friends from elder abuse? The pandemic highlighted the disproportionate impact of tragedy on underserved communities, including older adults, who face high rates of elder abuse, fraud, and nursing homes deaths.

It’s important to remember that elder abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or financial status. We are committed to helping and

preventing further victimization – especially in underserved communities.

Fraud

A recent Federal Bureau of Investigation report showed that elder fraud has increased. Older adults in the United States reported over $1.6 billion in losses in 2021. This includes victims of Covid-related scams. Older adults in the U.S., also lose nearly 25 times more money to scammers than other groups — an estimated $113.7 billion a year!

National Savings Day

This year, Oct. 12 is National Savings Day. This day serves as an important reminder to plan for your financial future.

Nilsa Henriquez

Reporting fraud can be difficult and older adults tend to underreport — especially when money is lost. Many older Americans are unsure about the reporting process or feel too embarrassed to report. Understaffed Adult Protective Services offices can also cause long processing times and underreporting.

We work hard to protect beneficiaries from Social Security and government imposter scams.

You can learn more about protecting your loved ones at blog.ssa.gov/slamthe-scam-how-to-spot-governmentimposters and our “Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams” webpage at ssa. gov/scam.

Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. We have online tools to help you understand your potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into your financial future.

should periodically review your Social Security Statement using your personal “my Social Security account atssa.gov/myaccount.”

Statement is an easy-toread summary of the estimated benefits you and your family could receive, including potential retirement, disability and survivors benefits.

the effect different future earnings and retirement benefit start dates have on your future benefit amount.

P

Please share these important resources with your family and friends.

Nilsa Henriquez is a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist located in Queens.

Our “Plan for Retirement” tool in your personal my Social Security account allows you to check various benefit estimate scenarios. You can compare

SERVICING QUEENS

Bayside 32nd Avenue

Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358

44th Avenue

Francis Lewis Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361

Flushing

37th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354

Queens

Please let friends and family know they can take steps to improve their financial knowledge by signing in to their secure my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at ssa.gov/myaccount.

P

— Nilsa Henriquez

Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Cooper Avenue Glendale, NY 11385

by Kristen Guglielmo

The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society’s annual Harvest Festival at the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House in Ridgewood is set to welcome in the fall from 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. The event promises fun for the whole family, and both free admission and a free pumpkin for children under 12 years of age.

The Onderdonk House is the oldest Dutch colonial stone house in New York City. It is located on the border of Queens and Brooklyn, and the building served as a boundary marker between Queens and Kings counties in 1769. In 1975, the historical society was established in order to prevent the house’s demolition. The group raised funds to

Onderdonk House Harvest Festival welcomes the season

reconstruct it after it had been severely damaged in a fire, and it opened to the public in 1982.

fire

Today, the Onderdonk House is an official New York City landmark, serving as a community museum and the home base for the GRHS. It offers tours, workshops, private events and a variety of public events year round, including St. Nicholas Day and the annual Harvest Festival.

“Previously, we had to scale down due to the pandemic. But we’re in recovery mode now,” shared Linda Monte, president of the society. With the help of plenty of volunteers and partnerships, this year’s Harvest Festival will include music, food, crafts and games to bring residents of Queens the best event possible.

“The Kiwanis Club of Glendale is supplying volunteers and assisting where needed,” Monte said. The Key Club, Kiwanian high school students, will also be assisting with the event by helping with games for the children, crafts, apple cider demonstrations and working the gift shop.

“We’re completely enclosed,” Monte noted, “so it’s nice for kids. Parents don’t have to worry — they can let go of their kids’ hands and they will be OK.”

Other Harvest Festival volunteers include Arthur Kirmss, a Dutch artist who will be sharing a collection of Dutch artifacts; fashion designer Lindy Fox, who will be demonstrating knitting along with a mini exhibit on spinning; and Kate Sundberg with

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Before ‘Trek’ or Clairol, her Dromm beat in Q. Village

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Edward William Dromm was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 3, 1917. He married Sophia “Sonya” Greenefege, the sixth and youngest child of the once famous Greenefege gardening family who owned the large Creedmoor Nurseries in Queens Village, in August 1939. In 1940, they set up household in a brand-new 28-family garden apartment complex at 212-11 102 Ave. On Feb. 18, 1941 their first child, Andrea, was born, followed by a brother, Gary, on May 16, 1944. Edward supported the family as a design engineer for Kollsman Instrument in Elmhurst.

