C M SQ page 13 Y K
Two people, one male and one female, were found dead in Ozone Park this past week, police said, within a day of each other. According to authorities, on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at about 7 a.m., police responded to a 911 call at 107-01 101 Ave., within the confines of the 102nd Precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious and unresponsive 45-yearold man lying on the sidewalk. EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending family notification, police said. Then, on the following day at approximately 3:45 a.m., officers from the 106th Precinct discovered the body of an unidentified adult female on the sidewalk at Pitkin Avenue and 83rd Street while on patrol. The woman was unconscious, unresponsive and showed no visible signs of trauma. EMS responded and pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Later reports said she was found with her hands above her head and naked from the waist down. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the causes of death and the investigations into both are currently Q ongoing. — Kristen Guglielmo
Mayor: ‘New York City public schools are back’ DOE has first enrollment boost in 8 years by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
For the first time in eight years, the city Department of Education experienced an uptick in enrollment, the agency said last week in a press release. Based on preliminary data for the 2023-24 school year, the DOE has seen enrollment increase by about 1 percent — or roughly 8,000 students — bringing the total number of students registered to approximately 915,000, the agency said. “When we say New York City is back, we are not just talking about our economy — we are talking about our communities and our entire city. And after 8 years of declining enrollment, New York City public schools are back,” said Mayor Adams in the press release. “With a majority of schools gaining additional funding during this mid-year adjustment, we are well positioned to meet the challenges ahead,” Schools Chancellor David Banks said. “However, to continue our progress and ensure the success of our students, particularly those
in temporary housing, we urgently need increased state and federal funding.” The agency credited the positive trend to the strategies implemented by the Adams administration, including through the Project Open Arms initiative, the multiagency effort to meet the educational needs of families seeking asylum. Additionally, this year approximately 57 percent of schools are expected to receive a total of $183 million — an average of $209,000 per school — in additional Fair Student Funding, the DOE said , due to h ig her-tha n-projected enrollment. The FSF policy ensures that schools with higher enrollments and schools that serve students with additional needs receive the necessary resources. According to the DOE, f inalized enrollment data will be available in the spring as part of the demographic snapshot. Since the data is preliminary and unaudited, students can still enter or leave the system and the data can fluctuate until the audit process is complete. Q
Senior dies in WH accident An elderly woman is dead and an elderly man is injured following an accident in Woodhaven on Nov. 18. According to police, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle collision at Woodhaven Boulevard near Park Lane South. A preliminary investigation determined that a 2017 BMW 430 was traveling southbound on Woodhaven Boulevard in the right lane, when the woman, Tonci Budija, 71, and an unidentified male, 73, attempted to cross the street. The BMW struck the pedestrians with its passenger side mirror as it swerved to avoid them. They were then struck by a 2014 Toyota Camry traveling in the same direction, police said. Budija sustained severe head and body trauma and was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, authorities said, where she was pronounced dead. The man was taken to NewYork Presbyterian-Queens with head trauma in critical but stable condition. The 23-year-old male BMW driver and 22-year-old male Toyota driver remained at the scene. No arrests were Q made and investigation is ongoing. — Kristen Guglielmo
Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 23, 2023
Two dead on OZP sidewalks
You’re a New Yorker from day 1 Enroll in NYC Care regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay.
1-646-NYC-CARE For the latest news visit qchron.com
nyccare.nyc
