York State Department of Agriculture and Markets was alerted by my o ce team of the deplorable store conditions, which included bags of food torn open and eaten by rodents and droppings on the shelves. I am pleased to announce that this Dollar Tree location has closed down, pending an investigation by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. e agency requires a total cleaning and passing of a subsequent inspection. I will keep the public posted on this situation.”
Sam Esposito, president of the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, captured photographic evidence of the heinous health conditions at store #7523, located at 137-20 Crossbay Blvd.
“Rats have invaded most perishables.
e rat infestation is so bad that the shelving is lled with rat droppings. Bags of food have rat holes where rats have been nibbling,” Esposito said. “ is particular Dollar Tree has been the worst neighbor in our community, and Dollar Tree corporate has been di cult to work with on other issues, such as cleaning the sidewalk, the street, or the garbage that piles up in the parking lot.”
to sue Dollar Tree for malicious intent to cause serious physical injury to others which caused you to get sick due to the neglect of the management and corporate.”
Esposito also noted that “Two family shelters within 150 feet of the front doors [of the store]; house 108 families with children. All are homeless, and most buy their food from this Dollar Tree.”
e civic association indicated that it was concerned that area health conditions could decline due to the rodent infestation of the once popular store.
“We are very worried that there could be an outbreak of hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), tularemia, and salmonella, amongst many others that are transmi able.”
Ever the optimist, Addabbo saw a silver lining in this week’s developments.
By Michael V. CusenzaAn Ozone Park Dollar Tree store overrun by rats has been shut down by the State a er complaints by residents and an o cial inspection of the facility, according to State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven).
“My constituents deserve a clean and safe store environment when doing their shopping and business owners are obligated to abide by government health codes and standards,” Addabbo said. “My o ce and I contacted the appropriate agencies to investigate the situation at the Dollar Tree. e New
Esposito went on to say, “ is is a blatant disregard for our health and the health of our children. Anyone that has purchased food from this Dollar Tree and has either go en sick or their children have go en sick as a direct result of food poisoning due to rat droppings are to immediately contact their doctor and then proceed to contact a lawyer
“ is is another example of how I believe government should work—constituents complain to their elected o cial, who then a er hearing the complaint acts to resolve the issue,” the senator said. “In this situation, the constituents were my eyes and ears. ey told me about a problem, and I worked with the appropriate agency to enact a solution. I commend these vigilant constituents for caring about their neighbors, in addition to the cleanliness and safety of their community. I also am truly appreciative of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Market for taking swi action.”
A Bronx man has been charged with in the March 18 robbery of a Richmond Hill smoke shop during which a 20-year-old employee was fatally shot, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Albert Edwards, 24, was arraigned Monday night on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of robbery in the rst degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Judge Diego Freire ordered the
defendant to return to court on Aug. 16.
According to the charges:
On March 18, between approximately 12:10 p.m. and 12:16 p.m., video surveillance footage shows Edwards driving a vehicle owned by ZipCar up to e Plug smoke shop at 109-27 Jamaica Ave.
ree men got of the car and went into the smoke shop where they displayed a loaded gun and removed property. One of the men shot store employee Daryus Clarke, of Jamaica, in the torso. e three men then ran back to the car, which sped away.
Clarke was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
e three other assailants have not been apprehended.
“A young man lost his life in a senseless act of gun violence,” Katz said. “ e defendant will be held responsible for the charges against him.”
If convicted, Edwards faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
In June, e Plug—characterized by ocials as an illegal pot shop—was permanently shu ered by the City Police Department.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven)
noted that his district o ce received many complaints about e Plug, which was selling unlicensed cannabis and marijuana-related products. Addabbo said he believes that by working with the 102nd Precinct and community leaders, the illegal business was closed by court order on June 7.
However, Addabbo learned from constituents at last month’s Richmond Hill Block Association meeting that the shop had illegally re-opened. Once again, the senator said his o ce worked with the 102nd Precinct to get e Plug pulled permanently and its owner arrested.
