Category Archives: South Ozone Park
Police have released very few details in the chilling sexual assault of a South Ozone Park girl on Wednesday evening around 6 PM. The victim is believed to be a 7-year-old female who was dragged into a yard at 115-51 115 th street off Sutter Avenue and forced to perform a sex act. The child was reportedly playing with a ball that went over a fence. When she went to retrieve it, the unknown assailant grabbed her. Sources say that … Continue reading
Tell a Centreville resident that the city will soon launch a sewer and roadway construction project first proposed more than three decades ago, and it is not unlikely they will scoff – loudly – and say their final demise is expected sooner than the city making good on its plan. “This is ongoing since the 1980s – every time they tell me they’re going to be digging, it’s like the story of the boy who cried wolf,” Ozone Park Civic … Continue reading
Shock spread throughout the South Ozone Park community this week when Chan Jamoona, founder and former executive director of the United Hindu Cultural Council (UHCC) was arrested and accused of stealing more than $50,000 from a lunch program for senior citizens over a period from 2007 through 2010. Ironically, the 66-year-old also serves as the treasurer of the 106th Precinct Community Council, but when she entered the precinct on Monday morning it wasn’t to file a financial report—and this time, … Continue reading
Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale told The Forum this week that the precinct has been experiencing what he termed ” a nagging problem with a particular strip in the community. The inspector says that a number of incidents have been taking place along Liberty Avenue between 80th and 88th streets and down to 107th Avenue. Most of the incidents are involving the theft of iPhones, iPads and related products. “It seems that these Apple products are among the most attractive things … Continue reading
Governor Andrew Cuomo signaled last week that his first priority would be to bring full casino gaming to upstate first—and not Queens. Cuomo announced in his annual State of the State address on Jan. 9 that he would support the creation of three casinos upstate to boost the local economy. While racetrack casinos with electronic gaming machines are permitted in places like the Aqueduct Racetrack, New York State’s constitution forbids full gaming with live card dealers, something that Cuomo wants … Continue reading
A South Ozone Park man who sexually abused his neighbor’s 13-year-old son in April 2010 is being released from prison and moving back into his home on 149th Avenue — just up the block from his victim, and across the street from Centerville Playground, according to the mother, Janet Beck. “Me and my son are scared,” she said. “I never thought this could happen.” One afternoon in April 2010, Janet Beck knew something was off with her 13-year-old son, Jonathan, … Continue reading
Albert J. Baldeo, a Queens District leader for Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, is facing corruption charges for mail fraud conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to prosecutors. The Democratic district leader is accused of using false donors to add illegal campaign donations to his failed 2010 campaign for the City Council. He supposedly attempted to fraudulently increase the amount of matching funds provided by the city, according to a report in The New York Times. He turned himself in … Continue reading
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced earlier this week that it is removing full-body scanners from both of New York’s airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and moving them to smaller airports. The move comes after there was much controversy over the scanners. According to CBS News, opponents of the scanners say that it is an invasion of privacy because those scanners provide a very detailed image of the body. According to several published reports, TSA said … Continue reading
It has been one year since Resorts World Casino has opened and the racino is kicking off its celebration this week. Starting on Thursday, October 25, the casino will host its anniversary party. According to a press release from Resorts World, the event will be centered on announcing its revenue numbers in the 12 months that it has been open. According to the release, the casino has made $630 million dollars in revenue, which they say makes Resorts World the … Continue reading
With Queens Borough President Helen Marshall stepping down next year, there are several contenders currently kicking off their campaigns for the soon to be vacated position. Candidate and State Senator Jose Peralta held a fundraiser on Monday night in Jackson Heights. Queens Democratic Party Chairman and Representative Joseph Crowley attended the fundraiser. Crowley also helped former City Councilwoman Melinda Katz get her campaign off the ground with a fundraiser in Forest Hills. In an interview with the Queens Gazette, Peralta … Continue reading
Two men that forced a 14-year-old girl to work as a prostitute were sentenced to three to nine years in prison on Tuesday. Shaquan Gould, of South Ozone Park, and Evan Harrington, a Bronx resident, were both sentenced for tier involvement in a sex trafficking scheme. According to charges, at around April 19 of this year, the victim met with Harrington who took her to Gould’s house on 123rd Street .The duo then forced the victim to do acts of … Continue reading
On Thursday night, Councilman Eric Ulrich and Senator Joe Addabbo faced off at the Ave Maria Catholic Academy in a debate hosted and sponsored by The Forum, The Chronicle and good government group Citizens Union. With a series of questions composed by the three sponsors, both candidates were given approximately two minutes to answer questions centered on the issues of most concern to the 15th Senate District. Where they stand on the issues: On how you will be an … Continue reading
At Thursday’s public safety town hall meeting in Richmond Hill, Council Member Ruben Wills conducted an orderly meeting between his constituents and several city agencies. The panel included the commanding officers of the 102 and 106 Precincts, NYPD narcotics representatives and a member of the misunderstood youth development center. A representative from the Department of Transportation was also on hand, with the majority of people’s questions being traffic related. Rather than have everyone shout over one another, Council Member Wills … Continue reading
School days are a traffic nightmare outside P.S. 63 in South Ozone Park according to the principal, crossing guards and parents. And that is a sentiment expressed by many other schools who say that the combination of overcrowding on the streets, lack of signage and enforcement and the general disregard of people picking up their children presents clear and present danger to anyone walking on the street at drop off or dismissal time. In nearby in Lindenwood, local State Assemblyman … Continue reading
Over 30 kids were injured when a student from Junior High School 226 released pepper spray in the cafeteria, causing several of the kids to be hospitalized. The incident happened at the South Ozone Park-school on Tuesday morning at around 10:30 a.m. According to FDNY EMS Deputy Chief Debra Cali, 34 students were hit by the spray and 11 of them were transported to two hospitals, 10 to Elmhurst Hospital and the other to Jamaica Hospital. She also said that … Continue reading