Queens Chronicle 11-06-25

across the borough Mamdani victorious in high-turnout race

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Following the biggest voter turnout since 1969, New York City has a new mayor-elect in Zohran Mamdani.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist and assemblymember from Astoria sailed to victory on Tuesday evening against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Mamdani, whose grassroots campaign relied heavily on social media for its messaging, bested Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary after polling at just 1 percent in February.

He will be the youngest mayor in more than a century, the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York City, as well as the first person ever to have represented Queens in political office prior to the mayoralty, per a report from the Queens Daily Eagle.

Mamdani’s victory also means a special election will be held for his Assembly seat in District 36 early next year.

“On January 1st, I will be sworn in as the mayor of New York City,” Mamdani said to the crowd of supporters at his election night watch party at the Brooklyn Paramount. “And that is because of you. So before I say anything else, I must say this: Thank you. Thank you to the next generation of New Yorkers who refuse to accept that the promise of a better future was a relic of the past.”

He added, “To every New Yorker — whether you voted for me, for one of my opponents, or felt too disappointed by politics to vote at all — thank you for the opportunity to prove myself worthy of your trust.”

Mamdani also took a moment to address President Trump, who had threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won.

“Hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us,” Mamdani said. “When we enter City Hall in 58 days, expectations will be high. We will meet them.”

Cuomo during his concession speech told supporters that the campaign was the “right fight to wage.”

“As they start to transition to government,

According to preliminary election night results from the city Board of Elections, as of Wednesday afternoon, Mamdani had received 50.4 percent of the more than two million total votes cast, while Cuomo trailed at 41.6 percent. Sliwa garnered just 7.1 percent of the vote.

him and his supporters.

“If you try to implement socialism, if you try to render our police weak and impotent, if you forsake the people’s public safety, we’re not only organizing, but we are mobilizing,” Sliwa said. “We will become the mayor-elect and his supporters’ worst enemy.”

In other races in Queens and around the city, incumbents remained victorious.

Comptroller

Mark Levine, the Manhattan borough president and Democratic candidate, won the race with 74.9 percent of the votes. Peter Kefalas, a Republican, and Ismael Perez, an independent, garnered 22.6 and 2.13 percent of the votes, respectively.

Public advocate

The incumbent Democrat Jumaane Williams won 72.7 percent of ballots cast, while his competition, Republican Gonzalo Duran and independent candidate Marty Dolan, earned 24.8 and 2.3 percent.

Queens borough president

we will all help any way we can because we need our New York City government to work,” Cuomo said.

Sliwa, during his own concession speech, congratulated Mamdani before cautioning

Incumbent Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., a Democrat, easily won reelection with 70 percent of the vote, while Republican Henry Ikezi received 29.8 percent.

continued on page 6

Zohran Mamdani, 34, the democratic socialist and assemblymember from Astoria, emerged victorious in the race to become the next mayor of NYC after receiving more than half of the votes. PHOTOBYDMITRYSHEIN/WIKIPEDIA

Hamilton Beach is again seeking better solutions for flooding issues Civic, Ariola demand closer pump storage

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Floodwaters receded rapidly in parts of Hamilton Beach on Oct. 30 after the city Department of Environmental Protection deployed a mobile pump at Davenport Court, but the area civic says the response came hours after high tide, and that better staging of equipment could have prevented much of the damage.

According to a post by Roger Gendron, president of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association, the pump arrived around 8 p.m., nearly five hours after high tide.

Once activated, the equipment quickly lowered water levels from more than 8 inches to near zero in just over an hour.

Before the pump was turned on, it had taken roughly four hours for floodwaters to drop from the peak of more than 15 inches to that 8-inch mark, Gendron said.

The neighborhood has long struggled with tidal and storm flooding, prompting years of advocacy from the civic for faster, localized response. In 2022, the NHBCA began working with Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) and the DEP to find solutions, including the use of mobile pumps during high tide and surge events.

Ariola secured $31 million in

vulnerable roads like Davenport Court, Rau Court, First Street, and 160 Avenue & 102 Street.”

Ariola told the Chronicle that before, during and after the storm, she and Phyllis Inserillo, her chief of staff, were in constant contact with both Gendron and the DEP, relaying flood information and demanding updates about the status of the pumps.

“We funded those pumps for our district, and that’s where they belong,” Ariola said. “I made it more than clear to the DEP that I was and am still willing to go to battle to make sure Hamilton Beach gets the pumps we funded, despite the ridiculous pushback from the agency against keeping them local. I am glad that the pump was finally deployed, but we should not have had to wait 5 hours after high tide for it to be activated.”

2024 for flood-mitigation efforts across her district, part of which was designated for emergency equipment such as pumps.

“Her efforts were a direct response to repeated flooding in the area, and we sincerely thank her for delivering on that commitment,”

Gendron wrote. “Now it’s time for

the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to live up to their end of the deal — by ensuring those pumps are pre-positioned and ready to deploy before the water arrives.”

Community leaders, including Gendron, have urged the DEP to store those pumps at the West Ham-

ilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, a site that would allow for near immediate deployment.

“Despite repeated requests and discussions, DEP has yet to commit to this plan,” Gendron wrote. “The back-and-forth has delayed progress on a solution that would dramatically reduce response time and protect

She said she wants the pumps “pre-positioned and ready to go the moment the tide starts to recede, and I want them stored at the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer firehouse, not wherever the DEP wants to put them. This is what they were funded for, and anything else is unacceptable.”

The DEP could not provide comment by publication time Wednesday afternoon. Q

Landslide win for Schulman in D29

Incumbent handily defeats Rinaldi, with more than 72 percent of the vote

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

Incumbent City Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) will represent District 29 for another term, after she won reelection with more than 72 percent of the vote, as per data from the city Board of Elections.

Challenging Schulman was GOP candidate Jonathan Rinaldi, who came in at about 27.5 percent. The incumbent ended up with the second-highest voter percentage of any Queens Council member who had a race against a Republican.

“I feel great, and it just shows what hard work will do,” she said. “I’ve been out there constantly in the community anyway as a City Council member, but I really made sure to cover all the bases during the campaign.”

Asked what reflections she had on her campaign, she said working with and listening to constituents is key. She has been doing so since she first took office, she said, and it shows in

the number of people who voted to reelect her.

Her election night watch party, held at Austin’s Ale House in Kew Gardens, was “packed,” she added.

Leading up to the race, her opponent had been posting images of false news stories on his social media pages, including one purporting to be from the Chronicle. They claimed to report on endorsements he did not receive and others that Schulman did not make. Some recent posts even falsely asserted that she dropped out of the race.

He got arrested at the polls for alleged harassment last Election Day, when he was challenging state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills). Rinaldi said the case had been dismissed, and records from the Queens District Attorney’s Office are consistent with that.

Rinaldi last month told the Chronicle that his Instagram account had been hacked, and that he is actually the one being targeted with fake news. Weeks later, he said his Instagram posts pale “in comparison to the power of the establishment.”

As of press time, no posts had been made on Rinaldi’s social media pages since Nov. 1.

Under Mayor-elect and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria), Schulman said she will continue to emphasize accessible and affordable healthcare, investments in schools and senior services.

In a statement on social media, she promised to keep fighting for constituents, no matter who they are or where they live.

“I am proud of the broad coalition we have built with neighbors, community leaders, organized labor, and colleagues in government,” Schulman said. “Together, we will get closer to creating the Queens of our dreams.” Q

A mobile pump reduced the water levels quickly after a storm and high tide caused significant flooding in Hamilton Beach on Oct. 30, but the area civic said storing mobile pumps nearby would have yielded faster deployment and results. NHBCAPHOTO/FACBEOOK

Incumbent City Councilmember Lynn Schulman won reelection in District 29 by a landslide.

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Wong victory caps bitter Council race

Vaichunas claims betrayal by Holden, who endorsed both of his staffers

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

What started as the friendliest Council race in the city, between two colleagues with similar ideas and a key endorsement in common, came to a stunning crescendo on election night.

Democrat Phil Wong won the race to replace his boss, term-limited Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth), with about 54 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results from the city Board of Elections. The incumbent’s budget director held onto an early lead to defeat Republican Alicia Vaichunas, Holden’s deputy chief of staff, who came in at 43.8 percent.

member Julie Won (D-Long Island City), who have shown him support.

With two of his staffers running, Holden refused to back one over the other and supported both. Vaichunas ascribed her loss to Holden’s admittedly unusual move.

“He could not step up to back somebody that backed him for eight years. That is a disrespect,” she said through tears in an impassioned concession speech at her campaign headquarters in Maspeth.

Although he was tired and sore from visiting so many poll sites, Wong was all smiles Tuesday night. Asked if his win came as a shock, he said he had felt discouraged along the way, with some saying the district is only 20 percent Asian and too red for him to win. But fortunately, he said, he was able to get his message out.

“I thank my team, thank my wife, thank the Councilman. And the other Council members that just popped up and decided to help,” Wong told the Chronicle, referencing progressive lawmakers, including Council-

“He’s not the man that you all think he is.”

She later said the idea that there was no infighting in the race was a farce, and that she “should have gotten the same respect” that Holden gave Wong in the June primary. She said also that she is “done” taking calls from neighbors at all hours of the night as she has before. Constituent services were key to her campaign platform.

“I’m going to show everybody that who you elected is the one that has to run this community,” Vaichunas said. “Because it ain’t gonna be me.”

Later that night, at Wong’s nearby campaign office, Holden said endorsing both of his staffers was “a fair thing to do.”

“He helped me get elected in 2017; so did Alicia,” he said. “What was I sup-

posed to do?”

Holden said also that he does not understand Vaichunas’ rage toward him.

“When you’re even-handed, you try to do the right thing, you still get burned,” he said. “Some people shouldn’t run for office, maybe. I don’t know.”

Holden also said he is glad someone from his office won “in a Democratic year,” add-

ing that Wong is “like a brother” to him and will be a great Council member.

Of Vaichunas, Holden said, “I haven’t seen her. I don’t know if she’s going to be there tomorrow or the next day, but we’ll see.”

“Let the community see what they missed out on, especially with Mamdani in there,” Vaichunas said of the mayor-elect and Astoria Assembly member. Q

Incumbents victorious in races across the World’s Borough

continued from page 2

City Council District 19

Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), the incumbent, beat her Democratic challenger, Benjamin Chou, 57.9 to 42.

City Council District 20

In a field of multiple challengers, incumbent Councilmember Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) easily bested her competition with 75.2 percent of the vote. Allen Haolun Wang, a conservative, received 16.9 percent of votes, and the independent candidates, Joseph Chou and Steven Wang, garnered 4.5 and 3.1 percent, respectively.

