THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | APRIL 27, 2023

Homeless Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison in Shooting Death of Ozone Park Store Worker

By Michael V. Cusenza

A homeless man has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for the shooting death of a 26-year-old Ozone Park store clerk a er a brief verbal altercation, Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday.

Steven Cohen, 66, pleaded guilty on March 30 to manslaughter in the rst degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis on Monday sentenced Cohen to 22 years in prison to be followed by ve years’ post-release supervision.

According to the charges, on Oct. 26, 2020, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Cohen argued with worker Tarwala Mahmadkhurshid inside the Cross Bay Express Deli on Cross Bay Boulevard. Cohen was ordered out of the store but returned a short time later with a Colt revolver.

Cohen pointed the gun at Mahmadkhurshid and red multiple times. e victim was struck in the abdomen by a single bullet. Cohen then red the weapon again, aiming for another deli employee, but he missed his intended target.

An o -duty police o cer who was inside the store jumped into action, tackled

Cohen, disarmed and held him until other o cers arrived on the scene.

Mahmadkhurshid was immediately transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and later died from his injuries.

“ e callous actions of this defendant cost the life of an innocent man who was simply doing his job,” Katz said. “I hope the victim’s family will nd a measure of closure in knowing the defendant will serve a long prison sentence.”

In 2020, Katz also shined the spotlight on one of New York’s Finest.

“We need to thank the o -duty police

o cer for his bravery and swi action, tackling and disarming the defendant, assuring that no other lives were lost,” Katz said.

City DOT Announces Conduit Street Improvement Plan

By Michael V. Cusenza

e City Department of Transportation this week announced plans for a street improvement project at North

and South Conduit avenues and 79th Street.

In a Monday le er to stakeholders, DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia noted that “the design is in response to numerous community and elected o cial

requests for a safer pedestrian crossing between the north and south sides of Conduit Avenue across the grassy area.”

In the past ve years there have been two pedestrian fatalities on South Conduit Avenue as people cross between the grass median and the Linden Center Shopping Mall, according to Garcia.

“As part of the safety improvements, the agency plans to install a tra c signal on both sides of Conduit Avenue,” the Queens commissioner wrote. “ is tra c signal will create a safer and more comfortable connection for pedestrians crossing Conduit Avenue.”

According to DOT, the improvements include the following:

Install a tra c signal on South Conduit Avenue at the Linden Center Shopping Mall entrance.

Revise the pavement markings for the Linden Center Shopping Mall entrance to align with the proposed tra c signal.

Install a painted curb extension on the west side of the Linden Center Shopping Mall entrance.

Upgrade the existing pedestrian ramps near the Linden Center Shopping Mall entrance for accessibility needs.

Also on Monday, City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park) thanked DOT, Community Board 10 and its Chairwoman Be y Braton, the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association, the Ozone Park Block Association, and the Ozone Tudor Civic “for their continued activism on a long-standing problem in the Howard Beach section of District 32. #PromisesMadePromisesKept,” she tweeted.

City DOT o cials said the agency aims to install the project this summer.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Cohen shot Tarwala Mahmadkhurshid as Mahmadkhurshid worked inside Cross Bay Express Deli.

Photo Courtesy of Google “I hope the victim’s family will nd a measure of closure in knowing the defendant will serve a long prison sentence,” DA Katz said.

Man Gets 12 Years for Motel

By Forum Sta

A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for injuring a man he shot at the Surfside Motel in Howard Beach in September 2021, Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced on ursday.

Rawle Washington, 28, was found guilty by a jury in March of a empted assault in the rst degree and criminal possession of a weapon. Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro last Wednesday sentenced Washington to 12 years in prison.

According to the charges:

On Sept. 18, 2021, shortly after 10 a.m., police responded to reports of a shooting at the Surfside Motel on Cross Bay Boulevard. The victim, 29-year-old Kalif White, was lying on the ground in front of the motel entrance bleeding with gunshot wounds to the buttocks and leg.

Washington was seen on video surveillance in a baseball cap, light-colored shirt and dark pants in the motel lobby just a er 5 a.m. and later that morning, around 10 a.m. e second time, Washington ran a er the victim, pointed a gun in his direction and red several times. Immediately a er the shots rang out, the defendant turned and ran toward the rear of the motel.

Further video evidence showed Washington tossing the gun into the Shell Bank Basin adjacent to the motel. Police recovered the weapon as well as a lightcolored shirt and the baseball cap near the scene.

e O ce of the Chief Medical Examiner tested both the baseball cap and the shirt and later con rmed a match to Washington’s DNA. He was arrested on Jan. 18, 2022, a er a lengthy investigation into his whereabouts.