Assemblywoman Stacey Phe er Amato (DHoward Beach) recently initiated an operation with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Bridge and Tunnel o cers to tackle persistent toll evaders on the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge.
e o cers targeted motorists that look to intentionally defraud the system by preventing their license plate or car registration from being recognized. In one day, cops intercepted over a dozen vehicles between Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula whose drivers racked up an estimated $150,000 in unpaid tolls and nes. During the operation, cars were not only ticketed but con scated and impounded.
Phe er Amato has worked closely with Christina Lampropoulous, president of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s Superior O cers
Benevolent Association, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridanz, on new and e ective ways to combat toll evaders on the bridge. e three agreed on the seriousness of the problem and expressed how those who evade a toll negatively impact those who follow the law.
“ is partnership for combating toll evaders is incredibly welcomed in our community and I am so proud to be working with the MTA and TBTA o cers. is sends a clear message that anyone who deliberately scrapes their license plates, uses de ectors and covers, or false paper plates will be found and held accountable for paying tolls and following the law like everyone else,” Phe er Amato said.
e assemblywoman noted that there will be several surprise interception operations in the coming months to further protect other drivers and hold toll evaders responsible.
Dear Loyal Readers, e Forum would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for the graphic language reported in a story that appeared in the Aug. 3 edition (“Former St. Helen’s Priest Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receiving Child Porn”). Our intention never is to shock or o end. We always endeavor to bring you as much of the facts of a particular story that we can report so that you can remain the most well-informed readership in all of our borough.
However, in re ection, we now understand that this story should have been handled di erently. And for that we are truly sorry. We thank you for your continued loyalty to e Forum, and greatly appreciate this opportunity to set the record straight. ank you for your overwhelming response to this story, and steady faith in e Forum. Sincerely, e Forum
e bipartisan Common Sense Caucus of the City Council is urging a United States District Court judge not to place the management of Rikers Island or the City Department of Correction under the authority of a federal receiver.
A er a tour of Rikers Island on Tuesday, the caucus, composed of pols from across the political spectrum, including borough Council Members Bob Holden (D-Maspeth; co-chairman of the caucus), Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), wrote a le er to the Hon. Laura Taylor Swain asking that she consider the potential rami cations of the radical measure to take over the city jail system. e members said they strongly believe that the recent changes implemented by the City administration warrant giving Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Correction Commissioner Luis Molina more time to continue their commendable e orts.
“Our visit to Rikers Island has le us optimistic about the ongoing e orts to reform the system," the members of the caucus added. “ e changes implemented under Mayor Adams and Commissioner Molina are substantial, and we must a ord them the time needed to continue their progress. Placing Rikers Island under a federal receiver would come at an enormous cost
to taxpayers and could potentially disrupt the positive momentum that is currently building.”
e caucus noted in its le er to Swain that Adams and Molina inherited a Rikers Island jail system that was already in rapid decline.
“ e facilities at Rikers have deteriorated from years of purposeful neglect, while laws and policies imposed by previous ad-
ministrations and legislatures have allowed chaos and violence to ourish there. Even under ideal circumstances, it would have been impossible for anyone to correct these deep-rooted problems in one mayoral term, let alone in less than half of one,” they wrote.
“Despite these obstacles, we can personally a est to the improvements at Rikers since Commissioner Molina took over
management of the jail. Almost two years ago, during a visit to the facilities we took in the a ermath of a rash of violent a acks on both inmates and guards at the jail, some of our members were standing in ankle-deep water inside the crumbling walls and cells. On a tour of the jails [on Tuesday], we found the facilities to be in a good state of repair, while overall morale was markedly be er despite the strain of having to o en work double and triple shi s. Stabbings and slashings at the jail, as well as the use of force, are all down signi cantly over the past year.”
Holden tweeted on Wednesday, “What a change!” He went on to post that the conditions on the island “have vastly improved from the abysmal state we saw under [Mayor] de Blasio and [Commissioner] Schiraldi.”
e caucus concluded its le er by positing that “Federal receivership is neither a quick x nor a long-term solution to the problems at Rikers. Fixing Rikers requires a mayor and Department of Corrections leadership dedicated to making the necessary and di cult changes, marshaling the full resources and authority of the City of New York, supported by the local elected o cials. e people of New York City have tasked Eric Adams and by proxy, Commissioner Molina with that important job. We ask that you allow them the opportunity to complete it.”
Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly.
Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.
e recommend drinking daily dose is roughly 11 cups of water a day for the average woman and 16 for men. Not all of those cups have to come from plain water; you can avor your water with fruit or vegetables (lemons, berries, or orange or cucumber slices), and also include co ee or tea–just remember to leave out the sugar! Generally speaking, it’s best to limit caffeinated drinks. Ca eine may cause some people to urinate more frequently or feel anxious or ji ery.
Your urine can be an indicator if you’re dehydrated.
If it’s colorless or light yellow, you’re well hydrated. If your urine is a dark yellow or amber color, you may be dehydrated. ere are other signs that can signal you may be dehydrated. ey include: Li le or no urine or urine that is darker than usual, dry mouth, sleepiness or fatigue, extreme thirst, headache, confusion, dizziness or lightheadedness and no tears when crying.
By Forum StaHoward Beach residents are collecting school supplies, along with personal care items and toys, to pack in shoeboxes which will be donated to Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, which will deliver the gi - lled packages to children in more than 100 countries.
For many children, access to these simple items is essential to an education, according to Samaritan’s Purse. is was the case for Justin omas, a shoebox recipient in Southeast Asia whose parents could not afford the supplies needed for school. omas remembers the speci c day he received a gi - lled shoebox from Operation Christmas Child and found it lled with toys and most exciting to him—school supplies.
Growing up with hand-me-down clothes
and used items, omas used to write with a pencil so short that he held it using a pen cap. Having an entire packet of new pencils and a pencil sharpener all his own was a treasure to him. Samaritan’s Purse noted that the simple gi had a life-changing impact on omas because it opened the doors for him to receive an education.
For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gi online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. ose who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gi s matched to a child’s speci c age and gender, then nish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
e bene ts to drinking water are available with no inconvenience and li le to no expense. In addition to preventing dehydration, when you’re feeling hungry, drink water. irst is o en confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satis ed by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan. Some research suggests that drinking water can help you feel full.
If you don’t drink enough water, you may become dehydrated. is means your body doesn’t have enough uid to operate properly.
Some people are at higher risk of dehydration, including people who exercise at a high intensity (or in hot weather) for too long, have certain medical conditions (kidney stones, bladder infection), are sick (fever, vomiting, diarrhea), are pregnant or breastfeeding, are trying to lose weight, or aren’t able to get enough uids during the day. Older adults are also at higher risk. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration. It doesn’t send signals for thirst.
Note that water makes up more than half of your body weight. You lose water each day when you go to the bathroom, sweat, and even when you breathe. You lose water even faster when the weather is really hot, when you’re physically active, or if you have a fever. Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. Be sure to actively drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.
For your family’s prescription needs, please call CROSS BAY CHEMIST at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644
e Rev. Michael Panicali and more than a dozen members of the St. Helen’s Men’s Ministry on Saturday grabbed their gloves, shovels, and trash bags to pitch in and clean up the area adjacent to the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge.
Frank Gaeta, coordinator of Saturday’s beauti cation e ort, noted that the men’s prayer group wanted to give back to their beloved South Queens community that has helped raise these guys and their families.
“Everyone was happy to help in the e ort of the clean up,” Gaeta said. “We want to thank PJ from Vetro for the lunch they rewarded the guys with, the DSNY for ge ing our supplies to us very quickly a er we thought of the idea and Councilwoman Ariola for helping us organize the e ort.” e group expressed that they are excited to work with other local organizations to continue the e ort to keep the community clean.
Led by Fr. Panicali, St. Helen’s Men’s Ministry meets every ursday at 7 p.m. in the rectory conference room. Guys age 18+ come together to pray the Holy Rosary, have fellowship, and discuss masculine Christian spirituality and what it is to live as followers of Christ; spirit-driven conversation on whatever guys wish to talk about and share.
Men who would like to join the group can call Fr. Panicali at (718) 738-1616.
e City Council on ursday voted in favor of establishing a newly revised permanent outdoor dining program under local law that incorporates lessons from the emergency pandemic outdoor restaurants program.