The childhood home of Andrea Dromm at 212-11 102 Ave. in Queens Village, as it looks today, unchanged from her time there.

Andrea started child-modeling gigs at 6, and the family bought their first home in Seaford, LI, when she was 10. After a hiatus so she could focus on school, she was signed by the Eileen Ford modeling agency and became a spokesperson for National Airlines as a flight attendant in TV ads.

Clairol signed her for its Summer Blonde campaign, inset, as well. Hollywood called and she appeared in the second “Star Trek” pilot episode. She was offered a movie role in the satire “The Russians Are Coming” and left “Star Trek” for it.

After a few years in Hollywood she returned to modeling. Alive and well at age 81, she keeps a very low profile on Long Island to shun the obsessive cult fans of her “Star Trek” days. Q

SCREENSHOT VIA YOUTUBE/EBAY

Rossin melds simplicity and precision in woodwork

Sean Okula associate editor

Upon entry into his Forest Hills home, one is greeted in Richard Rossin’s vestibule by his craftsmanship: a wood wall, no trim, smoothly sanded to a point of glimmer.

Enter through to the living room, and one will find a bookcase and a TV stand, made to look like they were floating, finely crafted with a naturally dark wood.

On through into something of a sunroom, and one will find what appear to be wood tiles, all designed to come apart to access whatever infrastructure and piping lies beneath: a Lego set come to life.

All told, Rossin says about 25 percent of the interior of his home was crafted by his own hand.

“I just think differently and look at things differently,” he said. “When I’m talking to you or when I see things, I’m seeing a lot of processes. When I see the toaster, I see 50 million pieces to the toaster.”

Despite their complexity, Rossin makes his wood creations using one tool: a table saw. He says he only deals in straight angles because rounding his materials off introduces an element of uncertainty into his work.

When Rossin is working, he sees his creations as the product of a science, not born out of a whim. He ideates, he colorizes in

his mind, he draws and he creates, all with meticulous precision.

“I do care what other people think, but I really don’t care,” he said. “I care what I think. In other words, when I’m doing anything, the competition is myself.”

Math is a necessity because it creates certainty. Whether it’s bringing pieces into and ultimately fixing them into place in a kitchen, as he did in his career prior to

focusing on his art, or laying out a piece of artwork, if the math doesn’t work, neither will the creation.

“Let’s make believe I made a kitchen, and I just made the measurement off; it wouldn’t fit,” he said. “Then you got to go back and start ripping it apart.

“I stick to the math, otherwise the art won’t hold up.”

Rossin started his career in cabinetry, and

when he left the field in the mid-1990s, he says he had been booked for two years straight. But the work he was doing, when he was doing it for other people, was too restrictive.

“‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that, don’t stick to this, this is our place, this is what works, this is what doesn’t work,’” he said. “So, I’m running into confinement constantly, that’s always been happening in my life when I work for other people.”

With his art, he says he sets no limitations, least of all for difficulty. Even for his largest piece, a ship called “Sea Wolf” measuring 59 by 53 inches, made up entirely of pieces of wood put together with plastic blue and yellow panels to make it pop, his only concern was with making the idea in his head come to life.

“I use my hands with my head, not just looking at a computer,” he said. “As I’m physically drawing it, I’m getting involved with the piece already. If you look at something just on the computer, you’re not really involved.”

“You got to have magic when it’s done,” he added.

Those interested in more information about Rossin’s art or in commissioning a work may visit his sites richwoodart.com or artisticwoodinnovations.com. Q

Food, fun and the trappings of fall at Onderdonk

Big Reuse and the NYC Department of Sanitation, who will provide materials on curbside composting, along with bags of compost to give away for those who can use it, as well as activities for the kids such as temporary tattoos and coloring books.

For those fascinated with animals, an outdoor exhibit called On The Farm will showcase history through farm tools, animal bones and photos of farms along Flush-

ing Avenue from the archives of the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society.

Along with all the history radiating from inside of the house, visitors can admire a slice of New York City history by viewing Arbitration Rock. About the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, Arbitration Rock used to serve as a marker between colonial Kings and Queens counties. In 2001, after over 70 years underground, it was dug up from its spot on Onderdonk Avenue and placed in the Onderdonk House backyard.