“DNA evidence was instrumental in identifying the defendant a er he callously shot a man and ed,” Katz said. “Today he faces accountability for his reckless actions.”

File Photo

Kalif White was shot at the Surfside Motel in Howard Beach in September 2021.

File Photo

Kalif White was shot at the Surfside Motel in Howard Beach in September 2021.

Pols Tout ‘Setting Consumer Standards for LithiumIon Batteries Act’

By Forum Sta

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), and City Fire Department o cials on Sunday announced a push to pass bipartisan legislation called the Se ing Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Ba eries Act.

Schumer noted that over the past few years there have been a growing number of res across the ve boroughs, Long Island and beyond caused by lithium-ion ba eries used in e-bikes and e-scooters. ere were 216 of these ba ery res last year, a dramatic increase from the 44 that occurred in 2020. is year, there have already been 30 ba ery res in NYC, which have le 40 injured and two dead.

“[F]ederal action is needed to protect consumers and also our brave re ghters who are on the front lines of this new paradigm in re prevention spurred by these unpredictable, and o entimes, very dangerous ba eries,” Schumer said.

FDNY and other stakeholders said they need federal action to ght these res. One of the steps, Schumer, Gillibrand and Torres said, is the Consumer Product Safety Commission needs to enact a nal consumer safety standard for lithium-ion ba eries used in e-bikes and e-scooters. No federal consumer safety standard currently exists for such ba eries, which has helped allow

the cheap, faulty, China-made ba eries that have been the cause of most of the NYC res to remain available.

According to City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, on Feb. 13, a re erupted in a home in Brooklyn, ultimately claiming the life of a woman in the home. On Jan. 25, a re in Queens injured 18 people, including a child removed in critical condition. On Nov. 5, 2022, a re on the 20th oor of a Manha an apartment building forced two occupants to hang from a window to escape the choking black smoke.

“They are alive today only because of the heroic rescue and emergency medical care by our members. The common denominator of these fires? Each was caused by a lithium-ion battery,” Kavanagh wrote in an AMNY op-ed. “These are just three of more than 400 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in New York City in the last four years. These fires start quickly, grow rapidly, offer little time to escape, consume everything in their path, and are very difficult to extinguish.”

According to FDNY, lithium-ion batteries are used in various devices. These batteries are commonly used in cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters. Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. Like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective. They can overheat, catch fire, or explode.

Be careful when using any devices powered by lithium-ion ba eries:

• When purchasing devices, be sure that the equipment has the Underwriters Laboratories Mark. e UL mark shows that the product has been safety tested.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.

• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.

• Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made speci cally for the device.

• Keep ba eries/devices at room temperature. Do not place in direct sunlight.

• Store ba eries away from anything ammable.

• If a ba ery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, leaking, or odd noises from a device discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch re and call 9-1-1.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer

Senator Schumer called lithium-ion ba eries “unpredictable, and o entimes, very dangerous…”

MTA Allow E-Vehicles on Subways, Buses, Railroads

BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL— THE PHARMACISTS ROLE

Pharmacists play a very important role in counseling patients on high blood pressure (HBP).

Here at Cross Bay Chemist, we offer electronic blood pressure monitoring in the store and always include it when we participate in community health fairs. About one in three adults and nearly one in three women in the United States has high blood pressure. e condition itself usually has no signs or symptoms. Someone can have HBP for years without knowing it. A secret killer, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs.

He good news is lifestyle changes can greatly assist in the management of HBP. Proper diet, exercise, the elimination or reduction of salt intake and stopping smoking can all play a major role in helping bring HBP under control.

maintain your blood pressure records and all your othermedications as well.

1. Step one in managing HBP is making sure you take everything your physician has prescribed.

2. Make sure you know the name of each of your meds, the dosage prescribed for you and the directions on how to take the medicine—at night, with food, etc. If you have questions about your meds, talk to your pharmacist or physician.

3. Take care of your re lls before you run out. HBM needs to be taken without skipping a dosage-you can’t skip a day or cut it in half to last longer—that’s not the way it works.

By Michael V. Cusenza

e Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday adopted a policy that allows the transport of personal electric vehicles (PEV) on MTA property and on board transit, with the exception of MTA express buses, and outlined the rules for safe transport.

is policy supports the State and City’s micromobility programs encouraging the use of personal vehicles such as bikes and scooters, particularly for rst and last mile transportation, enhancing the transit experience by supporting multi-modal journeys and providing seamless integration. e policy will increase access to MTA transit by for people who do not live within walking distance from a transit station and fullls one of the short-term goals established by Extending Transit’s Reach, the MTA’s Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan issued in January.

e rules apply to all customers, MTA employees, contractors, consultants, and visitors. e speci c procedures and policies in place concerning transport of bicycles for each respective agency apply to the transport of PEVs.