It helps make the permanent program accessible and inclusive to more restaurants, similar to the temporary emergency program, while addressing concerns with more orderly and uniform regulation. e program allows for year-round outdoor dining options: 12 months of sidewalk dining, similar to the pre-pandemic program, and for the rst time will allow permanent roadway dining for the warmer 8 months of the year, from April through November. e legislation eases the application process and lowers the cost of participation for restaurants, compared to the pre-pandemic program. As legal authorization of the emergency open restaurants program was determined to be expired, the council’s approval of the permanent program assures restaurants will be able to continue with outdoor dining uninterrupted.
Introduction 31-C, sponsored by Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez (DBronx), will establish a permanent outdoor dining program that incorporates benefits and lessons from the emergency pandemic-era outdoor dining program.
The legislation will make it less bureaucratically prohibitive and more affordable for restaurants to participate in outdoor dining than the previous sidewalk café licensing scheme that existed before the
of the year, speci cally the warmer eight months of April through November.
• Make the costs for restaurants to participate in the outdoor dining program more a ordable and lower, compared to the
door dining than the previous pre-pandemic sidewalk café program.
• Allow restaurants to continue their outdoor dining operations, even a er this local law takes e ect, as long as they apply for a license and submit a petition for a revocable consent on or before the date set forth by the City Department of Transportation, which cannot be less than three months a er the rules go into e ect.
• Establish DOT as the agency to administer licensing of both sidewalk and roadway cafes and enforce rules pertaining to their operation, in continued coordination with other city agencies.
• Sheds, or any structure that does not comply with rules set by DOT, must be taken down no later than 30 days a er the determination by DOT to grant or deny a revocable consent to operate a sidewalk or roadway cafe, or by Nov. 1, 2024, whichever comes rst.
COVID-19 pandemic. It will also create more orderly and uniform regulation of outdoor dining that provides reliable consistency for restaurants and neighborhoods alike.
Introduction 31-C will:
• Allow sidewalk cafés to operate year-round, and for the rst time permanently allow roadway cafés to operate most
pre-pandemic outdoor dining licensing and revocable consent process.
• Reduce the required processes and timelines for restaurants to receive approval from city agencie s and entities.
• In conjunction with zoning changes approved by the council in 2022, permit more neighborhoods and restaurants within them to be eligible for participation in out-
“ e temporary program saved 100,000 jobs, kept restaurants a oat during the peak of the pandemic, and brought new energy and excitement to our streets and sidewalks. But it wasn’t perfect—too many sheds were abandoned and le to rot and too few lived up to our vision of what our streets should look like,” Mayor Eric Adams said. “And a legal ruling just this week made it even more clear: is is our moment to transition to a permanent program that works for our restaurants, our workers, and our communities.”
City Department of Transportation
Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced the substantial completion of a bus priority project along Northern Boulevard, the longest bus lane installation DOT is delivering this year.
e Northern Boulevard bus priority project delivers ve miles of bus lanes from Woodside to Corona, in addition to proven street improvements along a Vision Zero priority corridor. e improved street de-
sign assists ve bus routes—the Q66, QM2, QM3, QM20, and QM32—with 17,000 weekday riders, and connects to the M, R, subway lines at Broadway and Northern Boulevard.
“ e thousands of New Yorkers who commute on Northern Boulevard will not only have faster and more reliable bus service, but they will have a safer experience when walking and crossing the corridor,” Rodriguez said. “Projects like this help us make progress on our Vision Zero goals. We understand that strong bus infrastructure
is a necessity; that is why we will continue collaborating with the MTA and our community partners as we tackle more of these important projects.”
e project came about through a robust public engagement process with dozens of stakeholders and community groups over the last ve years. DOT hosted an online feedback portal as well as conducted surveys at on-street pop-up sites, building on years of public outreach for safety improvements. NYC DOT also held three public workshops in 2018 to understand the community’s safety and mobility concerns and help guide a vision for a future Great Streets capital project on Northern Boulevard. e capital project includes funding from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. and Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona). In February 2020, DOT and State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights) solicited feedback from businesses on Northern Boulevard. Before starting work in November 2022, NYC DOT presented to Queens Community Board 3 in June 2022. Community Boards 1 and 2 received presentations in May 2023 before work in their districts started.