The festival will happen rain or shine.

“We have a large tent in case of rain, but we always hope the sun will come out,” Monte explained. “We also have a picnic area sheltered by trees, so you can relax and admire the beautiful apple and cherry trees.”

General admission to the Harvest Festival is $10. Tickets may be purchased online at odh-harvest.eventbrite.com. If you are interested in visiting the Onderdonk House

Sunday’s Harvest Festival at the historic Onderdonk House, left, will be moved under a tent if it rains, as it did last year, above. On the cover: Among those enjoying the event despite the weather were Kiwanians Debbie Milau and Steve Hansen, serving up some grub, Jason LaVasseur, working the apple cider press, and many children coloring, picking pumpkins and more.

outside of the festival, it is open from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for $5 admission. More information can be found at onderdonkhouse.org.

The Onderdonk House is also participat-

ing in NYC’s Fall Open House Weekend, Oct. 22 and 23 from 12 to 5 p.m., during which admission to the house will be free.

For more information on that event, visit ohny.org/weekend.

Forest Hills woodcrafter Richard Rossin poses with his creation, “Lady Liberty,” composed entirely of wood, save the arm and face.

PHOTO BY SEAN OKULA

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noon on Tuesday for Thursday’s paper.

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LOOKING TO BUY Estates, gold, high-end & brand name jewelry— top price paid, costume jewelry, furn, records, silver, coins, art, stamps, comics, oriental items. Call George, 718-386-1104 or 917-775-3048

PLEASE CALL LORI, 1-929-361-0643 (Cell Phone). I PAY THE BEST, MOST HONEST PRICES FOR ESTATES, FURNITURE, CHANDELIERS, LAMPS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT WORKING), FURS, COINS, POCKETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES, GLASSWARE, STERLING SILVERWARE, FIGURINES, CANDLESTICKS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS, RUGS, PIANOS, GUITARS, VIOLINS, FLUTES, TAG SALES, CLEANOUTS, CARS

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 9am-4pm, 160-44 98 St. Too much to mention. Something for everyone!

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 9am-4pm & Sun 10/9, 10am-12pm, 99-16 157 Ave. Something for everyone!

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8 & Sun 10/9, 9am-4pm, 156-20 88 St. New boxed items, 2 standing cabinets, perfumes, jewelry & more! Rain date Sat 10/15.

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 10am-4pm, 156-38 86 St. Holiday decor, jewelry, etc. Something for everyone!

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 8am-2pm, 78-02 160 Ave. Home goods, knick-knacks, clothes, shoes. Something for everyone!

CHARITY RUMMAGE SALE! in

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 9am-3pm, 159 Ave on the corner of 81 St.

Howard Beach, Sun 10/9, 9am-1pm, 160-12 81 St. Ladies’, men’s clothing. Rugs, pictures, costume jewelry.

Ozone Park, Sat 10/8, 10am-4pm, 83, 84, 85 & 86 Sts betw Pitkin & Dumont Aves. Rain date Sun 10/9

Ozone Park, Sat 10/8, 9am-2:30pm, 97-28 135 Rd. Lots of great items. something for everyone!

Ozone Park, Sat 10/8 & Sun 10/9, 10am-3pm, 130-12 115 St. Old & new items.

Woodhaven, Sat 10/8, 9:30am, 87-69 96 St. MULTI-FAMILY!

Bicycle, table umbrella, full/ queen comforter, fitted twin sheets, turntable, CDs, records, shoes, slippers, clothing for girls, boys, men, women—all sizes. Everything like new.

Howard Beach, Sat 10/8, 10am-2pm, 159-27 97 St. Something for everyone!

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Legal Notices

1091 SOUTHERN BLVD

DERMATOLOGY PLLC Articles of Org. fi led NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/26/22. Offi ce in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 40-37 74th St., Ground Floor, Elmhurst, NY 11373, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: To practice Medicine.

4451 Island LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 9/6/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 177 Beach 137th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694. General Purposea

Notice of Formation of 65-03 MYRTLE AVE GLENDALE

LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/25/2022. 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, 105-55 62 DR, APT 6J, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of ADVENTURE IN CREATIVITY LLC

RFP LEGAL NOTICE

Lexington School for the Deaf has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of architectural and/or engineering fi rm(s) to provide professional services to the school.

