Author Archives: TheForum
A Brooklyn man was arraigned last week in relation to a rash of manhole cover thefts that occurred across the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Andrew Modica was arrested in Bensonhurst and was arraigned on four charges, including reckless endangerment, criminal impersonation, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. According to police, Modica stole several Con Edison manhole covers while pretending to be an employee of that electric company. Police said that he stole a car and … Continue reading
The building that houses New York’s bravest in Forest Hills could be added to the list of New York City landmarks if it gets the approval of a city agency and the City Council. Engine 305, a firehouse on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, has been nominated for landmark status by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). The facility was built between 1922 and 1924, and was intended to serve the population boom of that neighborhood during that time. It had … Continue reading
A man in Ridgewood faces four charges, including first-degree auto stripping, for allegedly running a motorcycle chop shop in the basement of his home. Philip Dietrich, 43, who lives at 60-91 Putnam Ave. in Ridgewood, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday, May 9. He was charged with first-degree auto stripping, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, illegal possession of a vehicle identification number and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was held on $1,000 bail and … Continue reading
The May meeting of the Lindenwood Alliance led to further discussion among residents over the recent proposals by the MTA to modify bus routes in Howard Beach and Lindenwood. Residents remain concerned over the fact that bus routes have been changed to eliminate stops and require transfers when traveling to Rockaway or Broad Channel. Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton was on hand at the meeting and said she would be detailing the community’s concerns in a letter to the … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that to find the breeding ground for future college, NBA, and WNBA stars—and even Olympians—one doesn’t need to look much further than a Middle Village school hidden in an alcove of trees on Metropolitan Avenue. For the last 49 years, Christ the King Regional High School has earned a reputation as an athletic powerhouse, producing a virtual Who’s Who list among basketball players that have played for and won championships at nearly every athletic level available. … Continue reading
A livery cab driver who led a Panamanian family of four on a terrifying ride after picking them up at JFK International Airport has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation. Bhupinder Singh, 38, of 1708 Himrod Street in Ridgewood pleaded guilty to first-degree unlawful imprisonment. Singh’s trouble started on February 21, when he illegally offered arriving passengers at JFK Airport’s International Terminal his services as ground transportation for hire. Port Authority Police Officer Dante Castro-Recio … Continue reading
Residents are up in arms about upcoming service changes proposed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) for routes serving Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach. The agency says it is eyeing other changes as well. MTA officials at the May meeting of Community Board 10 (CB 10) announced that starting on July 1, there will be modifications along the routes of the Q11, Q21 and Q41. In the Lindenwood section, riders traveling to and from the south, namely Broad Channel … Continue reading
The Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) is fed up with the graffiti, deteriorating properties and building violations that members say are plaguing Middle Village and the surrounding neighborhoods. They want an eyesore blitz. At the civic group’s May 3 meeting, members confronted a representative from the Department of Buildings (DOB) about chronic eyesores and asked for tighter enforcement. To kick off the discussion, JPCA’s president, Bob Holden, strode up an aisle of chairs holding a blown-up picture of a house … Continue reading
The 104th Precinct believes it has a handle on the influx of robberies that’s plagued most of the city this year, and 15 newly assigned officers could help curb the trend even more, said the precinct’s commanding officer. So far this year, there have been 95 robberies compared to 68 last year in the precinct, which spans Middle Village, Maspeth, Glendale and Ridgewood. However, on May 7, Capt. Michael Cody told attendees of the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together … Continue reading
Nearly one year after a letter sent to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly from Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Howard Beach) requested more cops for the 106th Precinct, the break finally came. Fifteen new officers were assigned to the 106th Precinct and have taken to the streets over the last three weeks. The offices were all on previous assignment to IMPACT Units and have been on the job an average of three to four years. IMPACT Units are comprised of new officers who … Continue reading
Every year for the past five years, Queens fights for its libraries. Council members, the borough president, Queens Library employees— anyone who can read and wants a place to do it—take to the steps of their libraries and city hall. This year is no different, except there’s more on the line. Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his executive budget last week, and in it he proposed a $26.7 million cut to the Queens Library— a 31 percent reduction from last … Continue reading
Siblings of George Gibbons read tearful statements in court Monday, asking that the man who killed their brother remain in jail as long as possible. Peter Rodriguez, a 37-year-old Brooklyn man, had admitted to driving the car that killed George in a wrong-way collision in Maspeth. On May 7, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half to seven years in prison for negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a crime. George’s five siblings poured out their emotions for the record … Continue reading
The city’s teachers union and principals union are suing to stall the turnaround plan that was approved last month to close 24 schools citywide and seven in Queens. On May 7, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) went to New York Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction that would send the issue to arbitration. At issue is the Department of Education’s (DOE) plan that closes the 24 schools and … Continue reading
Police are asking for help identifying one suspect and finding another wanted for impersonating a police officer and robbing a man at knifepoint in Jackson Heights, part of the nearby 115th Precinct. On Friday, March 9, at 4:50 p.m. two suspects armed with switchblade knives forcibly entered an apartment and identified themselves as police officers. The men demanded money from a 36-year-old Hispanic man in the apartment and then fled. Police are looking for one of the suspects named Julian … Continue reading
A 28-year-old man from Massachusetts pleaded guilty to second-degree assault as a hate crime after he made degrading remarks to two gay men in Jackson Heights, and then stabbed one of them in the arm. The Queens District Attorney’s office identified the man as Cristian Flores, 28, who lives in Boston, Mass. According to the District Attorney’s office, Carlos Aleman, 34, was walking with his boyfriend around 4:10 a.m. on Roosevelt Avenue between 80th and 81st streets in Jackson Heights … Continue reading