City Council District 21

Shanel Thomas-Henry (D) will replace the term-limited Councilmember Francisco Moya (D-Corona), beating her Republican challenger Giovanni Franco, 76 to 23.7.

City Council District 22

Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) ran unopposed and received 97.3 percent of the vote.

City Council District 23

Councilmember Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens) bested her challenger, conservative Bernard Chow, 79.7 to 20.

City Council District 24

Councilmember Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) ran unopposed and received 98.3 percent of the vote.

City Council District 25

Incumbent Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) beat his three competitors with 69.7 percent of the vote. Shah Haque and Ricardo Pacheco, both running as independents, received 3.7 and 6.1 percent, respectively, and Ramses Frias, the Republican nominee, garnered 20.1 percent.

City Council District 26

Councilmember Julie Won (D-Sunnyside) held on to her seat against her Republican challenger John Patrick Healy, 81.1 to 18.5.

City Council District 27

Councilmember Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) ran unopposed and received 99.5 percent of the vote.

City Council District 28

Ty Hankerson (D) did not face a challenger in his bid to replace the term-limited Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica). He received 99.4 percent of the vote.

City Council District 29

Councilmember Lynn Schulman

(D-Forest Hills) handily retained her seat against Republican challenger Jonathan Rinaldi, 72.2 to 27.5.

City Council District 30

Democrat Phil Wong beat Republican Alicia Vaichunas in the race to replace term-limited Councilmember Bob Holden (D-Maspeth), 54 to 43.8.

City Council District 31

Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton) ran unopposed and received 99 percent of the vote.

City Council District 32

Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) ran unopposed and received 97.5 percent of the vote.

City Council District 34

Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-Brooklyn, Queens) ran unopposed and received 99.5 percent of the vote.

State Supreme Court, 11th District

The five victorious candidates are Democrats Sandra Perez, Ira Greenberg, Gary Miret, Frances Wang and Soma Syed, with 18.9, 15.7, 16.4, 16.8 and 16 percent of the vote, respectively. The two conservative candidates, Gary Muraca and Richard Felix, garnered 8.4 and 7.3 percent of the vote.

New York City Civil Court, Queens County

The winning candidates are Democrats Sheridan Chu, Indira Khan and Oma Philips, with 24, 22 and 21.2 percent of the vote, respectively. Republican Thomas Barra received 10 percent of the vote, while the other two Republicans, William Shanahan and Susan Silverman, both garnered 11.3 percent.

Civil Court, 1st Municipal District

Juliette-Noor Haji (D) was uncontested and received 98.8 percent of the vote.

Civil Court, 2nd Municipal District

Eve Cho Guillergan (D) and Thomas Wright-Ferndandez (D) won the two judgeship positions with 40.4 and 41.6 percent of the vote, respectively, while Republican Stephen Dachtera received 17.6.

Civil Court, 4th Municipal District

The two judgeship positions were won by Democrats Gail Adams, at 47.7 percent, and Fania Jean, 40.4. Mary-Ann Maloney (R) garnered 11.6 percent of the vote.

Civil Court, 5th Municipal District

Jennifer Tubridy (D, R) was uncontested for the judgeship and received 99.5 percent of the vote.

Q

See stories on some races in this week’s print editions or at qchron.com.

Phil Wong, left, will replace term-limited Councilman Bob Holden in City Hall after he defeated colleague Alicia Vaichunas, who now resents their mutual boss. PHOTOSBYSTEPHANIEG.MEDITZ

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A pitch perfect hometown idol

Though Queens didn’t have a stake in this year’s World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, Howard Beach got to root for one of its own as Pia Toscano sang the national anthem during Game 7.

Toscano rose to stardom as a contestant on the 10th season of “American Idol,” where she placed ninth. Before she graced screens across the country, Toscano was raised in Howard Beach, where she attended PS/MS 207 and took religion classes at St. Helen Roman Catholic Church. She has recently joined tenor Andrea Bocelli on his tour for several shows.

Following her nationally televised performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” on Nov. 1, Toscano took to Instagram to write, “I don’t really have words yet to describe how special tonight was because I’m still on a cloud, but just know that I’m so grateful for this beautiful opportunity.”

— Kristen Guglielmo

Voters OK four out of six ballot questions

Contested changes to the land use process in some cases pass scrutiny

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

New Yorkers approved four out of the six city and statewide propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot, according to preliminary data from the city Board of Elections.

The first proposal was statewide, and the remaining five, set forth by the mayoral Charter Revision Commission, pertain to the City Charter. Voters OK’d questions 2 through 5, but rejected propositions 1 and 6.

Proposition No. 4, to create an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with the Council speaker, mayor and relevant borough president, passed with 58.3 percent of the vote. A majority vote from that three-member board could reverse land-use decisions by the Council that reject or change affordable housing applications.

Proposal No. 1 was struck down by about 54.6 percent. It sought to authorize new ski trails and related facilities in the Olympic Sports Complex on state forest preserve land in Essex County. If approved, it would have required the state to add 2,500 acres of new forestland to Adirondack Park.

Following the passage of proposals 2, 3 and 4, City Council spokesperson Benjamin Fang-Estrada in a statement cited a need for affordable housing, but said the “misleading” proposals “permanently change the City’s constitution to weaken democracy.”

The lawsuit against the proposals argues that the CRC violated city and state law by failing to examine and disclose their environmental effects. Court documents show that the case was dismissed last month, and the plaintiffs’ notice of appeal is pending.

Questions 2, 3 and 4, which aim to speed the delivery of affordable housing, were highly contested leading up to the election. City lawmakers called to nix them, and they were challenged in court.

Question No. 2, which won 58.3 percent of voters’ approval, will “fast track” publicly financed affordable housing — as well as affordable housing in the community districts that produce the least of it — by reducing review time for those land-use decisions.

“Today’s vote gives the City powerful new tools to build the affordable housing New Yorkers need and deserve,” CRC Chair Richard Buery said. Mayor-elect and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) had long refused to weigh in on the ballot questions, but he said on Election Day that he voted for the housing measures.

Under the new process, community boards and borough presidents will share a single 60-day review period, and the City Planning Commission will have 30 days to review and vote on an action.

Proposition No. 5, to create a digital city map at the Department of City Planning, passed by the widest margin, with 73.25 percent approval. Rather than thousands of paper maps in each borough president’s office, the city map will become a single, consolidated entity.

Proposal No. 3 was OK’d by about 56.8 percent of voters. It creates an expedited review procedure for “modest amounts of additional housing and minor infrastructure projects” that gives the CPC the final say. It, too, creates concurrent community board and borough president review.

The sixth and final citywide proposal, to move local elections from odd-numbered years to even presidential election years when permitted by state law, failed, with 53.1 percent of New Yorkers voting it down. Its aim was to increase voter participation Q

Bill would curb cop car chases

Seeking to prevent more tragedies like the death a year ago of Amanda Servedio, City Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) on Oct. 29 introduced a bill designed “to prevent deadly and unnecessary high speed vehicle pursuits” by police.

The measure is named Amanda’s Law in honor of the Astoria bicyclist killed at age 36 on Oct. 22, 2024, allegedly by a pickup truck driver fleeing police after an interrupted burglary. The crash occurred at 34th Avenue and 37th Street when the driver ran a red light, the authorities say.

The bill would require officers to not

start a chase if they believe someone just committed a nonviolent offense and does not pose an immediate danger to others, mandate supervisor approval for chases, prevent more than two units from giving chase, prohibit certain vehicular immobilization techniques and require analysis and reporting of pursuits that do occur. Cabán said it would “strengthen” the policies of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Co-sponsored by Councilwoman Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn), the bill went to the Public Safety Committee. Q — Peter C. Mastrosimone

COURTESY PHOTO

More than 300 pot shops shut: sheriff

A thousand more unlicensed stores have been inspected since last May

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

The city Sheriff’s Office has shut down more than 300 unlicensed pot shops in Queens since May 2024, Lt. Francesca Rosa, commanding officer of the city Sheriff Investigation Unit, said at Tuesday’s Queens Borough Board briefing.

Rosa joined city Sheriff Anthony Miranda to deliver a presentation to community leaders on their office’s cannabis enforcement efforts and progress. Citywide, she said, more than 1,600 sites have been shuttered since May of last year, after the state gave local law enforcement the authority to inspect smoke shops and seal those caught selling marijuana without a license. In Queens, 1,368 suspected unlicensed stores have been inspected, more than $46 million in civil penalties issued and more than $35 million of illicit product seized.

Rosa said the Sheriff’s Office also can unseal sites previously occupied by illicit pot shops so new stores can open. As of last month, that has happened at 130 locations.

In Queens, the former Woodhaven Convenience at 63-118 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park is now a pizzeria, and the onceproblematic site of The Gallery at 25-77 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Flushing is now a holistic center, with psychic readings, medi-

Lt. Francesca Rosa, left, and city Sheriff Anthony Miranda on Monday briefed the Queens Borough Board on marijuana enforcement. SCREENSHOTVIAYOUTUBEVIDEO/QUEENSBOROUGHPRESIDENT

tation sessions and more.

Miranda said sites are turned back to the landlord after they have been shuttered for a year, and he or she can then get a new tenant. After that, the Sheriff’s Office will not return to the location, barring further complaints.

Rosa also explained what the Sheriff’s Office has seen in unlicensed stores, such as

cannabis-infused products made to look like candy, cereal and more to appeal to young people.

Asked by Community Board 7 member Joseph Sweeney about penalties for unlawfully selling such products, Miranda said present law allows for civil enforcement. A judge from the city’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings determines penal-

ties, he said, which can be up to $15,000 per violation.

Miranda said enforcement for unlawfully selling marijuana is not criminal unless someone has gotten sick from consumption, or there is enough weight of product to constitute a felony. Those aged 21 and older can legally possess up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use.

But current law uses pure weight instead of aggregate weight in measuring cannabis, he continued. The latter refers to the total amount of cannabis, whereas the former refers only to the weight of the illicit substance.

“Once they changed the law to pure weight, it made it very difficult for any of the district attorneys’ offices to prosecute these cases on a criminal level,” Miranda said. “So until that’s corrected legislatively to go back to aggregate weight, you’re going to see a lot of challenges in the process of enforcement.”

The Sheriff’s Office also looks into the money funding the locations, Miranda said, which can lead to other investigations and possibly arrests.

All legal marijuana shops are issued a Dispensary Verification Tool by the state Office of Cannabis Management, which includes a QR code posted on the storefront that leads to a list of all legal sites. Q

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PLANNING ATTORNEYS

EDWARD R. MCNAMARA, ESQ.

CYNTHIA J. CONZA, ESQ.