Proposals are due on or before Friday, October 28, 2022, at 2 p.m. RFP posted at: https:// www.lexnyc.org/about-us/ request-for-bids. Informational meeting/site visit to be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at 10:00 am (meet in school lobby, proof of one Covid shot required). Contact Maria Noto, CFO, at mnoto@lexnyc.org for any questions regarding this RFP. Responses to questions posed will be answered in writing and distributed to all prospective Proposers. Lexington School for the Deaf reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to accept the lowest responsible proposal that serves the best interest of the school. The school encourages women and minority business fi rms to submit bids.

Notice of Formation of BRAVO CHARLIE COMPANY LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/03/2022. 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, 10814 72ND AVE., 2ND FLOOR, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY, MOREQUITY, INC.,

Plaintiff against CENTENNIAL INSURANCE COMPANY, 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 January 29, 2018, 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 October 14, 2022 at 12:45 PM. Premises known as 158-11 96th Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414. Block 14166 Lot 55. 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. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $356,888.84 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 12717/2009. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 11th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee.

Autrey Johnson, Esq., Referee 2296-002975

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 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718722-3131.

The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Apts.For Rent

Cypress Hills, 216 Ridgewood Ave, #3. 3 BR semi-railroad, $2,800/mo. Newly renov kit, HW fls, windows in every room, 3rd fl walk-up. Heat & hot water incl. Avail NOW. Call Tiana Williams, 917-982-8507. Capri Jet Realty Hillcrest, 80-03 165 St, #2. 3 BR, 1.5 bath apt. $2,800/mo. Newly renov apt w/SS appli. Whole floor unit. Avail NOW. Francesco Belviso, 718-570-4564. Capri Jet Realty Maspeth, 59-28 72 St. 2BR, 1 bath box apt. $2,300/mo. Avail NOW. Heat & hot water incl. 800 sq ft apt w/2 balconies, new appli incl dishwasher. Call Michael Bifalco, 917-704-5147. Capri Jet Realty

Houses For Sale

Open House

Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sun 10/9, 3pm-4:30pm, 161-39

84 St. Lg Brookfield Style HiRanch, 4 BR, 3 full baths, vaulted ceilings, master BR w/full bath, finished walk-in, back decks upstairs & downstairs. Wood fls. Buyers must be pre-approved! Asking $1,050,000. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1146

Store For Rent

Richmond Hill, STORE FOR RENT.

Approx 1,700 sq ft w/basement, CAC & electric gates. Liberty Ave, high traffic area, NNN lease. Call 718-738-2626

Prof.Space For Rent

Ozone Park, FOR RENT REMODELED PROF OFFICE/STORE.

Approx 725 sq ft, electric gates w/new CAC & new heat. Call 718-738-2626

Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of SENTINEL BIOTECH LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/05/2022. 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: SHERIN KANNOLY, 6530 KISSENA BLVD., D343 BIOLOGY DPT, QUEENS, NY 11367. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

ARE YOU BEHIND $10K OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, leins & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 (Hours: MonFri 7am-5pm PST)

Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/09/2022. 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: SAKURAKO SHIMIZU, 6212 FLUSHING AVE., MASPETH, NY 11378 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of CHANNEL BEACH, LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/27/22. Offi ce location: Queens County. Princ. offi ce of LLC: 847 Shepherd Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11208. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. offi ce. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Melody & Son LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/23/2021. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 34-21 21st St., apt. 5E, Long Island City, NY 11106. General Purpose

Howard Beach, beautiful 2 fam, 6 over 6, fin bsmnt + C/O for extension, 27x20, 1st fl has French doors leading to patio, basement has private patio. Unique home- A must see! Call to make an appt. Asking $1,388,000. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

ATTENTION VIAGRA USERS: Generic 100mg blue pills or generic 20mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Call Today. 877-707-5523

Notice of Formation of BodyCare Physical Therapy PLLC

Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/27/2017.