• Charging of PEVs in or on any MTA train, subway, bus, platform, station, facility, or terminal is prohibited

• Walk with it, don’t ride it

• If the PEV can be folded, it must be folded, or compacted and carried, except for on MTA express buses. Any form of PEVs, including foldable permissible PEVs, are prohibited inside MTA express buses.

• PEVs must remain powered o during transport

• Doors, seats, aisles and emergency equipment must be kept clear

• PEVs and their ba eries must never be le una ended, discarded, stored, locked to any MTA asset within the system, or abandoned for any reason

• Cannot exceed 100 pounds in weight

• Must have a wheel diameter not exceeding 27 inches nor be more than 80 inches long or 48 inches high

• Hoverboards are not permi ed in the system

• Must use ba eries that are Underwriter Laboratory (UL) certi ed and listed

• Must not emit environmental contaminants

• Must not have damaged ba eries

• Property of a shared or rented PEV provider (e.g., Citi Bike, Lime, Bird, Lynx, etc.) into the system is not allowed

These rules do not apply to mobility devices as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MTA employees and customers should always give priority to people with disabilities. A PEV is defined as a device, not under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) governance, that transports and/or propels either an individual or property by means of electric or battery power, including fully electric and hybrid manual/electric devices.

“An accessible transit system that is reachable and convenient to use bene ts all New Yorkers,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “System accessibility is essential for all MTA riders and this policy allows riders in less well served areas to be er connect with the transit system in a safe manner.”

However, some o cials are not onboard with the new policy.

“ e MTA’s decision is nothing short of irresponsible. Lithium-ion ba eries can combust without being on the charger through a process called ‘self-discharge.’ It's only a ma er of time before this happens and somebody gets seriously hurt or worse,” said City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), chairwoman of the Commi ee on Fire and Emergency Management.

Blood pressure, like so many other conditions that are easily managed, is always aided when patients take a li le time to do proper “bookkeeping”. e following tips are a general guide to keeping track and keeping informed about your condition. Remember your pharmacist is in a great position to help you set up and

4. If you are not feeling right and think you are having adverse e ects from your meds, talk to your pharmacist and/or physician at once. Your dosage may very well have to be adjusted. is is a common occurrence with HBM. DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION ON YOUR OWN!

5. HBP meds may have interactions with OTC preparations. Many have warnings about not taking them with HBP meds. Consult your pharmacist on what is safe for you to take.

For your family’s prescription needs, please call CROSS BAY CHEMIST at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644 157-02 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm. Sat-Sun 9am-7pm. or 96-05 101st Ave. in Ozone Park: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm. Sunday: Closed.

April is Sikh Awareness Month in NY

Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a resolution naming April 2023 as Sikh Awareness Month in the State of New York.

“Sikhs have been living in the United States for more than 100 years, and have made substantial contributions to the social, cultural, and economic vibrancy of the country and to New York speci cally,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) said. “I was proud to share this moment with members of the Sikh Cultural Society from Richmond Hill who visited the Senate Chambers in Albany on Monday, where Giani Dharamveer Singh gave the opening Senate Session invocation accompanied by Harpreet Singh Toor.”

Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

Courtesy of MTA e new policy ful lls one of the short-term goals established by Extending Transit’s Reach, the MTA’s Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan issued in January.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo

Mayor Releases the City's Strategic Climate Plan

By Forum Sta

Mayor Eric Adams on ursday released PlaNYC: Ge ing Sustainability Done, the City’s long-term strategic climate plan that highlights e orts the City is taking to protect New Yorkers from climate threats, improve quality of life, and build the green economy.

is is the h in a series of climate plans released every four years by the City, as required by local law, and was developed with input from the City Climate Cabinet, which consists of representatives from more than 35 city agencies and o ces, the Sustainability Advisory Board, and stakeholders.

Actions in the plan speci cally focus on execution and implementation, delivering on promises made to New Yorkers, and creating an equitable, healthy, and resilient future. PlaNYC: Ge ing Sustainability Done also spotlights opportunities to leverage available state and federal funding sources, and comes in tandem with calls from Adams to ensure that NYC receives its fair share of federal and state funding.