EDITORIAL AGEP

Compliments to, and concerns about, the mayor-elect

The mayoral election did not go as we had hoped, but now that it has been won by state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, we congratulate him and offer our best wishes for success. In many ways, if not all, when he succeeds it will mean that New York City succeeds.

Mamdani gets credit for running a brilliant, hard-fought campaign, rising from 1 percent in early polling to actual majorities of the vote in both the Democratic primary and now the general election. Among those he defeated, whether at the ballot box or because they withdrew in the face of his momentum, were the incumbent mayor, the speaker of the City Council and, most recently, a former governor.

The results show, among other things, that dedicated door-knocking by a seemingly tireless army of tens of thousands of volunteers carries more weight than negative ads on TV and other electronic media. And charm beats dourness Mamdani campaigned as a happy warrior while his final opponents mostly just seemed angry, having seen the writing on the wall. His main opponent had high negatives.

Mamdani also tapped into some of the same economic anxieties that President Trump did in his successful campaigns, with a message that was similar in its focus on infla-

tion and affordability, however different in its prescriptions.

As a result of all that — as well as the concerns about Mamdani that drove a significant minority to back his opponents — voter turnout was bigger than it’s been since 1969. We’re glad to see so much participation in an “off-year” election. (And we’re glad that voters were wise enough to keep city elections on off years, rather than hold them simultaneously with presidential races, as proposed on the ballot).

Once in office, Mamdani will face massive challenges to get his agenda enacted. The main hurdle is that many of his programs would require the state to raise taxes, supposedly just on the wealthy. We hope and expect that Gov. Hochul will refuse to do that, as the state cannot afford to lose more job creators or their businesses. Even deep pockets have a bottom. People have been fleeing New York for years. It’s so bad that already, more people work in the finance industry in Texas than here, which is astonishing.

So Mamdani supporters may have to reconcile themselves to things like free buses being more like ideas, campaign slogans, than policies actually to be enacted. On top of that, we hope President Trump remembers his love for New York, however often unrequited, and forgets his threats to

cut key federal funding out of spite over Mamdani’s win.

Two other major concerns about the mayor-elect revolve around crime-fighting and anti-Semitism.

On the former, we cannot afford a return to the soft-oncrime policies that were in vogue a few years ago. Albany has reined in some of its worst recent criminal-coddling measures, though not enough, and we really need to keep moving forward. We hope Jessica Tisch stays on as city police commissioner. Under her leadership, crime is once again falling to record lows. And we hope Mamdani’s insistence that he will close Rikers Island in 2027 is just rhetoric, since there will be no new jails to which the thousands of detainees there can be moved until years later, if ever.

On anti-Semitism, Jewish people have real cause for concern about their future here, which is horrifying. Mamdani has to realize that among his constituents is the largest Jewish community in the world outside Israel. We hope he can leave his record of anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic comments in the past, and reassure Jews that they will have a safe future in a city that for generations has been a haven for them.

Overall, we hope our young mayor-elect displays not only his considerable talents but great wisdom in his new job.

MARK WEIDLER

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Dear Editor:

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Mayor Mamdani

Several years ago, while walking to the Ditmars Blvd. subway stop in Astoria, I observed a young man standing in front of the Vallone law office near the subway entrance. He appeared to be a political person and was attempting to engage passersby regarding his political philosophy. I walked up to him and had a brief chat of a minute or two. He focused on rent. I do not recall if he wanted to freeze rents or reduce them. He made a good impression on me as a very sincere, idealistic person, if perhaps overly optimistic.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have guessed that he would be elected to the mayoralty. I have a few suggestions that he and his staff might consider.

First, he ought to establish a liaison with the Manhattan Institute and seek its input. It has a reputation as a conservative Republican group, but its suggestions cannot be ignored. It is simply not possible to solely utilize European-style social housing to solve the housing shortage. The Manhattan Institute can make valuable suggestions.

Second, President Trump is itching for some sort of pretext to gain federal control of New York City, in the same way he seized Washington, DC. That pretext could be if our current highly capable police commissioner resigns or is fired. As long as she is on the job, we will be safe from a federal takeover. She has made clear

that she would only agree to stay on if she is not a figurehead, if she has real power and the mayor makes suggestions but does not overrule her on most important matters.

If he is willing to compromise, Mayor-elect Mamdani has the potential to, perhaps, approach the level of the great Fiorello LaGuardia. If not, he will face Jimmy Walker’s fate. We will see what the future holds for our new mayor.

Clifton Wellman Elmhurst

FMCP deserves more

Dear Editor:

Re Michael Gannon’s Oct. 30 report “FMCP rallies for equitable funds” (multiple editions):

As a near lifelong resident of Queens and frequent visitor to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, I support the park Alliance’s drive for more funding.

Our borough’s largest park is being shortchanged by NYC. Queens City Councilman

Shekar Krishnan noted that Manhattan’s Central Park receives 277 times more private investment per acre than FMCP. This is not fair or justified. FMCP has a rich cultural, political and literary heritage. It rose literally from the ashes, or more specifically, from the “valley of the ashes,” as F. Scott Fitzgerald described the site in “The Great Gatsby,” his iconic novel about the 1920s. A decade later, it was transformed into a vibrant venue that hosted the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, and was home to the United Nations General Assembly from 1946 to 1950. It deserves funding equal to that of another park supported by wealthy Manhattan residents.

Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

The rule of three

Dear Editor:

Both political parties should take note that American working families are craving a political platform that will deliver: 1. a more

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

affordable cost of living; 2. an improved health insurance system and coverage; and 3. better protection against future threats to employment, Social Security and living standards. All three of these issues will be even more critical once AI begins displacing millions of American workers.

To achieve these three objectives, we need judicious politicians whose top priority is to serve this nation and all its citizens, according to their constitutional oath. Politicians who only serve to appease their billionaire donors are not what working families need at this pivotal time.

Glenn Hayes Kew Gardens

A new library, eventually

Dear Editor:

A new three-level Rego Park Library is coming after many years of promises, but don’t hold your breath. It’s “expected” to be completed by winter 2029-30. Given the experiences of other new branches such as the one in Elmhurst, even a three- to four-year period may not be kept.

There have been a number of high-rise buildings in Rego Park completed within two years, so why will a much smaller building take a much longer time? And with many empty storefronts in the area that could be used temporarily to service our community, why will we get only a once-a-week mobile library as a substitute?

Rego Park Library users deserve better than this.

Louis Kramberg Rego Park

An attitude of gratitude

Dear Editor:

When we read about problems and tragedies it’s easy to become distressed. To increase happiness, think about things for which you have gratitude.

My family does this at the end of dinner when we say “grats.” This involves one person telling us three things for which she or he is grateful. Then we have a conversation about what was said.

Being the old guy at the table, I often discuss how one of those things was different in earlier times. For example, if televisions are cited, I might talk about how, when I was young, we didn’t have one, and that the first TVs had small screens and took a while to “warm up” before a low-quality black-and-white image grudgingly appeared.

The only rule we have is that grats shouldn’t involve a person at the table. Otherwise, they can be anything — big or small. Examples: freedom of speech, paper towels, email, volunteers, toothbrushes, friends, pie, plastic, sunshine, living in America, electricity, teachers, parks and music.

Grats has sparked a lot of good conversation and made us more appreciative of the lives we have. Try it. You’ll like it.

Gary Jump Itasca, Ill.

Ease contraception access

Dear Editor:

As a public health student and associate board member with New York Birth Control Access, I believe that access to contraception is a basic component of reproductive health equity. At York College, many students balance demanding schedules, family responsibilities and limited transportation options: barriers that can make it difficult to access emergency contraceptives in a timely manner.

By installing emergency contraceptive vending machines in our campus wellness areas, we can make reproductive healthcare more accessible, affordable and private. These vending machines would allow students to obtain EC without stigma or scheduling challenges, especially outside regular clinic hours.

New York has already shown leadership in expanding reproductive health access, and colleges like ours can continue that momentum by implementing practical, student-centered solutions. Accessible EC vending machines would give students peace of mind, promote health equity and ensure everyone can make timely decisions about their reproductive health.

Kamala Murray Associate Board Member New York Birth Control Access Project Springfield Gardens

East Wing no Eden

Dear Editor:

Let’s go to the movies! It’s still the season for soon-to-be-made horror film sequels. The new double bill features “Rosemary’s Baby II” and “The Shining 2025,” and it’s coming to a theater near us.

The shared setting for these new versions is the pile of rubble that used to be the White House East Wing. In “Rosemary’s Baby,” Mia Farrow, who thinks she’s having a nightmare, reaches some level of consciousness during the coven’s ceremony and screams, “This is real!”

Our remake’s scene is similarly surreal.

The stark reality and unimaginable brutality of the destruction of the East Wing on Oct. 23, 2025 continues to startle and horrify, just like being surrounded by a circle of incanting demons as we awaken from an uneasy sleep. The monstrous fingers of a backhoe clawed the East Wing into oblivion. Imagine an oversized King Kong eating the Brooklyn Bridge. Unhappily, it happened on our watch.

But now, slip out of Theater One and find a seat in Theater Two to catch “The Shining 2025.” Personal photographs tucked away in old-fashioned albums or sleeping in dead cellphones document that many Americans stood on those East Wing steps as part of a family group, a friends group or perhaps a class trip. That outdated photo of the East Wing’s entrance remains to haunt us.

In the original incarnation of “The Shining,” a vintage photograph freezes the question of Jack Nicholson’s madness and the evil spirits’ powers at The Overlook, that eerie nightmare of a hotel. A smiling Jack is front and center of a New Year’s Eve photo on the night all the murderous mayhem would transpire long ago.

There were happier times for Jack and for us.

NYC schools to be held harmless for 2025-26

Prelim data shows overall enrollment drop

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Schools with lower-than-projected enrollment will not have to give money back midyear, the city Department of Education announced Monday. The “hold harmless for the mid-year adjustment” decision will let them retain more than $250 million.

Instead of lower enrollment resulting in a mid-year funding loss, holding schools harmless means no budget reduction. Schools with enrollment greater than projected still will receive the mid-year increase they are entitled to, the DOE said.

About 65 percent of schools will be held harmless this year, with the remainder slated to receive additional funding for greater enrollment than projected.

According to the DOE’s preliminary, unaudited figures for the 2025-26 school year as of Oct. 31, enrollment in K-12 and preschool fell by 2.4 percent. There are approximately 884,000 students enrolled in New York City public schools in the 2025-26 school year, down from 906,248

for the 2024-25 school year.

Enrollment in 3K, however, increased to about 39,400 this year from 38,282. Pre-K saw a drop to approximately 51,700 from 56,255, and in grades K-12, enrollment fell to about 793,300 from 811,711.

Per the agency’s data, the last increase in enrollment came in the 2023-24 school year, when it was up from the previous year by 0.6 percent. The DOE did not give reasoning for the enrollment drop.