From the years of community engagement, numerous safety and mobility concerns were brought to the a ention of DOT.
e agency responded with a series of projects to address these concerns. To improve safety, the community wanted to reduce pedestrian-vehicular con icts and shorten crossing distances. For transit, the community wanted faster, more reliable service, as well as be er connections to local transit and bus service.
From 2018-2021 DOT focused on pedestrian safety by adding Leading Pedestrian Intervals at all feasible intersections, added Le Turn Tra c Calming where feasible, constructed 15 new concrete pedestrian refuge islands, and added painted curb extensions at all feasible locations. From 2021-2023, transit improvements included the consolidation of 10 paired bus stops and the addition of the Bus Only Lane.
“I’m thrilled to see the Northern Boulevard bus priority project completed, so that the thousands of community members who rely on it, from Woodside to Corona, can have a be er and faster commuting experience,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Buses are a critical way for Queens residents to move around the borough, and we’re commi ed to working alongside NYC DOT and all our city partners to speed up travel times, reduce tra c on our roads and make streets safe. I thank everyone involved in this project for making this happen.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber on Friday visited the site of the Long Island Rail Road derailment in Queens and provided an update on the agency’s response.
LIRR and Metro-North Railroad crews worked together through the night. As of approximately 1:20 p.m. on Friday, all eight train cars had been rerailed, Lieber noted.
“Tremendous progress has been made in recovering from this major
accident,” Lieber said. “Shout out to the LIRR wrecking crew and MetroNorth wrecking crew who came from White Plains, so we were able to have two cranes to lift these cars much more quickly. Amazing one MTA operation recovering from this.”
LIRR Train 722 departed at 10:43 a.m. on Thursday from Grand Central but derailed east of Jamaica at approximately 11:10 a.m. It was due in Hempstead at 11:37 a.m.
“First of all, I note it’s an eight-car derailment, appears to be all eight cars of the train derailed. Long Island Rail
Road personnel were on the scene within minutes coming from both Hillside Maintenance Facility and Jamaica. So, from both ends, you had Long Island Rail Road personnel on the scene, and they assisted the train crew in dealing with passengers. The commissioner will speak to the injuries. But there were some injuries, some folks who were shaken up and they were quickly attended to. We had water on the train and the conditions, obviously the temperature is moderate, and the conditions were maintained pretty good for the passengers while they waited for the
rescue train,” Lieber said on Thursday. “Approximately 90 minutes later, the rescue train was able to, with the assistance of the FDNY, to take them back to Jamaica, where there were folks on hand from the FDNY team to deal with their conditions.”
The derailment snarled Thursday evening and Friday morning rush hour commutes. Eastbound Hempstead Branch trains bypassed Hollis and Queens Village. New York City Transit cross-honored on the Q2, Q3, Q8 and Q110 buses for service between Jamaica and Queens Village.
A borough gastroenterologist has been indicted on charges that he sexually abused three patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in Flushing and raping three other women in his Astoria home.
Zhi Alan Cheng, 33, was previously indicted in December for allegedly raping a female acquaintance in his apartment.
Cheng is also accused in the latest indictment of drugging the women he allegedly raped in his apartment and with lming the assaults. Additionally, Cheng is charged with lming his alleged sexual abuse of the hospital patients, all of whom appeared to be unconscious in videos recovered from the defendant. In addition to the victims who have been identi ed, the videos seized from Cheng depict more than six other women being sexually assaulted, including one at New York-Presbyterian Queens.
Cheng was arraigned on Monday on a 50-count indictment charging him with 10 counts of predatory sexual assault, three counts of rape in the rst degree, seven counts of sexual abuse in the rst degree, four counts of assault in the second degree, three counts of criminal sexual act in the rst degree, 11 counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree, eight counts of criminal possession of a controlled
substance in the seventh degree and four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Cheng was charged in a previous 11-count indictment, a er his arrest on Dec. 27, 2022, with two counts of rape in the rst degree, criminal sexual act in the rst degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, two counts of sexual abuse in the rst degree and four counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree. He was accused of drugging and raping a female acquaintance—Apartment Victim 1—at his Astoria home.
As a result, Cheng’s ability to practice medicine has been suspended by the State. He has been held without bail since his arrest.