Plan highlights include:

Implementing Climate Budgeting to Align City Resources with Sustainability and Resiliency Goals

New York City will be the rst big city in America to launch a climate budgeting initiative to ensure that it remains laser focused on prioritizing climate change and environmental justice in investments and decision-making. Climate budgeting is a process that incorporates science-based climate considerations into the city’s budget decision making process by evaluating how actions and spending today contribute to meeting longer-term climate targets. e process will help the city understand the climate impact of the dollars spent, identify where more investment is needed, and champion forward-looking investments to equitably achieve net-zero emissions citywide by 2050,

as well as bolster resilience to extreme heat and ooding. e Mayor’s O ce of Management and Budget will lead this initiative in partnership with MOCEJ.

e Public Solar Initiative

In coordination with the O ce of the Comptroller, the Adams administration will create a rst-of-its-kind public solar nancing program for one-to-four family, low-income homeowners in environmental justice communities (neighborhoods that have historically, and continue to, experience the disproportionate impacts of climate change). In the past, low-income homeowners have been excluded from the clean energy economy and could not a ord the upfront costs of installing roo op solar panels, heat pumps, or other en-

infrastructure, ensuring that New York City’s coast, as well as vulnerable inland communities, are invested in and protected.

e city will also launch a program to explore housing mobility and land acquisition options, to support residents interested in moving from ood-vulnerable areas through housing and nancial counseling and convert newly acquired land into resilient parcels that manage ooding. e city will pursue state and federal grants to acquire properties in ood-vulnerable areas.

Further, PlaNYC is dedicated to addressing extreme heat. Scientists predict in an average year in the 2030s, there will be up to three times as many 90-degree days and nearly four times as many heat waves as there have been in

is plan will encourage industry partners to gain experience with low carbon construction materials and methods and create accompanying codes for common materials. is will build a market for low-carbon construction alternatives with electric construction equipment and continued research and development of new construction means and methods.

In order to prevent emissions and protect New Yorkers from climate change threats, the city is also commi ing to the following:

Reducing the city’s carbon emissions from food by 33 percent by 2030 and launching a corporate challenge to help the private sector reduce its carbon emissions from food by 25 percent by 2030.

Releasing a new, integrated emissions inventory, which takes into account emissions from the production of goods and services New Yorkers use, regardless of where that production takes place.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by eight percent in the manufacturing of concrete for DDC projects by using limestone cement in place of ordinary portland cement.

Implementing New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development design guidelines to address energy eciency, sustainability, and resiliency retro ts.

Achieving a 30 percent tree canopy cover — representing 15,388 additional acres of tree canopy.

Continuing to design and construct worldclass neighborhood-scale coastal protection projects and partnering with the United States Army Corps of Engineers on the NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Feasibility Study process.

Bringing the Climate Strong Community program to the Soundview (Bronx), Brownsville (Brooklyn), Corona (Queens), and Port Richmond (Staten Island) neighborhoods while building on prior work in Canarsie (Brooklyn) and East Harlem (Manha an) to unlock federal and state funding

ergy e ciency retro ts. e Public Solar initiative will help overcome those cost barriers.

e city will pursue funds from the federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to provide 3,000 homes with proactive door-to-door outreach and nancial assistance for roo op solar panels over the next ve years.

Protecting New York from Climate reats and Reducing Carbon Emissions

e future of New York City — and the planet — depends on reducing emissions and adapting to the clear and present danger of climate change. Extreme heat and ooding — from storms to sea level rise and rainfall — take hundreds of lives each year and costs billions of dollars. Sea levels in New York City have already risen by a foot since 1900 and are projected to rise by up to 5.4 additional feet by the end of the century, according to the New York City Panel on Climate Change. New York City’s oodplain contains nearly 20 percent of the city’s area, and by the 2080s, large portions of some coastal neighborhoods could ood with greater frequency.

e city will develop minimum ood resiliency standards for shoreline assets and establish a citywide level of service for stormwater

the recent past. e city will maximize access to indoor cooling by requiring all new building construction to include cooling infrastructure and advocating for reforms to the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program so that it broadly covers equipment and energy costs for cooling in addition to heating.

Additionally, the city will continue to reduce emissions by helping large private buildings comply with Local Law 97, which aims to reduce the emissions produced by New York City’s largest buildings by 40 percent by 2030 and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. To do so, the city will develop nancing tools and work with state partners to identify state incentives to accelerate compliance, develop trainings and certi cations, and expand NYC Accelerator — a one-stop-shop for building stakeholders to improve energy e ciency and reduce carbon emissions from New York City buildings. Moreover, PlaNYC reinforces New York City’s leading e orts in clean construction by requiring the city’s capital project agencies to commit to actions that will lower embodied carbon — greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials.

Developing an air quality monitoring program to understand air quality impacts of pollution within neighborhoods and improving regulations and rules.