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: 84-10 Main Street, Apt 249, JAMAICA, NY 11435. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

CITIVIEW GARAGE, LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 09/09/2022. 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, 112-15 Northern Blvd #2, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

OLIMAZI, LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 09/13/2022. 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, 13-22 141st Street, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Brick attached 2 fam, great investment property. Walk-in fin bsmnt w/door to yard. 1st fl has 2 BR, 1 bath apt w/terr. 2nd fl has 1 BR, 1 bath apt w/terr. A must see! Call for appt. Asking $1,199,000. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Open House

Glendale, Sun, 10/9, 1:30-2:30pm, 78-34 65 St. Beautiful section of Liberty Park. 1 fam, 3 BR, 1 full bath. Update kit, SS appli. 1 car gar. Pvt dvwy, high ceilings, laminate fls, beaut front bay window. Full fin bsmnt, storage attic. Back door to yard, crank out awning. Many windows, new roof. Asking $787,000. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Notice of Formation of VM Collectibles LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/28/2022. 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: VINCE MERCADO, 37-09 62ND ST, 2ND FL, WOODSIDE, NY 11377.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Area lawmakers are calling for more public hearings related to the Con Edison rate case, which has utility bills set to rise next year.

Pols want hearings in ConEd rate case

Utility prices set to rise next year; letter says public needs more input

by Sean Okula Associate Editor

Area lawmakers want the public to have its say before energy-price hikes go into effect.

More than 50 state-level area officials signed a letter last week calling for the Public Service Commission to hold more public hearings related to the Con Edison rate case, which has prices for the average New Yorker’s electric bill set to rise 9.7 percent and his or her gas bill set to rise 14.5 percent in 2023, according to a spokesperson for the energy company.

The figures cited by the spokesperson assume a rate case of one year, though the company is seeking three years. The letter claims New Yorkers are still feeling the fallout of rate increases from the case, or plan, of three years ago.

“We have heard from across our districts about the impossible choices that families have had to make because of the utility bill increases they’ve seen from the 2019 rate case,” the letter reads. “In the event of these rate increases, many have told us that they are unsure if they can continue to afford living in our neighborhoods.”

Public hearings were held in March, but the letter claims another hearing is needed before the commission reaches an agreement with ConEd because fewer New Yorkers knew of a potential rate increase in the spring.

ConEd is an investor-owned utility, meaning that it has an obligation to its shareholders to turn a profit. The energy company says the price hikes aim to cover infrastructure and clean energy-focused upgrades.

“Con Edison is seeking new electric and gas rates in 2023 to fund clean energy investments in support of New York State’s climate

goals and to make infrastructure upgrades that will help keep customers in service during severe weather,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “The proposal would continue unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, renewables, electric vehicles and clean heat.”

The letter, signed on the letterhead of state

Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria), claims the increases are a cash grab.

“As of February of this year, over 1.3 million New Yorkers were behind on their utility bills, owing over $1.7 billion, according to an analysis from THE CITY,” the letter reads.

“As other household costs increase, the state cannot allow Con Edison to increase revenues to line their pockets while New Yorkers forgo basic needs to pay their utility bills.”

“While Con Edison is able to pay attorneys and lobbyists to fight for their interests, our constituents — working New Yorkers — have not been given an adequate seat at the table,” it adds.

Mamdani is skeptical of ConEd’s claims related to the reasons for the hikes.

“While ConEd will attempt to justify such a price hike with language of necessity and safety, we must remember that their proposal will increase their profits on electric investments as well as extend the life of our current gas infrastructure beyond what is needed for grid reliability — including $70.4 million to extend the life of the Astoria LNG plant and $47.9 million for an expansion of the Queens Transmission Pipeline,” he said in a statement.

The Public Service Commission says it is considering the electeds’ request for more meetings.

A slice of Sicilian culture

Accompanied by singer and percussionist Michela Musolino on tambourine, I Beddi, a prize-winning folk music group from Sicily, entertained the crowd last Saturday at Italian Charities of America’s headquarters on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst. I Beddi is Sicilian for “The Beautiful,” and the show featured both songs and tales of the island.

The event was co-sponsored by ICA and Arba Sicula, the leading worldwide organization promoting the Sicilian culture and language (yes, as distinct from Italian).

Gathering for the camera were some of

the dignitaries who attended and the I Beddi performers: Joseph DiPietro, left, president of the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens; musician Pier Paolo Alberghini; musician Davide Urso; Nino Provenzano, vice president of Arba Sicula; professor Gaetano Cipola, founder and president of Arba Sicula; Josephine Maietta, president of the Association of Italian-American Educators; Domenic Giampino, president of ICA; Sarina Consoli, ICA board member; musician Mimi Sterrantino; and musician Giampaolo Nunzio.