Finalized and audited data will be available mid-2026, the DOE said.

“We know that stable and robust school budgets are critical to giving our students the world-class education they deserve,”

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said in a statement. “That’s why, as we navigate enrollment fluctuations and uncertainty around federal funding, we’re committed to providing stability and ensuring every school has the resources it needs. Continuing to hold schools harmless for the 2025–2026 school year will allow educators to focus on what matters most — helping our students thrive.” Q

Student leaders sworn

The kids on the Student Council at PS/ MS 232, the Lindenwood School, had the pleasure of being sworn in on Oct. 27 by Phyllis Inserillo, second from left, co-president of the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic, which recently donated a new mobile tech screen to the school, at 153-23 83 St. Cheryl Rizzo, a teacher at PS/MS 232 and co-moderator of the Student Council,

told the Chronicle via email, “We would like to thank her for being an amazing civics role model in our community and acknowledge the association for their generous donation of the new tech screen.”

Rizzo continued, “This addition has made our recently renovated reading garden truly an outdoor learning space!” — Kristen Guglielmo

SEQ residents speak out against BESS facilities at Oct. 28 hearing Battery sites spark debate at City Hall

by Luan Rogers Chronicle Contributor

Southeast Queens residents spoke out against battery energy storage systems in residential areas while the city upheld its position, reasserting that they are both safe and necessary measures to meet ambitious climate goals, at a City Council Committee on Fire and Emergency Management meeting at City Hall on Oct. 28.

Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) chaired the tense three-hour public hearing, which featured testimonies from city officials, energy advocates and community members.

Three BESS facilities were planned in Southeast Queens but residents’ concerns about the potential fire safety threat stalled their construction. One in South Ozone Park was mostly built but not operational, a second was under construction and construction did not start for a third.

The facilities use lithium-ion batteries to capture energy from the grid, which is then released back when there is a high demand for power. That occurs when the grid is put under strain during extreme heat events.

BESS facilties have been in operation elsewhere in the city since 2019 and there have been no recorded safety incidents.

The hearing came after news broke last Friday of the cancellation of a 650-megawatt BESS site in Staten Island. No reason was given for

the cancellation of the $300 million project, which was set to be the largest BESS facility in the state.

Some key testimony came from the Fire Department.

Thomas Currao, the FDNY’S chief of fire prevention, said the department’s fire code “is widely recognized as one of the most robust, comprehensive and strict codes in the country.”

Ariola pressed FDNY officials, asking if they would live next to a BESS facility.

“I would be confident that the Fire Department can handle a situation,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Loftus.

A fire at a large-scale BESS facility in Northern California resulted in the evacuation of 1,500 residents in January. In 2023, there were fires at locations in upstate New York and on Long Island.

But those facilities are not subject to the FDNY’s safety standards.

“The department’s approach to this technology is considered a benchmark for the safety of urban energy storage systems, exceeding the typical standards that exist in other jurisdictions,” said Currao.

The planned sites in Queens will be monitored remotely by NineDot Energy, the company developing them and get annual FDNY inspections.

Jasmine Lawrence, whose Addisleigh Park

home is next door to an old gas station that was demolished to make way for a NineDot BESS facility, told the members it is too close.

“These battery farms should be built in industrial areas, or at the very least, built a reasonable distance from residential homes, schools and hospitals,” she said.

Thomas Currao, the FDNY’s chief of fire prevention, said on Oct. 28 that the department’s fire code is considered the best in the country, at a hearing on battery energy storage systems. PHOTOBYGERARDOROMO/NYCCOUNCIL

NineDot says on its website that “Battery projects built locally, near where electricity is consumed, can help alleviate congestion and make sure people have access to cleaner electricity.”

Lawrence has faced legal action from the energy developer over her refusal to provide access to a section of her property.

Lawrence and the Addisleigh Park Civic

Association subsequently filed a counterclaim, which is expected to be heard in Queens County Supreme Court on Nov. 18.

Construction has not begun behind the Lawrence home because of the countersuit.

Andrea Scarborough, vice president of the civic, addressed the lack of BESS incidents in

continued on page 18

Boy beaten, robbed by a mob near his school improves; No arrests yet Family of teen stab victim wants justice

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

A 15-year-old boy who was stabbed and beaten by more than a dozen youths near Hillcrest High School on Oct. 22 is no longer in critical condition.

But his parents and leaders of the Sikh community on Sunday demanded a thorough investigation, prosecution and changes to what state law considers hate crimes.

Leaders from the Muslim and Bengali communities were at the rally, which took place at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, a block south of Hillcrest High School and just west of where the boy was attacked and robbed of his sneakers.

Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) also was in attendance.

The teenager was referred to only as Singh. His parents’ names were not divulged. Japneet Singh, a leader in the Queens Sikh community who organized the rally, said the family and the community are demanding justice.

“We all came to this country with a dream,” Singh said. “The first was to make some money, have a successful career. But something that supersedes success is safety. That dream that was promised to us, it seems to every day diminish when a

Members of the Sikh community, left, posted police surveillance photos of the suspects in the neighborhood of the Oct. 22 attack on a teenager. Above, the boy’s father, at left, and mother, second from the right, asked for justice for their son.

15-year-old is so savagely beaten and stabbed in broad daylight after school.”

The child’s mother was in tears as she spoke with Singh as her interpreter, she and her husband holding signs, and others holding enlarged photos of their son in his hospital bed.

“She says, first of all, that they are most

grateful that you all took the time out to be here,” Singh said. “She can’t express with enough words how she is feeling right now, how the family has been feeling.

“She wants justice. The entire family — all they want is justice, that the members of the gang or the group that did this to our son be brought to justice.”

Hit-and-run charges lodged

Man could face 22 years in death of Bronx woman: QDA

by Naeisha Rose Editor

A hit-and-run driver was indicted and arraigned Oct. 30 on charges of manslaughter, assault, leaving the scene without reporting, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, operating a vehicle at an unreasonable speed and failure to reduce speed, said the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Daveand Budhai, 25, of 115th Street in South Ozone Park, could face up to 22 years in prison for allegedly causing the death of Isabel Alvarez, a flag person, who was working at a construction site on the Nassau Expressway in South Jamaica more than a month ago, said prosecutors.

On Sept. 19, Alvarez, 44, of 900 Rogers Place in the Bronx, was holding a “stop/ slow” sign inside the safety zone when the defendant hit her at a high rate of speed, beyond the posted 25 mph limit, near exit 1N, leading to the Van Wyck Expressway, said Katz’s office. Her body was thrown approximately 168 feet.

Budhai said he allegedly “was in a rush ... because [he] wanted to get something from Dunkin’ Donuts,” according to court documents.

Katz’s office said the left lane of the expressway was closed and marked with

multiple traffic drums and signage since it was an active construction zone. Alvarez was wearing her required safety equipment, including a hardhat and fluorescent reflective visibility vest, when Budhai allegedly drove into the traffic drums and struck her.

Police were called about the incident at about 7:28 a.m.

EMS rushed to the scene, where Alvarez had landed on her left shoulder on the roadway, and pronounced her dead.

The NYPD said Budhai was operating a 2018 Infiniti Q505 eastbound on the expressway when the crash occurred.

He allegedly exited the expressway and drove to the intersection of 134th Street and South Conduit Avenue in South Ozone Park and called 911 to request an ambulance for injuries he sustained to his hands, said prosecutors. He was sent to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Police observed the defendant’s sedan, which allegedly had significant front-end damage, including a shattered windshield that appeared to be broken open, said Katz’s office. Blood and glass were allegedly inside the vehicle, as well as fluorescent marks on the hood and roof of the vehicle.

Budhai was arrested at approximately 1:23 p.m. the same day.

“As alleged, the horrific death of Isabel

Police said the attack took place near the intersection of Hillside and 160th Street. Members of the group surrounded him before punching and kicking him. One attacker produced a knife and stabbed him multiple times while another took the boy’s sneakers.

He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where the family said he had undergone six operations as of Sunday.

”Unfortunately, this is not the first incident we have had in the Sikh community,” Weprin said. “It has happened too often.”

Imam Safraz Bacchus of Richmond Hill read a passage from the Quran that called on people of all communities to come together to decry acts of injustice.

“We should not be selective,” he said. “All that is needed for a person of intellect is to ask, ‘What if this was your child?’”

Weprin and others said the incident as of Sunday was not being treated as a hate crime because the boy was not in religions or cultural clothing, and no related slurs are known to have been spoken by the attackers.

Police on Wednesday said they still are asking for the public’s help in identifying 13 people who are being sought.

Members of the Sikh community afterward posted photos of the suspects throughout the neighborhood. Q

OZP man dead after collision

Alvarez could have been avoided if the defendant – whose license was suspended –had adhered to the rules of the road and not sped into the highway construction zone where the victim was working,” Katz said in a statement.

“Drivers who selfishly believe the law does not apply to them will be held responsible by my office.

“Our condolences are with the family, friends and coworkers of Isabel Alvarez as they continue to mourn her loss.”

Members of Laborers Local 731 posted about Alvarez on Instagram, calling her “our 731 sister.”

“Losing a member on the job is the hardest news we can share,” the post said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Isabel’s family, friends, and all of her brothers and sisters in Local 731 during this heartbreaking time.”

Budhai posted bail, according to the city Department of Correction.

A state Supreme Court justice ordered him to return to court on Jan. 8. Q

An Ozone Park man on Oct. 30 was identified by police as the e-bike operator who died three weeks after a Sept. 21 crash in South Richmond Hill.

According to the NYPD, at approximately 4:20 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 103rd Avenue and 117th Street, within the confines of the 102nd Precinct.

Further investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that an e-bike, operated by 56-year-old Jose Mora of 93rd Street in Ozone Park, was traveling westbound on 103rd Avenue, approaching 117th Street. A 2011 Nissan Maxima sedan, operated by an unidentified 30-year-old male, was parked along the north curb-line on 103rd Avenue.

The driver opened the front driver’s side door, striking Mora, who was thrown to the roadway and sustained trauma to the head, according to police. EMS responded and transported Mora to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased on Oct. 11.

No arrests have been made, police said, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Q —Kristen Guglielmo

PHOTOSBYMICHAELGANNON

Facing ever increasing

amendments to Local Law 97 Condo, co-op owners gear up for the future

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Co-op and condominium owners have been saying from the start that Local Law 97 could be the financial death knell for their properties due to massive costs of converting their buildings to meet strict new environmental emission standards, and even larger fines for noncompliance.

A few hundred residents from throughout Queens gathered at Glen Oaks on Oct. 29 in order to bring their concerns to their fellow residents, as well as elected officials.