Improving New Yorkers’ Quality of Life

New York City has built one of the largest urban park systems in the country, invested billions in its wastewater systems, brought marine life back to its waterways, and developed one of the most robust transportation systems of any major city in the United States. Continuing to improve these systems will lead to a more resilient and sustainable city while helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change. at starts with the city’s green spaces. Too many of its natural areas are underappreciated, challenging to access, and in need of more dedicated stewardship. Across all ve boroughs, there are greenway projects in planning, design, and construction, which will create safe active transportation routes and facilitate connections between parks. e city will improve more than 300 miles of trails, many of which are in outer borough parks, and make 12,000 acres of existing city-owned natural areas more accessible through improvements, programming, and promotion. e city will invest in forested areas and improve its health, as well as the overall health of its communities.

Photo Courtesy of Caroline Willis/Mayoral Photography O ce Mayor Adams said his new plan highlights e orts the City is taking to protect New Yorkers om climate threats, improve quality of life, and build the green economy.

Cops Vote to Approve New Contract

By Michael V. Cusenza

e members of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York have voted by an overwhelming margin to approve the union’s proposed eight-year contract agreement with the City, with turnout that is among the highest for any union ratication vote, nationwide, PBA o cials announced Monday.

e voting was conducted through electronic balloting supervised by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Voting closed at noon on Monday with 18,519 of 21,861 members (84.71 percent) casting ballots and 17,921 (97.69 percent) voting in favor of rati cation. is turnout far exceeds the NYC PBA’s record turnout for its last contract agreement in 2017, when 77 percent of members voted. Union rati cation votes nationwide frequently see turnouts of less than 50 percent.

“ e resounding support for this contract proves our union’s strength and solidarity. Over the past six years, PBA members have endured the pandemic, riots, rising crime and a deluge of criticism. rough it all, our unity never wavered in our ght for fair market pay,” said PBA President Patrick Lynch. “ at ght is still not over. We will continue our quest to return New York City police o cers to their rightful place as the highest paid police o cers in the nation. We look forward to returning to the bargaining table with the city in 2025.”

The new NYC PBA contract covers the years 2017 through 2025 and includes 28.25 percent in compounded wage increases and an historic agreement to pilot a new working schedule for police officers.

“ e men and women of the NYPD put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our city safe — and we’re proud that the PBA contract rati ed today recognizes the unique contributions and sacri ces that members of service make on behalf of all

New Yorkers. is contract o ers fair wage increases, provides for greater exibility for our o cers, and boosts the salary schedule for starting o cers to ensure they are fairly compensated,” said Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain. “We thank O ce of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion and PBA President Pat Lynch for their relentless e orts to reach this historic agreement.” e contract announcement comes just two weeks a er Lynch noted in an email message sent to NYC PBA members that he will not seek re-election when his current term expires in June.

Lynch is the longest-serving PBA president on record and is currently the longesttenured leader of any major New York City municipal labor union.

He has served six terms as PBA president since being rst elected in 1999 as part of a slate of reformed-minded delegates (the PBA equivalent of union shop stewards) from precincts across the ve boroughs. In the years preceding Lynch’s election, New York City police o cers su ered through three-and-a-half years of zero wage increases, while the PBA was marred by scandals that sent multiple union a orneys and advisors to prison on corruption charges.

Since taking o ce, Lynch has overseen collective bargaining agreements that have increased police o cers’ salaries by 127 percent, while simultaneously transforming the PBA into one of the most vocal and visible advocates for the law enforcement profession nationwide.

File Photo

Voting closed at noon on Monday with 18,519 of 21,861 NYC PBA members (84.71 percent) casting ballots and 17,921 (97.69 percent) voting in favor of rati cation of the new deal.

Lunch Blockbusters

AVAILABLE 11:00 - 2:00

Steer Clear

You won't be asking where the beef is after your first bite of Nana's succulent house ground chicken burger. Served on grilled brioche, with tomato, avocado mousse and shoe string fries on the side.

Paddy Whack Smash

Two prime beef patties, Cheddar, Mozarella, Swiss or American Cheese, with caramelized onions on Brioche or Ciabatta. Served with shoestring fries.

Lean & Mean

House smoked Pastrami or Corned

Beef on Polish Rye or club roll, whole grain mustard, half sour pickle. add shoestring fries $3.50 add house made spicy slaw $2.50 add Rueben package $6.50

House Cobb

Iceberg wedge, grilled organic chicken breast, Blue crumble, Applewood slab bacon crumble, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes dressed in house ranch or Blue cheese. add grilled shrimp $5.00

The BLT

Thick slab Applewood Bacon meets up with heirloom tomato and crisp organic greens on your choice of toasted sourdough, country white or polish rye dressed in house citrus blend or avocado mousse. Served with shoestring fries.

Nanagiana

Your choice chicken or eggplant. Golden browned eggplant planks or organic chicken breast, house marinara, finished with fresh Mozzarella served on grilled Ciabatta.