PHOTOS BY WALTER KARLING

QUEENS CHRONICLE PHOTO

Mets

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

In the 1930s, France, under the aegis of Minister of War Andre Maginot, built a series of fortifications and trenches along its border with Germany. The project became known as the Maginot Line, with its primary goal being to deter its large neighbor to the east from invading it again as it had during World War I. The French government, and most of the country’s citizens, believed the Maginot Line would protect them from invasion by Hitler and the Nazis. In June 1940 they sadly discovered they were mistaken.

A baseball pennant race is obviously insignificant compared with World War II. However, I found the conventional wisdom being spouted by Mets executives, many in the local sports media and Mets fans about how the team’s top two pitchers, 34-year-old Jacob deGrom and 38-year-old Max Scherzer, would make them invincible in crunch time, reminiscent of the French belief in the Maginot Line.

Both deGrom and Scherzer lost their games this past weekend in Atlanta to the Braves, which knocked the Mets out of first place in the National League East. There was still a glimmer of hope, however, as the Mets No. 3 starter, Chris Bassitt, would be starting on Sunday night.

Bassitt has a reputation for being a tough, reliable starter who is not afraid to throw many pitches and go deep into games.

This would be Bassitt’s most important major league. For the first five years of his career, he pitched for the perennial second-division Oakland Athletics. To write that Bassitt did not rise to the occasion would be a gross understatement as the Braves chased him off the mound in the third inning en route to a 5-3 win. Bassitt will be a free agent after the World Series. He didn’t help his stock with that performance.

Losing three games to a talented team as the Atlanta Braves is not a disgrace. DeGrom, Scherzer and Bassitt, however, were far from dominant in September when the Mets were playing mostly second-division teams whose playoff aspirations ended long ago. Yes, the Mets’ offense, except for Jeff McNeil, was nonexistent when they pitched down the home stretch of the regular season, but the Mets rarely score many runs for their starters.

In retrospect, fans should not have been surprised with the results. DeGrom missed the first half of the season recovering from a shoulder injury, while Scherzer missed long stretches with a strained oblique. Bassitt had been untested under real pressure. Age and wear and tear from pitching take a toll. Mets fans will undoubtedly reflect on how their team went a combined 2-6 at home against the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins in September. Q

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

• Howard Beach

•

Yes, this is a legal 2 family in Rockwood Park! Beautiful large landscaped property. 3 BR, 2 bath, 60x100 lot. 1 car attached garage.

All new gas heating system. New hot water tank & upgraded electric. Non-mandatory fl oor zone B. Update & make this home yours.

• Rockaway Beach

•

Six months common charges free!!

Luxury new condos- located in Rockaway, 1/2 block from the Atlantic Ocean.

Can be purchased or can be rented: rental fee paid by seller! Stylish exterior to contemporary interior. Three, 2 BR & 2 baths available. Floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors, too much to list!! Parking spots available for sale

• Lindenwood

• Lindenwood

• Lindenwood

•

2 BR, 2 bath Co-op. Updated kitchen & flooring. New carpeting thru-out. Unit has been freshly painted, corner unit, very spacious. 25% down payment req. Base: $927.67, Appliances: $8.00, Guard fee: $35.00, AC’s fee: $42.00, Assessment: $117.99= $1,130.66. $32/ share fl ip tax, 350 shares. $20/month parking fee, (waitlist).

HOWARD BEACH/ LINDENWOOD

•

First fl oor 2 BR, 1 bath garden Co-op that is set back in the courtyard. Opportunity to create your own dream space. Great natural light; 5 closets throughout; primary BR is 14’ x 15’ & second BR is 13’ x 10’. The Coop has just been freshly painted & has overhead lighting in the LR. Monthly base maint $825.08; AC $17.50; assessment $82.51, Frost fridge: $5.00, Security: $2.00 total $932.09 Incls all utilities: heat, hot water, cooking gas, & electric. Flip tax is $50 per share. 192 shares.

• Rockwood Park •

Lovely split level ranch in beautiful Rockwood Park. 3 BR, 1.5 baths, living room, dining room, EIK. Turn key condition. Granite & stainless steel appliances in kitchen, gas line for BBQ, brick pavers, hardwood floors, CAC, heated in-ground pool & much more! Near shopping & transportation. Move right in!!

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