“Some of our residents don’t know a lot about it, but when once they do, they start getting nervous,” Bob Friedrich, president of Glen Oaks and co-president of the Presidents Co-op & Condo Council, told the Chronicle following the rally.

“And it’s not just going to affect co-ops and condo owners.”

Renters, Friedrich said, also will eventually have costs passed on to them.

Passed in 2019, LL 97 required most buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet new greenhouse gas emissions limits beginning in 2024. Stricter limits are coming into effect in 2030. The goal is to reduce the emissions produced by the city’s largest buildings 40 percent by 2030 and to net zero by 2050.

costs,

they seek

“LL 97 forces co-ops to spend tens of millions of dollars switching from affordable-reliable natural gas heating to costly electric heating,” Friedrich said in a transcript of his talk at the rally. “And many older buildings like Glen Oaks Village will need to be rewired to increase electric capacity for electric heat, creating crushing special assessments and crippling maintenance increases just to cover these costs.

“In a co-op, cheap natural gas heating is produced by a single boiler and shared equitably across all households. Under LL 97, your apartment will have its own electric heating unit, forcing you to pay the nation’s highest electric rates to heat your home. Non-compliance will result in fines exceeding $1M annually.

Jane Menton, formerly a resident of the Sunnyside Towers and a co-founder of the Western Queens Co-op Coalition, told the Chronicle that part of the intent behind the rally’s timing was to insert the issue into the mayoral and Council elections.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is promising full enforcement.

“This is the biggest law ever passed in New York City,” Menton said. “We wanted more people to find out about the law. Whoever becomes mayor, we are going to have to work with them to amend this law ... We

need to have a loud voice so people will pay attention to us.”

Menton also does not believe staunch proponents of the law do not understand the logistics involved.

Friedrich, in a phone interview, said co-

ops and condos are the most reliable affordable housing in the city.

“I will say a clean environment, which we all want, and affordable housing is not a binary choice,” he said. “You can have one without destroying the other.” Q

Delivered By Safety

years Shootings down 54% citywide since 2022 NYC’s “Community Link” improves neighborhood quality-of-life and safety issues through coordinated multi-agency response

York is dedicated to being the best place to raise a family. Tens of thousands of unlawful guns removed, more than 110,000 ghost cars and illegal

Co-op and condominium owners showed up at Glen Oaks last week in order to be seen and heard on hoped-for changes to Local Law 97.

VIETNAM STILL HAUNTS War trauma, scars, longtime disdain

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

“You talk about people saying that we were baby killers, we were war pigs,” said Alphonse Ranni, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. “It’s not true.”

Fifty years have passed since the conflict ended, with the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese troops. The United States’ involvement had ended two years prior, with more than 58,000 Americans killed and hundreds of thousands more wounded.

U.S. troops pulled out of Vietnam amid mounting domestic pressure, as the antiwar movement had gained traction among civilians. In many cases, opponents took their frustration out on vets themselves.

Three Queens men who served shared some of their recollections with the Chronicle last week, ahead of Veterans Day.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael O’Kane was told it was not a good idea to wear his uniform in public when he came home. Spc. Jim Turano, who served as a cook for Vietnam troops, said he saw protesters yelling and spitting as soon as he got off the plane.

Ranni said no one came up to him and shook his hand upon his return. Members of veterans organizations, including the American Legion, even insisted that the Vietnam War “wasn’t a war” and wanted “nothing to do” with vets.

“Unfortunately, it was war. Things happen,” the Richmond Hill resident, a specialist 5th class, told the Chronicle in a sitdown interview last Thursday. “It wasn’t planned. A lot of innocent people got hurt, got killed.”

Ranni advanced his draft in 1968 at age 19 after graduating John Adams High School, entering the service sooner than required. Options for young men were limited, he explained — they could either go to college or find a job, but companies knew they were “draft bait” and would not train them for promotion.

He also followed in the footsteps of his father, a World War II infantryman.

Though he said he was “not a fan” of going to Vietnam, he “wasn’t a hippie” and knew he had an obligation to his country.

Turano, on the other hand, was “ecstatic” to be drafted in 1966 and get a reprieve from his “strict Italian family.”

His mother advised him to apply to be a cook, like her father was. After eight weeks of training, he was cooking for a tank battalion in Kansas, and he later was sent to Vietnam with eight months of service left.

As soon as he got off the plane, he said, he saw caskets everywhere.

Turano said he had been set to go to Cu Chi, the 25th Infantry Division’s base camp. But when the plane stopped in Cam Ranh Bay to refuel, the sergeant asked to see his paperwork. He was told to stay put when the sergeant saw how many awards he had won.

“The next day, Cu Chi was attacked, mortared, bombed. Thousands of guys died,” the Middle Village resident said. “So I knew then God was with me.” His days were long, mostly spent cooking in 110-degree heat, as fans did little more than circulate the sticky air.

O’Kane, who was then 18 and a firm believer in the war effort, enlisted in the Navy in 1966. He said he asked his younger brother for a ride

the day before he left for boot camp and was told he “can’t do that,” to which he replied, “I have to now.”

“That was an experience,” the Glendale resident said of the grueling training. “I realized I might have made a mistake.”

He was assigned to a minesweeper, the USS Implicit, where he stayed for a year and a half.

He was sent to a hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, for a month after sustaining an injury, and then was sent back to the states.

The ship made a “rough crossing” over the Pacific Ocean, he said, with men hanging over the sides of it. He opted to return to Japan, where he was assigned to another, smaller ship, the USS Widgeon.

He then learned he was heading to Vietnam, and things got “hairy.”

“It was endless boredom, punctuated by short bouts of terror,” O’Kane said. He and his shipmates mostly patrolled rivers and inspected ships that might have been Viet Cong, or running supplies for the North Vietnamese military.

“We took a lot of prisoners that way,” he said. He also recalled distributing “care packages” to those who passed inspection. One older man opened his and took a bite out of the bar of soap inside, he said.

“The people that I met face to face, the Vietnamese — lovely people,” he said. “They didn’t

want to hurt anybody.”

Ranni said he got to Vietnam at a “very good time” — North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched the massive Tet Offensive throughout South Vietnam in 1968.

He first landed at the Bien Hoa air base and was told he would be assigned to the Ninth Infantry Division, which guided incoming aircraft. But three weeks into the tour, he said, there was a big offensive in the Mekong Delta, so the division was sent to the Dong Tam base.

Ranni was transferred to the 101st Airborne Division, and his first stop was the holy city of Hue, the site of one of the biggest battles of the war. When the 101st arrived, he said, the Marines already there had to retreat, as per direct orders from then-President Lyndon Johnson — there were 10,000 North Vietnamese troops to the United States’ 400 men.

But, he said, his division had orders to stop there and blow the walls down.

He also got involved in A Shau Valley, and secured fire bases outside Camp Eagle as the first line of defense there.

During his service, Ranni got a bullet wound in his left arm and took shrapnel while riding shotgun on a convoy.

Along with many others, he was affected by Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide that the United States used to remove forest cover.

Turano is still undergoing treatment for can-

cer related to Agent Orange. He was diagnosed in 2016 and has undergone more than a dozen procedures for it.

“If you think it’s not out there, it was,” Ranni said. Base camps had tankers of locally sourced water that soldiers were told not to drink for fear of contamination, he said, but it was the same water that the men used to take showers.

O’Kane’s ship was affected by it, too — he said he was told the herbicide was harmful, but “not for us.”

“That was the biggest lie anybody ever told,” he said. Not only did it get all over his skin, but he faced a slew of complications decades later, including type 2 diabetes, two strokes and a heart attack.

The three men have all earned various accolades for their service. Ranni was awarded two Bronze Star medals, two Purple Hearts, a Combat Infantry Badge, two Presidential Unit Citations and several Army Commendation Medals.

Former state Sen. Serf Maltese presented Turano with a Vietnam War Commemorative Medal in 1985, and he won several awards as a cook.

O’Kane also has various recognitions, including the Vietnam Service Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation.

But decorations are hardly all they came back with. All three vets told the Chronicle about their ongoing struggles with PTSD.

Vietnam War veterans Alphonse Ranni, top left, Michael O’Kane and Jim Turano discussed the conflict’s lasting effects 50 years after its end during sitdown interviews with the Chronicle last week. Former state Sen. Serf Maltese presented Turano, who served as a cook during the war, with a Vietnam War Commemorative Medal in 1985, above left. O’Kane, above right and center, was among the sailors who patrolled the sea in North Vietnam in the late 1960s.

VETS, 50 YEARS LATER in the public eye are heavy burdens

The Fourth of July, a day of national pride, is a “horror” for Ranni. On that day, he said, he just wants to be in the comfort of his home, air conditioner and TV on full blast.

Turano, for whom driving was part of his service, said he started getting panic attacks on the road after his return. To this day, he cannot drive on highways.

He also takes three tranquilizers a day.

“I don’t know how they still work after 10 years, but I feel a lot calmer,” Turano said. “Now, I’m a lot more comic and drink espresso.”

O’Kane said he started drinking and using drugs when he got home.

“It was a conscious act of violence against myself,” he said. O’Kane has now been sober for more than 20 years.

Rather than turning to the bottle, he said, veterans should join groups such as the Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars, where they can lean on others who understand all too well what they are going through.

“They won’t talk about it, but they’ll talk to another vet,” O’Kane said. He’s even still in touch with some men he fought alongside.

Ranni, who is treasurer of VVA Chapter 32, said members “don’t just sit there and tell war

stories.” They also join in community events, march in parades and help fund programs, lobbying efforts and more to support vets.

Community engagement has proven helpful to Turano. He became commander of VFW Luke Lang Post 2343 in Maspeth, and he held leadership roles in the Kiwanis Club of Middle Village and the Lions Club.

Ranni said fellow vets have asked him for advice, and while he is not a licensed professional, he has seen enough to weigh in.

they didn’t succeed,” Ranni said. “It’s out there.”

But doing right by veterans goes far beyond parades and awards. For O’Kane, ensuring vets receive benefits is everything.

“It was endless boredom, punctuated by short bouts of terror.”

— combat veteran Michael O’Kane

“My experience didn’t end when I took the uniform off,” he said, adding that vets should be present in their communities, not only to support one another, but to show their continued loyalty to their country.

And as of late, Vietnam veterans have finally started to get their flowers.

Ranni was inducted into the state Veterans Hall of Fame this year, and O’Kane in 2018. The former also was recognized at the U.S. Open, and was grand marshal in last year’s Queens Veterans Day Parade.

“If it’s something that they wanted to bury,

When his Agent Orange-related problems started flaring up, he tried to file a claim with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and was told the government had no proof of where he was. Since latitude and longitude were recorded with every entry in his ship’s log, he was able to pinpoint his location, but that is not the case for many others.