Grilled Chicken Caesar

Iced romaine, organic chicken breast, capers and house hail Ceasar cream dressing.

Grilled Shrimp Caesar add $5.

Ruben Rolls

Our twist on the classic egg roll, two golden fried rolls stuffed with house made corned beef, barrel cured sauerkraut and melted Swiss served with house made Ruben dip.

House Chopt

Mixed greens, Bell peppers, golden beets, carrots, Heirloom Cherry Tomato and slivered Bermuda onion. Dressed in your choice of lemon aioli or creamy avocado. add grilled chicken $3.50 add grilled shrimp $5.00

If you think we are just breakfast, think again.

Area Pols to Host Popular Electronic Waste Recycling Event in Forest Park

By Forum Sta

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven), Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven), and City Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) are set to host their bi-annual free electronic waste recycling event next month in Forest Park.

On Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the elected o cials will have the Lower East Side Ecology Company at the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot where they will be collecting old and broken electronics to be properly recycled.

“When electronics are not properly recycled they can end up in our land lls causing harmful chemicals to get into the soil which are quite harmful to the environment and to us,” Addabbo said. “By recycling your e-waste, you help to clean up the environment and create a healthier planet now and for future generations. I understand that it can be di cult to know when and where to dispose of your old electronics, which is why we hold this event twice a year centrally located at Forest Park so residents have the opportunity to join us and get rid of their e-waste right in their community.”

Electronics that will be accepted during the event are:

• Computers (laptops and desktops, servers, mainframes);

• Monitors (CRT and at screen);

• Handheld devices (smart phones, tablets, MP3 players, e-readers, etc.);

• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.);

• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, cords, chargers, etc.);

• Components (hard drives, CDROMs, circuit boards, power supplies,

etc.);

• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, etc.;

• TVs, VCRs, DVRs, DVD and Bluray Players;

• Digital Converter Boxes, Cable/ Satellite Receivers;

• Audio-visual equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.);

• Video-game consoles and accessories;

• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs;

• Stereo equipment;

• Landline phones/answering machines;

• Extension cords Items that will NOT be accepted are:

• Ba eries of any kind;

• Floppy disks/VHS tapes/CDs/ DVDs/casse e tapes;

• Smoke detectors;

• Medication;

• Any hazardous materials or paint;

• Household appliances

“The electronic waste recycling events Senator Addabbo, Councilman Holden and I host are a beloved semi-annual tradition. Along with our community partners, we free our neighbors from the clutter of broken or unwanted electronics, while diverting from landfills some of the 7 million tons of e-waste the US produces each year,” Rajkumar said. “This event will lower our carbon emissions, reduce toxic waste that pollutes water and soil, and reclaim rare precious metals. With Earth Day almost upon us, we will all do our part to protect our Earth and foster a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations.”

“I am thrilled to support the LES Ecology Center and its e orts to protect our environment while providing a convenient solution for constituents to dispose of their electronic waste properly,” Holden said. “It's a win-win for our community, and I am proud to partner with Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Rajkumar to host these e-waste events.”

“I would like to thank all of our partners including Assemblywoman Rajkumar, Councilman Holden and all of our staffs, the Lower East Side Ecology Center for always holding these popular events in our communities, 104COP for their continued support, and the NYC Parks Department for their partnership,” Addabbo added. “We all look forward to seeing our constituents at Forest Park for this event!”

City DOT Taking New Steps to Expand Bike Infrastructure

By Michael V. Cusenza

City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Monday announced new steps the agency is taking to expand bike infrastructure and encourage the safe operation of e-bikes.

NYC DOT is on track to install a record number of protected bike lanes in 2023, to harden more than 10 miles of existing bike lanes, and to use sturdier materials in new bike lanes. NYC DOT will also launch a public awareness campaign on the safe operation of e-bikes.

is work comes as the agency also announced on Monday that cycling across the ve boroughs has reached a new alltime high. For the rst time ever, more than 24,000 trips were recorded over East River bridges during an average in-season weekday. And more than 38,000 cycling trips were counted during an average 12-hour window across Manha an avenues at 50th Street.

Upcoming protected bike lane projects include a range of high-ridership corridors, bridges, priority investment areas in underserved communities, and innovative bike boulevards. Hardening e orts will include the installation of cement Jersey Barriers and the continued testing of new materials

“ e proof is in the data: more safe cycling infrastructure means more cyclists on our streets. As we’ve built more and more bike lanes, we’ve seen bicycle ridership reach historic levels,” Rodriguez said. “We will be installing a record number of high-quality, protected bike lanes this year to save lives and continue encouraging this growth. We're focusing on thoughtfully expanding our existing bike network with new lanes in underserved communities; new connections across bridges; and comprehensive neighborhood networks—all while developing innovative new bike boulevard designs that reduce vehicle volumes and prioritize cycling safety.”