While in Cheng’s residence, Apartment Victim 1 came across videos depicting her and other women being assaulted by the doctor. A erward, in December, Apartment Victim 1’s a orney approached the Queens District A orney’s o ce with this information.
An investigation by the Queens District A orney’s Special Victims Bureau and New York-Presbyterian Queens uncovered evidence resulting in the most recent indictment. A search warrant executed at Cheng’s home led to the seizure of numerous digital media storage devices containing videos of
unconscious female hospital patients, as well as Cheng’s female acquaintances. Also seized were narcotics, including fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, LSD and MDMA, as well as drugs used in health care se ings for sedation, such as propofol and sevo urane.
In addition to the hospital victims already identi ed, another patient who is unidenti ed appears in a video similar to those involving Hospital Victims 1, 2 and 3.
Videos of other women being sexually assaulted were also recovered with the con-
duct taking place in Cheng’s Queens apartment and in Westchester County, Manha an, Las Vegas and in and around San Francisco and in ailand.
Cheng, whom Katz characterized as “a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind,” faces multiple 25-years-to-life sentences. e investigation is ongoing.
Katz urges women who think they may have been victimized to contact her o ce’s Special Victims Bureau, at (718) 286-6505, or SpecialVictims@queensda.org.
A Jamaica woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for heading a ring that sold illegal guns and ammunition to undercover cops, Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Jessica Heyliger, 39, pleaded guilty on July 11 to criminal sale of a rearm in the rst degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro on Tuesday sentenced her to 10 years in prison plus ve years’ post-
release supervision.
Heyliger was the main defendant and principal dealer of weapons in the case that had been dubbed Operation Tiger by the NYPD.
Sharod King, Heyliger’s codefendant and the sole salesman of guns to an undercover o cer, had previously pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a rearm in the rst degree and was sentenced in May to nine years in prison. Additional codefendants Mitchell Myree and Laquan Benson previously pleaded guilty in connection with this case.
According to the charges: e investigation into this gun-tra cking ring began in September 2019 when King sold a handgun and two large capacity ammunition feeding devices to an undercover police o cer. In December 2019, the court authorized electronic surveillance on King’s mobile phone.
During the investigation, which concluded in July 2020, the defendants sold 23 guns in 13 separate transactions, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and more than 10 high-capacity
magazines, to an undercover police officer.
All the weapons and ammunition that were sold by the ring were acquired by Heyliger, who brought them up from the south via the Iron Pipeline.
“ is defendant tra cked illegal lethal weapons with no regard for the bloodshed and misery they could visit upon our communities. She is being held accountable for her callous acts,” Katz said. “We will not relent in our e orts to stop illegal weapons from coming into our communities.”
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that consultant rm WSP USA, Inc. was chosen to perform the environmental review for Interborough Express, the transformative light rail transit project which would connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road, and signicantly reduce travel times within and between the two boroughs.
e Interborough Express would use the existing right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Branch, which is a freight rail line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens, connecting ethnically and socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. e project would include several new connections in neighborhoods that currently lack e cient connections to each other, and in some cases, to Manha an.
According to the MTA’s Planning & Environmental Linkages Study, up to seven out of ten people served will be from communities of color, approximately one-half will come from households with no cars, and approximately one-third will be living in households at or below 150 percent of the
Federal Poverty Line.
e consultant will be directed by MTA Construction & Development. e environmental review will be closely coordinated with other transportation projects and regional studies.
is contract will cover the period up to and including the issuance of a Record of Decision, and shall include:
• Further advancement of conceptual design and general planning support
• Preparation of the Scoping Information Packet
• Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement
• Support at EIS Public Hearings
• Support for Preliminary Engineering and Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grants program application e project could provide potential connections to 17 subway lines (2, 3, 5, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, M, N, Q, R, Z) serving
areas of Brooklyn and Queens while initial studies indicate up to 115,000 daily weekday riders with annual ridership of approximately four million. Travel times between Brooklyn and Queens could be reduced by up to 30 minutes each way, depending on travel distance.