He said he also filed a claim for PTSD three years ago, and he is still waiting.

“They say, we need details of stressors,” he said. “I don’t want to relive that stuff.” Like Vietnam vets with Agent Orange, O’Kane said younger soldiers are exposed to contaminants from burn pits, though they may not feel the effects until later in life.

Some also fear that federal cuts could affect veterans’ benefits. The Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed in

July, included substantial cuts to Medicaid, which some vets rely on.

“These are things we earned,” Ranni said of veterans’ benefits. “We didn’t make up the rules when we were drafted or we enlisted ... what the government guarantees, they should honor it, and it should be hands-off.”

Turano also said he “can’t forgive” some remarks President Trump has made, including his alleged reference to veterans killed in action as “losers” and “suckers.”

Reflecting on lessons learned during his service, Ranni joked that he learned how to make his bed, and to shave every day.

But aside from teaching him self-discipline, his tour also made him a better person, he said. He advocates for world peace, and said modernday conflicts should be publicized like Vietnam was. Media coverage was graphic and ubiquitous, with families coming home from work and school to watch the conflict on television.

“I just don’t want to see these things happen,” Ranni said. “I think it’s just a waste of time, waste of money, waste of lives.”

Turano said he got “choked up” watching the fall of Saigon on TV in 1975, later adding that the loss gave America “a black eye.”

“All those guys who died ... I had friends that came back alive and committed suicide two, three years later,” he said.

O’Kane mentioned another side of combat.

“You never feel more alive until you’ve been shot at and walk away from it,” he said. Q

SNAP rulings: Will or won’t Trump comply?

White House walking back Truth Social post, says payments are taking time

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Hours after President Trump posted that no Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments would be issued unless U.S. Senate Democrats vote to reopen the government, his press secretary told the media that the administration is not defying a pair of federal judges and is acting in full compliance with their rulings from last Friday.

Trump made the claim Tuesday in a post on his Truth Social outlet.

“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly “handed” to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

That stand, if carried out, would appear to defy rulings from federal courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which ordered that the U.S. Department of Agriculture at minimum make good on November payments as much as possible by tapping into a contingency fund.

make full regular payments.

In a briefing shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday that can be viewed in the White House’s X feed, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she had spoken with Trump on the matter.

“The administration is fully complying with the court order,” Leavitt said. “... The recipients of SNAP benefits need to understand that it is going to take some time to receive this money, because the Democrats are forcing the administration into a very untenable position.

“The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that is what he was referring to in his Truth Social post.”

Published reports state that the emergency fund has $4.65 billion — enough to cover a bit more than half the normal benefits, approximately $8 billion per month.

“The administration is fully complying with the court order.”

— White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

New York Attorney General Letitia James is a plaintiff in the Massachusetts case.

The Trump administration announced Monday that it will use a contingency fund to pay partial benefits for the month of November, but not tap other resources to

Officials from New York, more than 20 other states and the District of Columbia went to court after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that SNAP benefits, which are paid monthly to help lowincome residents and families afford to buy food, would be suspended effective Nov. 1 due to the partial federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1 due to a budget impasse in the U.S. Senate.

About 42 million people receive the monthly assistance, also known as food stamps.

The USDA argued that there is not enough money to make full payments for November.

SNAP recipients will be getting partial benefits in November, but no one is sure how much or just when payments will be received.

But according to multiple broadcast and published reports last Friday on the Massachusetts case, Judge Indira Talwani said Thursday that if there are insufficient funds, there is an available process short of a total shutdown of the program.

“Those steps involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits,” she said.

The USDA was given until Monday to state its intention to make partial payments from the emergency fund or full payments supplemented with other resources.

Talwani, recommended for the bench by President Barack Obama, said her ruling applies nationwide, though the AP pointed out that could pique the interest of the U.S. Supreme Court, which “has limited use of nationwide injunctions.”

Both the city and Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens

Tensions rise at BESS hearing

continued from page 13

the city by saying, “Current statistics are no indication of a future outcome, nor should we embrace the idea of a zero fire rationale to place these facilities near our homes.”

Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth), who also sits on the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, sponsored a resolution that calls upon the state Legislature to pass Assembly bill 6955-A and Senate bill 7197, which would establish a minimum setback requirement of no less than 1,000 feet for commercial energy storage systems.

Under current FDNY regulations, BESS

facilities can be as close as 10 feet from residential housing.

The batteries are put in residential areas at risk of outages, said Elijah Hutchinson, executive director of the Mayor’s Office for Climate and Environmental Justice.

“If they’re too far away, they don’t provide those local benefits to the areas that need them,” he added.

City officials do not play a role in choosing the location of the facilities, which is done by private developers, said Kathleen Schmid, deputy executive director of the MOCEJ. The FDNY is responsible for safety regulations at

PHOTOBYANTHONYALBRIGHT/FLICKR

announced preemptive moves to offset the crisis on Oct. 30.

Mayor Adams said $15 million in emergency funding for food assistance is on tap, coupled with an “all-hands-on-deck” response to prepare for what he called an unprecedented food emergency.

Adams said nearly 1.8 million city residents are SNAP recipients, at a cost of $420 million a month. He said the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy and all social services agencies are working in close collaboration to connect impacted New Yorkers, the philanthropic community, the nonprofit sector, faith leaders and governmental partners to help.

“As a working-class mayor who grew up in a family living on the edge of homelessness and that relied on government assistance, I will always fight for our most vulnerable residents,” Adams said in a press release. “... It’s time to put political differences aside and end

the sites.

Proposals for BESS facilities are reviewed by the FDNY and the Department of Buildings.

Once approved, energy companies can start development without community approval since the sites qualify “as of right” under zoning rules.

Holden accused the city of pandering to developers.

“You’ve been sold out,” he said, adding, “their standards are being lowered for private developers. This is about money.”

The FDNY’s BESS regulations comply with Underwriter Laboratories’ independent global standard for battery energy safety.

The vast majority of the city’s battery ener-

this shutdown.”

Catholic Charities has launched an emergency response program that includes food, financial help, mental health support and case management.

“No family should have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table,” said Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “We have mobilized our network of food pantries and social services to make sure anyone struggling during the shutdown can access emergency support right away.”

LoPinto said the emergency services are now available to anyone impacted by the shutdown.

“Our pantries are already serving thousands each week, and we added extra meals and services to our operations,” said Debbie Hampson, Catholic Charities’ senior director of Community and Mobile Outreach Services. “We have the infrastructure and commitment to ensure no one in our community goes hungry.”

People in need can visit any of CCBQ’s 60 food pantry sites. A list of locations and times of operation is at ccbq.org/service/ food-pantry-network.

A photo ID is needed for immediate food assistance. Restrictions and eligibility requirements may apply for those seeking financial assistance.

Call the Call Center at (718) 722-6001 for access to agencywide programs as well as mental health clinics. Go online to ccbq. org for a complete list of services and locations.

Community members can help by donating food, contributing financially, or volunteering. To donate or volunteer, visit the website. Q

gy supply is provided by private energy companies.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services has developed less than 1 megawatt of battery energy storage on city-owned properties, said Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn).

The city has secured a total of 80 megawatts of battery energy storage, way off its target of 500 megawatts by 2025.

“We are pitifully behind, we have totally failed,” Restler said.

Bill Scarborough, president of the Addisleigh Park Civic Association, remained determined at the conclusion of the hearing.

“We’re going to continue battling, we’re going to continue with the protests,” he said Q

Donate blood to save lives

“Donate Today, Save Lives Tomorrow” is the motto of the New York Blood Center, which is seeking donors as the state continues to face a blood shortage.

All types are sought, but O-negative is especially useful. Visit nybc. org for information. There are four places in and around Eastern and Southeast Queens listed now where people may donate:

• St. John’s University, Student Organization lounge room 128; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8000 Utopia Pkwy. in Jamaica Estates; blood drive coordinator Paul Lazauskas;

• United Sikhs, main room; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23, at 95-30 118 St. in South Richmond Hill; bood drive coordinator Inderjeet Singh;

• Knights of Columbus Council 197, main hall; 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, at 94-04 Linden Blvd. in Ozone Park; blood drive coordinator Paul Eggert; and

• NYPD 113th Precinct, muster room; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 26, at 167-02 Baisley Blvd. in Rochdale; blood drive coordinator Sgt. Navdeep Singh. Q — Naeisha Rose

Creative talents on display Showcase brings area artists’ work into the spotlight

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

From a geometric origami creator to a 95-year-old Korean War veteran opera singer, talent of all sorts was on display on Oct. 26 at an artist showcase hosted by state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

The three-hour event, according to Addabbo’s office, was packed with more than two dozen musicians and still artists, who were able to connect with other creatives and neighbors.

Among the talent was Barry Feterman, who had the audience laughing with musical impressions of Elvis, the Bee Gees, Johnny Mathis, Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias. Silk Feather Sun wowed attendees with both original tunes and covers of classics such as “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Beatles. Sarah Keane, 17, displayed her impressive vocal range with covers of tunes by Katy Perry, Pat Benatar and Lady Gaga.

Casey O’Neil, a woodworker, drew interest with his intricate carvings, including a Mickey Mouse-inspired cabinet, pasta tools and patterns for chuppahs, ceremonial canopies used at Jewish weddings.

Other participants included painter Steve Fisher, ukulele player Joanne Davis, origami artist Alicia Lo, mixed media artist Amy

Handy, photographer Sonia Aguila, collage and freelance artist Jennifer Lambert, singer Tom Haeberle, ventriloquist Bill Aiello, Joseph

“The Baron” Pastor, painter Valentina Battaglia, the band Los Pitudos, oil painter William Wiggins, photo collage artist Laura Litterello Mancini, comic book illustrator Mike Gerlich, Japanese calligrapher Yuki Hladky, harmonica player Jiayi He, photographer Lorine Bam-

berg, mixed media artist Kaylin Roman and painter Dark Reconstruction.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in our second artist showcase,” Addabbo said in a statement. “It was a truly inspiring afternoon and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich talent within Senate District 15. I look forward to hosting our third artist showcase next year.”

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. hosted an artist showcase for his constituents on Oct. 26 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, where Amy Handy was one of the many creatives whose work was on display.

Social Security announces 2.8% benefit hike for 2026

by Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration announced last week that Social Security benefits, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month starting in January.

Over the last decade the cost-of-living adjustment increase has averaged about 3.1 percent. The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025.

Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. ( Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI ).

“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” said Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “The cost-ofliving adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”

Other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the

maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $184,500 from $176,100.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December 2025.

Similar to last year, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a simplified, one-page COLA notice, which uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of an individual’s new benefit amount and any deductions.