Protected bike lanes in priority investment areas include the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge, from 165th Avenue to the Kiteboard Launch.

At least one elected o cial is ready to help DOT make the plan a reality.

Courtesy of NYC DOT

“ e Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge is the main roadway to travel to

the communities in the southern end of Queens, our fantastic beaches, as well as the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. is route sees bike riders pedaling across the bridge on a daily basis, where they o entimes have to deal with some dangerous situations in unprotected bike lanes as cars drive past. It is essential that we work together to bring common sense measures to the bridge to protect these cyclists,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) said. “ e easiest option, in my opinion, would be to move the already existing jersey barriers to the outside of the bike lane to instantly make it a protected lane. I want to thank the NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for completing this study and allowing NYC DOT to move forward with the work. Additionally, I look forward to working with the NYC DOT and o er any assistance from my o ce to expedite this vital project and protect our bikers, especially as the warmer weather will lead to more individuals biking over the bridge.”

along bike lanes in all ve boroughs.

File Photo

e very popular e-waste event will take place on May 7 at the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot.

Correction Officer Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes, Smuggling Contraband onto Rikers Island

By Michael V. Cusenza

Former City Correction Officer Katrina Patterson has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting more than $34,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband onto Rikers Island, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

According to court documents and facts presented at Tuesday’s sentencing proceeding, Patterson, a Jamaica resident, accepted at least $34,090 in bribes from co-conspirators in exchange for Patter-

son’s smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for inmate (and co-defendant) Michael Ross. Ross, a Bloods gang member who was incarcerated at the time on unrelated offenses, arranged for the bribes to be sent to Patterson. The City Department of Correction subsequently located narcotics and cell phones in Ross’ cell. Law enforcement also recovered Patterson’s text messages, including messages where a coconspirator told Patterson, 32, that some of the contraband would be “4 black joints in 1 paper,” and Patterson responded, “it better be wrapped so many times I don’t

want to smell it.” Patterson also discussed with her co-conspirator the need to delete their text messages.

Ross previously pleaded guilty in July 2022 to bribing Patterson and was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months’ imprisonment to run consecutive to the 16 years to life sentence he is serving in state custody for an unrelated conviction.

“ e defendants, public servants on the City’s payroll, allegedly smuggled contraband, including cell phones and drugs, to incarcerated gang members at Rikers Island. e ow of contraband into our jails is a serious problem which puts inmates, fellow ocers and potentially the public at risk,” Brooklyn U.S. A orney Breon Peace said in April 2022 when he announced the charges.

Jamaica Man Pleads Guilty to Slashing LIRR Workers

By Forum Sta

Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced that Taijuan Corse recently pleaded guilty to a empted assault for waving a knife at four Long Island Rail Road workers, causing minor injuries to two of them, during an incident last summer. As part of the conditions of his plea, Corse is banned from Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains as requested by Katz.

Corse, 32, a Jamaica resident, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to attempted assault

in the second degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Jerry Iannece ordered, as a condition of the defendant’s plea, a oneyear substance abuse and mental health outpatient program plus a three-year ban from Long Island Rail Road and MetroNorth train systems. Failure to satisfactorily complete the terms of the plea agreement would result in 1 to 3 years of incarceration.

According to the charges:

On Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, shortly after 11 a.m., Corse boarded an east -

bound LIRR train at Atlantic Terminal. When 53-year-old conductor Steven Torborg asked for Corse’s train ticket, he said he didn’t have one and threatened him. Three additional transit workers approached Corse and saw him remove a knife from his backpack, which he waved at them.

Corse repeatedly lunged with the knife toward 61-year-old Walter Doner, Jr. and swung the knife toward 52-year-old Richard Cutrone, cu ing his arm.

Corse threatened to kill the workers,

and, as the train approached the Jamaica LIRR station, cut 60-year-old Gerald Lopez.

“Transit workers deserve to be treated with respect as they perform their duties and should never have to fear violence from passengers,” Katz said. “For the rst time in New York City, a defendant’s sentence includes a transit ban. is defendant has forfeited the privilege of using our commuter trains for the foreseeable future, making it clear that incidents like this one will be taken very seriously.”

File Photo

Pa erson accepted at least $34,090 in bribes om co-conspirators in exchange for Pa erson’s smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for inmate.