Proposed service would operate at up to ve-minute headways during the peak periods, with o -peak headways of up to 10 minutes at other times of the day. Nineteen stations are planned along the 14-mile corridor between Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Public outreach will be ongoing throughout the project. e MTA will host a virtual town hall meeting later this month to provide an overview of the actions taken on the project so far, including the Planning and Environmental Linkages study. e meeting will be held on Aug. 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Contact the MTA to learn how to participate in the town hall.
“Today marks a major milestone in this monumental project—bringing us that much closer to connecting communities in Brooklyn and Queens while improving their quality of life,” Hochul said. “By building on already existing infrastructure, the Interborough Express will shave time o commutes and make it easier to connect to subway lines across the route.”
Transportation Security Administration
o cers on Monday shared their top “do’s and don’ts” for travelers.
SIX T VEL TIPS FROM TSA OFFICERS:
1. When purchasing a ticket online, enter your full name as it appears on your ID. Do not enter your nickname. e name on your boarding pass should match the name on your ID.
2. Enroll in TSA PreCheck®. It is handsdown the best way to travel through a security checkpoint because you can leave on your shoes, belt, light outerwear jacket. It’s typically the lane with travelers who are most familiar with the screening process and so the lane moves quickly.
3. Download the free myTSA app. e app has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that will let you know where to pack an item. It will let you know the estimated wait time at a checkpoint. It lets you know if there are ight delays at your airport; and it will let you know when the TSA PreCheck lane is open.
4. Wear shoes that are easy to remove and put back on. Shoes or that lace up your calf will slow you down. Slip-on shoes are best. And do yourself a favor, wear socks!
5. If you nd yourself in a checkpoint line, use that time wisely. Remove all items from your pockets and place them into your carry-on bag. Empty your pockets completely. is helps avoid pat-downs. We know that travelers don’t like to receive pat-downs. TSA o cers aren’t too keen on needing to conduct pat-downs either.
6. Place your mobile phone inside your carry-on bag at the checkpoint. Don’t put it in a bin where other people have
placed their shoes. You don’t want to put your phone in a bin and then hold it up to your face. Yuck.
SIX THINGS TSA OFFICERS NEVER DO WHEN THEY ARE FLYING:
1. Do not joke about having an explosive device or claim that you’ve got a bomb with you. e next thing you know, you’ll be having a very serious conversation with a local police o cer and you may not make your ight.
2. Never put your pet or child through the checkpoint X-ray unit. (Yes, it happens.) Remove your pet from its carryon case and remove your child from its carrier. Carry them through the metal detector.
3. Never bring your rearm to a security checkpoint. If you want to travel with your gun, the proper way to pack it is unloaded inside a locked hard-sided case and declared at your airline counter for the gun case to be transported in the belly of the aircra .
4. Never use your mouth as an extra hand. Your ID is handled by others and goes into a credential reader along with thousands of other IDs. en you put it into your mouth while you dget with your phone? Gross.
5. Never place small items directly onto the X-ray belt. Phones, keys, boarding passes and anything else that is small will likely fall between the conveyor belts rollers and can be di cult (or impossible) to retrieve. Instead, place these smaller items into a bowl, bin, or be er yet—into your carry-on bag.
6. 6. Never bring a bo le of water to a security checkpoint; however, you can bring an empty water bo le or reusable insulated container with you and then ll it up on the secure side of the checkpoint.
H&B LEARNING LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 6/28/20223. O 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, 433 BEACH 127TH ST., ROC WAY PARK, NY, 11694, USA.Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
PATHFINDERS ADVISORS LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 7/06/20223. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: CARLOS G BALBIN, 3036 34TH STREET APT. 3F, ASTORIA, NY, 11103, USA.Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Radio Korea NY, LLC led w/ SSNY on 3/20/23. O ce: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: Young Kwon, 136-56 39th Ave., #400, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: any lawful.