Individuals who have my Social Security accounts can view their COLA notices online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiv-

ing a letter in the mail. Account holders can set up text or email alerts when they receive a new message, such as their COLA notice.

To receive a COLA notice online, individuals will need to create or sign in to their personal my Social Security account and opt out of paper notices by November 19, 2025.

Go Digital! Create an account today at ssa. gov/myaccount. An online my Social Security account also gives individuals access to request a replacement Social Security card, view their claim status and benefits, and view their SSA-1099.

Information about Medicare changes for 2026 will be available at medicare.gov. For

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Medicare enrollees, the 2026 premium amount will be available via my Social Security Message Center starting in late November. Individuals who have not opted to receive messages online will receive thei r COLA notice by mail in December.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For additional information, visit ssa.gov/cola. P

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Crohn’s disease and colitis explained

While they share certain characteristics, there are some differences between Crohn’s

and colitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases can affect people in many different ways.

Inflammatory bowel disease affects between 2.4 and 3.1 million people across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from a U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed one percent of U.S adults may have diagnosed IBD. The Mayo Clinic notes that IBD refers to disorders involving chronic inflammation of tissues in the digestive tract. The two most common types of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Both diseases typically develop in teenagers and young adults, although they can occur at any age. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease affect men and women equally, and symptoms are very similar. Understanding the differences between colitis and Crohn’s can direct people to the best courses of treatment for their ailments.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, anywhere from the mouth to the anus. However, the small intestine is most often affected. According to UCLA Health, when a person has Crohn’s disease, there are healthy parts of tissue mixed in between inflamed areas. Because Crohn’s disease affects more of the GI tract, WebMD says doctors may see sores in the mouth, on the lips or tongue, or even anal tears and rectal infections.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a form of IBD that is limited to the colon. It affects the inner most lining of the colon, while Crohn’s disease can occur in all of the layers of the bowel walls. With colitis, there are no healthy areas of tissue in the colon between inflamed spots; the inflammation is continuous.

Diagnosis

Doctors use various tests to diagnose IBD.

A colonoscopy checks the large intestine. A sigmoidoscopy examines only the lower part of the large intestines, while an esophagogastroduodenoscopy checks the lining of the esophagus, stomach and the duodenum. Additional testing may be used to examine the small intestine or bile and pancreatic ducts, says WebMD. Even after various imaging tests, doctors still may be unsure if Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is responsible for symptoms.

Scientists are working to improve bloo d tests to help diagnose ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. These tests check levels of certain antibodies found in blood. Most often people with ulcerative colitis have the pANCA (perinuclear anti-neutrophil) antibody present, while those with Crohn’s disease have the ASCA (anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) antibody present. These tests are not always accurate, so other diagnostic criteria should be used.

Treatment

The goal of IBD treatments is to reduce the inflammation that triggers symptoms. Antiinflammatory drugs often are the first step in the treatment of IBD as well as immune system suppressors. The Mayo Clinic says biologics are a newer category of therapy for IBD, and are aimed at neutralizing proteins in the body that are causing inflammation.

When dietary changes and medication are not completely effective for IBD, doctors may suggest surgery. The Mayo Clinic says up to two-thirds of people with Crohn’s disease will require at least one surgery in their lifetime. The damaged portion of the digestive tract is removed and then the healthy sections are joined together. Surgery for ulcerative colitis may include removing the entire colon and rectum and using an internal pouch for bowel movements.

Inflammatory bowel diseases can affect people in many ways and require treatment to restore quality of life. P

disease

B SPORTS EAT

Au revoir, Antoan?

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The departure of a first base coach normally does not create much interest outside of hardcore fans of a baseball team. That has not been the case, however, with Antoan Richardson, who is said to be leaving the Mets because he feels he is not being compensated properly. His contract expired last Friday.

Richardson was one of the few coaches to survive the purge ordered by Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, a few days after the disappointing 2025 season ended.

His survival was not happenstance. Juan Soto credited Richardson for improving his base-stealing skills. This year marked the first time Soto stole over 30 bases in a season. Richardson had similar luck with other players. It should be noted the stolen base had rarely been an important part of the Mets offense since Jose Reyes was in his prime.

Richardson also was adept at informing Mets runners about which opposing teams’ outfielders they could go from first to third base on versus which ones with whom they should not take that gamble.

The biggest problem with the Mets’ offense all season was the inability to hit with runners in scoring position. That chronic abysmal showing should not be held against Antoan unless you are angry at him for helping to get those runners

into scoring position in the first place.

Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza clearly wants Richardson to stay. But he does not have leverage to get a favor from Stearns or Mets CEO Steve Cohen after the team failed to make the playoffs due to falling apart in the last 3 ½ months of the season.

Mendoza’s predecessor, Buck Showalter, made a surprising statement on the “First Time Listener, Long Time Caller” podcast hosted by Newsday Mets beat writer Laura Albanese and actor Cole Critchell last week. “Most coaches who are working in a costly big market like New York, are losing money. They could make more coaching at many universities.” Buc k always knows of what he speaks.

This is a case of Mets management being penny-wise and pound-foolish. Unless Richardson already informed the Mets he agreed to move to a rival team, it would make sense for Cohen, who has resources and has not been shy about using them, to up the ante. The failure to do so sends a bad message to players and fans.

Mets fans are hoping things go smoother in the contract negotiations between SNY and legendary Mets first baseman and popular broadcaster Keith Hernandez, on a new deal. Hernandez said last week that his agent and SNY management had not yet begun talks. Q

See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com

High

Cue the spotlight! Little Mary’s Sunshine Studios, a Howard Beach-based vocal studio and performance training group, is back with dazzling performances of “A Chorus Line: Teen,” a family-friendly production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show, at St. Francis Preparatory School, at 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Fresh Meadows.

Directed by DawnMarie Napolitano, the musical follows more than a dozen dancers

auditioning for spots on a chorus line, and theater lovers can expect great renditions of the show’s iconic tunes, such as “I Hope I Get It” and “What I Did For Love.”

Tickets must be purchased in advance at littlemaryssunshinestudios.com/tickets. Performance dates are Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. The show will run under two hours with no intermission. — Kristen Guglielmo

by Michael Gannon

As the Queens World Film Festival marks its 15th year, Executive Director Katha Cato admits she still is capable of being surprised.

“Absolutely,” Cato said. “This year what surprised us was — we moved to a different time and shortened our submission season — we got an outstanding number of films, over 500. And the work is extraordinary ... The quality of work has exploded. And that is not to disparage our alumni. Everybody’s work is continuing to grow.”

The result is a selection of 131 films from 17 countries. Following opening night showings on Nov. 5, there will be 30 blocks of films showing in Astoria at either the Museum of the Moving Image or Kaufman Astoria Studios through Nov. 15.

Twenty-two of the films are from Queens.

The theme this year is “Connections Made, Missed and Yearned For.”

“We discover the theme as we go through the films,” said Festival Artistic Director Preston Cato, who heads the selection process. He prepares 3-by-5 cards for all the entries that move on to the second phase — a staggering 213 survived the opening round of cuts this year — where he and members of the selection team start the tough process of winnow-

ing them down.

“We have two 6-foot tables,” he said. “It can look like we’re actually shuffling papers, but we’re actually shuffling ideas around. A theme emerges.”

He said the opening night entries, the threeminute short “Are the Stars Alive” and the feature-length “Where in the Hell” — no question marks — exemplify the theme perfectly.

“Where in the Hell” follows the main characters from the California desert to Montana.

”It’s basically a road story about two unlikely people just heading off, trying to figure out what they’re trying to figure out,” Preston Cato said.

“It looks and feels like a big, old Hollywood story,” Katha Cato said. “But it is representing

continued on page 27

King Crossword Puzzle

OFTEN WALKED

Phil Ochs knew folk in Rockaway I HAVE

by Ron Marzlock

Chronicle Contributor

Jacob “Jack” Ochs was born in Manhattan on Aug. 11, 1909, the youngest of four children. While attending medical school in Edinburgh, Scotland, he fell in love with Gertrude Phin and they were married on June 24, 1936.

Their first child, Sonia Frances, aka Sonny, was born April 12, 1937. On July 8, 1938 they arrived in the U.S. from Glasgow on the SS Transylvania. Their son, Philip David Ochs, was born Dec. 19, 1940 in Texas, where Jack was practicing. Another son, Michael Andrew, was born in 1943.

Jack served the U.S. during World War II as a captain, treating wounded victims of the Battle of the Bulge. After his discharge they all moved to 802 Empire Ave. in Far Rockaway, a 2,068-square-foot house.

Philip was recognized early as a talented clarinet player. In college he decided to study journalism and learned how to play the guitar. He dropped out of college in the last quarter and joined the Greenwich Village folk music scene, playing in clubs and calling himself a “singing journalist.” His songs

were recorded by John Denver, Gordon

Joan

Pete

and more. He cut records for Electra and A&M.

Ochs was married in 1962 to Alice Skinner and they had a daughter, Meegan.

Friendly rival Bob Dylan said, “I just can’t keep up with Phil, and he’s getting better and better and better.”

But by the 1970s mental illness and drinking had taken a toll. On April 9, 1976, at age 35, he ended his life at Sonny’s apartment. His music is still relevant today, and Sonny organizes and promotes musical events called Phil Ochs Song Nights, keeping his legacy alive. Q

Lightfoot,

Baez,

Seeger

The childhood home of writer and folk singer Phil Ochs, at 802 Empire Ave. in Far Rockaway, as it looks today.

Edge-of-your-seat murder mystery in Woodside

by Stephanie G. Meditz editor

Spooky season may be over, but a new play in Woodside can still send shivers down your spine this weekend.

St. Mary’s Drama Guild’s production of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced,” adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon, is a well-executed take on the beloved author’s novel, full of English accents and the dry humor to match. Like all good murder mysteries, it has no obvious solution, and any predictions made along the way are likely fortuitous, incomplete or simply incorrect.

“You really are left guessing until the last 15 minutes of the show, which I think is very telling of what kind of writer Agatha Christie was,” co-Director Kerryclare Gleason told the Chronicle. “She wanted to keep her audience guessing until the last possible moment.”

The action begins in Little Paddocks, owned by Miss Letitia “Letty” Blacklock (Christina Shea-Wright), as she and her lodgers see a notice in the Chipping Cleghorn Gazette that a murder will take place there that very evening. While some, including the sweet but forgetful Dora “Bunny” Bunner (Heather Violanti), are frightened, others are convinced someone is

“A Murder is Announced.” The two remaining performances are this weekend.

playing a sick joke.

Come 6:30 p.m., the residence does have a visitor, and shots are fired — with the lights off. Inspector Craddock, played by LaRelle Gee, launches an investigation, but not without the often unsolicited help of the charming Miss Marple, brought to life onstage by Sheila Spencer.