Photo

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. A orney’s O ce, Eastern District of NY “ e ow of contraband into our jails is a serious problem which puts inmates, fellow o cers and potentially the public at risk,” Brooklyn U.S. A orney Breon Peace said in April 2022 when he announced the charges.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Corse threatened to kill the workers as the train approached the Jamaica LIRR station.

407 E. 85TH, LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/17/23. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process againstit may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 101 Horseshoe Road, Mill Neck, NY 11765. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

METICULOUS DETAILS LLC Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/07/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to THE LLC, 34-21 21ST STREET, 5E, ASTORIA, NY, 11106, USA. General Purpose

MEADOW 56 LLC Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 02/21/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to MEADOW 56 LLC, 6134 SPRINGFIELD BLVD., AKLAND GARDENTS, NY, 11364, USA. General Purpose

VW VIP Protection & Consulting Services, LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/27/2023.

Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 141-33 253rd St., Rosedale, NY 11422. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of 3908 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/06/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of 3904 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of 1074 39th PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Supreme Supplies & Restaurant Services LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/20/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Xavier Iriarte, 4812 65th Pl., Flushing, NY 11377. General Purpose

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Jeedosa, LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/28/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Ese Eweka, 13041 217th St., Spring eld Gardens, NY 11413. General Purpose

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M0NOSPACE HOME LLC Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/17/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to MONOSPACE HOME, 3046 45TH ST, APT 2R, ASTORIA, NY, 11103, USA. General Purpose

WEI YEN LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/16/23. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process againstit may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 39-07 Prince Street, #5B, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Quali cation of US EVENTS, LLC Appl. for Auth. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/03/23. O ce location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/13/22. Princ. o ce of LLC: 2375 Antelope Ridge Trail, Parker, CO 80138-4235. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at theprinc. o ce of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: 919 N. Market St., Ste. 950, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. led with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., PO Box 898, Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 1074 39th PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of S STUDIO SERVICES LLC Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: THE LLC, 5254 66TH STREET #1, MASPETH, NY, 11378, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of LIGHTWORKS LASER CLEANING LLC Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/2023. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LIGHTWORKS LASER CLEANING LLC, 54-40 ARNOLD AVE, MASPETH, NY, 11378, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of Corvidian CPA Services, LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/22/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 418 Broadway, Ste N, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Practice the Profession of Public Accountancy.

Notice of Formation of 3904 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of 3908 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of GMF Holdings Group LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/13/23.

O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 25-04 40th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of S.J.H. ENTERPRISES LLC Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/28/2023. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: S.J.H. ENTERPRISES LLC, P.O BOX 200800, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY, 11420, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.

41-20 49TH STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 04/17/23. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 41-20 49th Street, Apartment 2R, Sunnyside, NY 11104. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

“Notice is hereby given that a license number 1350140 for a liquor, beer, wine, liquor and cider license has been applied for by FERJE’S PIZZERIA CORP T to sell liquor, beer, wine, liquor and cider at retail in a bar/ tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control law at 87-82/84 Parsons Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432 for on premises consumption.”

SO KLEAN AUTO DETAILING LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 04/11/23. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 4135 45th Street, Apartment 6C, Sunnyside, NY 11104. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

MRFA Studio LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/3/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Registered Agent Solutions, Inc., 99 Washington Ave., Ste. 1008, Albany, NY 12260. General Purpose

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF NY Analytics LLC led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2 April 2023. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 25-46 32nd Street, Apt B, Queens, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful activity. is notice is published in accordance with the requirements of Section 206 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law.

Rocky Bay LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/5/2020. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Steven Manesh Esq., 22317 Hempstead Ave., Queens Village, NY 11429. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of ACTIVE LINK INSU NCE BROKE GE LLC Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/23/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: THE LLC 6933 76TH STREET, MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY, 11379, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of Michelis ZC Investor LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/3/23. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 42-15 235th St, Douglaston, NY 11363. Purpose: any lawful activity.

C. KLEIN, CPA, PLLC. Filed 3/7/23 O ce: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 136-61 41st Ave. #319, Flushing, NY 11355 Purpose: Public Accountancy

Notice of Formation of Sons United, LLC. Articles of Org. led with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 03/08/2022. SSNY is designated agent of LLC for service of process. SSNY shall mail process to: Sons United, LLC, 84-55 162nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11432. O ce location: Queens County. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Sky Blue Malba LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/29/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 16 Point Crescent, Whitestone, NY 11357. General Purpose

Elite Piping Solutions LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/17/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 21-59 45th St., Astoria, NY 11105. General Purpose

C. S Han Acupuncture PLLC led w/ SSNY on 4/25/23. O ce: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 162-31 Depot Rd., 2nd Fl, Flushing, NY 11358. Purpose: Acupuncture.

OZONE PARK WOODSIDE HOWARD BEACH

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