Notice of Formation, LIFE’S LIGHT CORNERSTONE THE PY LCSW
P.L.L.C. Art. of Org. were led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/27/2021 O 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 PLLC, 109-08 201ST STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412, USA. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation, Excel Together Licensed Behavior Analysis PLLC Art. of Org. were led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/01/2023Ofce 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 LLC, 148-20 9th Avenue, Whitestone, NY 11357.Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation: 4232A LLC, Art. Of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/16/2023. O ce Loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 42-32A 162nd Street, Flushing, NY11358 Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of 69-11 64TH, LLC, Articles of Organization led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 07/03/2023 O ce in QUEENS Co. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to JOSEPH PANUNCIALMAN, 69-11 64TH STREET, QUEENS, NY, 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
131-22 111TH AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 02/22/23. 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, c/o Shameer Khan, 111-12 132nd Street, South Ozone Park, NY 11420. Purpose: Anylawful purpose
AJDM Jackson Retail LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/28/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 261 5th Ave., New York, NY 10016. General Purpose
DA S ELECTRIC LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 06/05/23. 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 DZMITRY STSEPANIUK, 4 SAINT JOHNS RD., RIDGEWOOD, NY, 11385. Purpose: A lawful purpose.
ORLOW FAMILY LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 07/11/23. Ofce: 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, 5814 Seashell Terrace, Boynton Beach, FL 33437. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of TNC EVENT RENTALS LLC Articles of Organization led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 03/21/2023 O ce in QUEENS Co. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to TNC EVENT RENTALS 144-15 123RD AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY, 11436, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
Notice Of Formation of JEFFERSON GATEWAY LLC Arts. of Org. led w/SS of NY on 6/26/23, O ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of process to JEFFERSON GATEWAY LLC, c/o CB-EMMANUEL REALTY, LLC, 221-10 JAMAICA AVENUE, LL1, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428.. Purpose: For any lawful act.
RSA CLOUD LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 05/11/23. 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 ROHAN AMLADI, 9343 222ND STREET, APT 2E, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY, 11428, USA.. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of WON FINISHINGS & RESTO TIONS LLC Articles of Organization led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 07/10/2023 O ce in QUEENS Co. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to 4370 KISSENA BLVD UNIT 10H, FLUSHING NY,11355 USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
Notice of formation of INTHECLOSETOF, LLC Articles of Organization led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 11/26/2023
O ce in QUEENS Co. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to DONA SLAY, 14227 130TH AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY,11436,USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
Aimstr LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/19/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 115-21 132 St., South Ozone Park, Queens, NY 11420. General Purpose
FOREVER TWO WORLDS LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 08/08/2023.
O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Patrick Butera, 118-12 Newport Ave, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Notice of formation of KELLE’S TUTORING LLC Articles of Organization led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 07/15/2023 O ce in QUEENS Co. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to MIKELLE FLOURNOY, 100-05 92ND AVE, APT 102, RICHMOND HILL, NY, 11418, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 708404/2022 COUNTY OF QUEENs BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plainti ,vs. DONNA J. GILES, AS ADMINIST TRIX AND HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. GILES; JAMES L. GILES, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. GILES, if living, and if she/ he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plainti , claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or speci c lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, commi ees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plainti ; SED G. HOWE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. GILES; HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. GILES; SECRETARY OFHOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY T NSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; JOHN DOE AS "JOHN DOE; JANE DOE ASt;JOHN DOE JOHN DOE through ;JOHN DOEt; the last twelve names being ctitious and unknown to plainti , the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien uponthe premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.Plainti designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 186-17 HENDERSON AVENUE,HOLLIS, NY 11423 Block: 10353, Lot: 184
To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the
ALFONSO & FAMILY LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 07/28/2023. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: ALFONSO HERNANDEZ AGUILAR AND ALFONSO HERNANDEZ TORRES, 9720 VAN WYCK EXPRESSWAY, APT. 5, SOUTH RICHMOND HILL, NY, 11414, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Urban Estates Group LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/16/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 11020 Jamaica Ave., Ste. 2E, Richmond, NY 11418. General Purpose
Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plainti ’s a orney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days a er service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. e United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a de ciency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $544,185.00 and interest, recorded on July 31, 2007, in CRFN: 2007000393839, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 186-17 HENDERSON AVENUE, HOLLIS, NY 11423. e relief sought in the within action is a nal judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property a ected by this actionis located in said county.
NOTICE: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the a orney for the mortgage company who led this foreclosure proceeding against you and ling the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an a orney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE A ORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: July 12, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, C NE & PARTNERS, PLLC A orney for Plainti Ma hew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675