The players’ dedication, both to their roles and the show’s elements of mystery, is

clear throughout, as every character seems at least slightly suspicious at some point. The audience has a plausible reason to wonder about each of them before the production comes to its jaw-dropping conclusion.

And even after the mystery is solved, audience members continue to make sense of it in their own minds, piecing together minute, seemingly irrelevant details that they may have noticed.

“It’s definitely something I as a theatergoer love feeling when I go see a show, whether it’s wrapped up in a nice pretty bow or it is purposely left to keep you guessing, is that you have that feeling of ‘I want to know more,’” Gleason said.

The remaining performances are Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m., in the auditorium of St. Mary’s Winfield Church at 70-20 47 Ave. Tickets are $22, $15 for children 12 and under, or $25 for premium seating in the first three rows. They are available at stmarysdramaguild.org or at the box office 30 minutes before showtime. One may call (347) 450-6184 for more information.

To say that Spencer’s Miss Marple does Christie’s iconic sleuth justice would be an understatement. Even as she shares astute observations that others overlook, she manages to bring much-needed levity and grandmotherliness to disturbing situations.

Other masterful performances are by Shea-Wright for her Letty Blacklock, who is both aloof and warm when necessary, and Violanti’s utterly lovable Bunny.

“The writing is spectacular, and we were really lucky to find some absolutely wonderful people to help really take that and go deep with it,” co-Director Claire Spinetti told the Chronicle. Q

Stronger voices at Queens World Film Festival

continued from page 25

voices that have not been presented in that arena before ... The thing about this year’s storytellers is they’re not wrapping things up in nice, neat bundles. Because as we know right now, nothing is wrapped up in a nice, neat bundle. And it’s almost as if all the wrapping is being ripped off. These filmmakers are holding a light to that.”

One storyteller, she said, is from a nation where even the act of making a

Crossword Answers

film comes at great personal risk — Cato declined to name the person or the country.

Even comedy, considered the toughest genre to begin with, is different.

“There is a great deal of humor in the opening-night film and in many of the films and shorts,” Preston Cato said. “But you’re not sure if you should laugh, gasp or clutch your pearls and ask, ‘What’s happening?’ It’s unexpected.”

“I don’t think we have comedy the way we are used to defining it in movies,” Katha Cato said. “Indie filmmakers ask you to laugh through your tears and cry through your laughter.”

Among the films the Catos discussed is “Half a Life,” a four-minute narrative short by brothers Ranju and Sanjit Majumdar detailing some of the troubles facing immigrants in Jackson Heights.

But in a quirk that sometimes only seems possible in movies, they say it is reminiscent of “In Jackson Heights,” Frederick Wiseman’s award-winning three-hour documentary about the Queens neighborhood.

“And even at three hours, some people said [Wiseman] still didn’t capture every-

A woman faces more than the normal challenges of being the caregiver for her elderly widowed father in “Live Long.” On the cover: Rapper Enogo Lumumba-Kasongo performs in the documentary “Enogo”; a woman is forced to revisit her parents’ lives and her own in “Bastard”; and cult members are in for an odd surprise in “And Through the Portal We Go.” SCREENSHOT, ABOVE, VIA LIVELONGFILM.COM; AND COVER

one in Jackson Heights,” Preston Cato said. Tickets to each block are $22.60. Information on the festival and tickets is available at queensworldfilmfestival.org.

Advance purchases are preferred, though tickets are available at the door. All purchases must still be electronic, as the festival does not accept cash at the door. Q

Sheila Spencer, center, and LaRelle Gee unravel a web of secrets as Miss Marple and Inspector Craddock in Agatha Christie’s

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ

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1818 43RD LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/14/25. Office: 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, 15-31 146th Place, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 94-50 MERRICK BLVD. LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/11/2025. Office 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: 94-50 MERRICK BLVD. LLC, 94-02 150TH ST., JAMAICA, NY 11435. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of TON SERVICE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/03/2025. Office 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: DIEGO GIRALDO LOPEZ, 8732 78 ST., FLOOR 1, WOODHAVEN, NY 11421. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of HJ77 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/25. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 33-02 Skillman Ave., Long Island City, NY 11011. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 33-02 Skillman Ave., 5th Fl., Long Island City, NY 11011. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Douglas Carr, as Executor of the Estate of Gloria Patrick a/k/a Gloria A. Patrick a/k/a Gloria A. Ballom a/k/a Gloria Patrick Ballom a/k/a Gloria A. PatrickBallom; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 25, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, on the second floor in Courtroom 25, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on November 21, 2025, at 10:00AM, premises known as 18833 Keesville Avenue a/k/a 188-33 Keesville Avenue, Saint Albans a/k/a Jamaica, NY 11412. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Fourth Ward of the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 10427 Lot 34. Approximate amount of judgment $413,024.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 710701/2019. Heidi J. Henle, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: September 15, 2025 For sale information, please visit www. Auction.com or call (800) 2802831 87190

24-32 27TH STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/30/25. Office: 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, 24-32 27th Street, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS DEUTSCHE

BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5, -against- STACIE C. GRANT A/K/A STACIE N. C. GRANT, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on July 10, 2024, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5 is the Plaintiff and STACIE C. GRANT A/K/A STACIE N. C. GRANT, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 11/21/2025 at 10:00AM, premises known as 115-112 225TH STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, New York 11411; and the following tax map identification, -11306-57. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE FOURTH WARD OF THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 722456/2022.

Scott H. Siller, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.

PROBATE CITATION File

No.·2018-504/C SURROGATE’S COURT - QUEENS COUNTY CITATION. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE: OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent. To: WALTER JOHNSON JR., Tyrell JOHNSON., DONNELL JOHNSON, SHAQUILLE JOHNSON, JOAN JACKSON; if living and if dead, to his/her heirs at law, next of kin and distributees whose names and places of residence are unknown and If he/she died subsequent to the decedent herein, to his/her executors, administrators, legatees, devisees, assignees and successors in interest whose name and places of residence are unknown and to all other heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of WATER JOHNSON, aka WALTER CECIEL JOHNSON aka WALTER CECIL JOHNSON, the decedent herein, whose names and places of residence are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence, A petition having been duly-filed by Shantl Westen Johnson who is domiciled at 116-40 196th Street, St. Albans, Queens, New York 11412. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, at·88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on the 4th day of December, 2025 at 9:30 A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Walter Johnson aka Walter Cecil Johnson aka Walter Ceciel Johnson , lately domiciled at 116-40 196th Street, St. Albans, Queens, New York 11412, a will dated April 10, 2009 copy of which is attached, as the Will of Walter C. Johnson deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that [x] Letters of Administration issue to: Shanti Weston Johnson (State any further-relief requested) Deny probate of will and grant letters of administration. HON.

CASSANDRA A. JOHNSON Surrogate OCT. 02, 2025.

JANET EDWARDS TUCKER

Chief Clerk. Jason C. Bost, Esq. (718 361-0299 Attorney for Petitioner. 45 Exchange Boulevard, Suite 802, Rochester. New York, 14614 (Note: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear with you.)

PROBATE CITATION. File No. 2025-577 SURROGATE’S COURT-QUEENS COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: Heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of JOSE RAMON ALONSO a/k/a JOSE R. ALONSO, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators. assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after. due dillgenence. Public Administrator of Queens County Attorney General of New York State. A petition having been duly filed by JOSE HERNANDEZ, who is domiciled at 5830 SW 63rd Avenue, South Miami, Florida 33143. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, at 8811 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on December 18, 2025 at 9:30A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of JOSE RAMON ALONSO a/k/a JOSE R. ALONSO, lately domiciled at 8337 Saint James Avenue, Apt. 3S, Elmhurst, New York, admitting to probate a Will dated September 30, 1992, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of JOSE RAMON ALONSO a/k/a JOSE R. ALONSO, deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that [x] Letters of Administration c.t.a. issue to. Jose Hernandez (State any further relief requested) HON. CASSANDRA A. JOHNSON Surrogate. Dated, Attested and Sealed October 8, 2025. JANET EDWARDS TUCKER, Chief Clerk. Daisy Echevarria. Esq., Attorney for Petitioner Telephone Number 212-286-9499. 270 Madison Avenue, Suite 1501, New York, New York 10016, Address of Attorney. [NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.]

HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

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Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of ARAL SIMTECH LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/07/2025. Office 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: AGA ARCEDO, 40-15 81ST ST, APT B12, ELMHURST, NY 11373. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

COLOMBOS PROP. LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/22/25. Office: 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, 60 Stone Hill Drive S., Manhasset, NY 11030. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Legal Notices

CORRA REALTY GROUP, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/09/2025. Office 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, 3907 Prince St. 6B, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of ECO AIRE, LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/03/2025. Office 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: YVONNE WHITTER, 104-09 209 STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11429. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Queens. WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 20161, Plaintiff -against- ALBERT DICKERSON III, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA DICKERSON A/K/A PATRICIA JANE DICKERSON; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA DICKERSON A/K/A PATRICIA JANE DICKERSON; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; SYNCHRONY BANK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT);

“JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 707536/2024. Mortgaged Premises: 199-16 116th Avenue Saint Albans a/k/a Jamaica, NY 11412 Block: IN 11071 Lot: 33TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $376,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York on September 24, 2007, in CRFN 2007000488874, covering the premises known as 199-16 116th Avenue, Saint Albans a/k/a Jamaica, NY 11412 The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the reverse mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Queens as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. 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 attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney 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 your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, -against- MARISOL ALVELO, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on July 3, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and MARISOL ALVELO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 11/21/2025 at 10:00AM, premises known as 13105 135TH ST, SOUTH OZONE PARK, New York 11420; and the following tax map identification, 51-11780-119. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 701260/2020. Gregory J. Newman, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.

Notice Rates & Information,

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE ASSETS TRUST 2007-5, MORTGAGEBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-5, -against- BEULAH FIGEROUX F/K/A BEULAH BLAKE ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on October 1, 2024, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE ASSETS TRUST 2007-5, MORTGAGE-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-5 is the Plaintiff and BEULAH FIGEROUX F/K/A BEULAH BLAKE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 11/21/2025 at 10:00AM, premises known as 14306 FERNDALE AVENUE, JAMAICA, New York 11435; and the following tax map identification, -11935-3. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ETRECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS, COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 714058/2020. Michael A. Cervini, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as Trustee for Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 20051, Plaintiff AGAINST Sabrina Edery, as Administratrix of the Estate of Ann Lewitinn; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, on the second floor in Courtroom 25 on November 14, 2025, at 10:00AM, premises known as 431 Beach 45th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 15968 Lot 96. Approximate amount of judgment $480,940.23 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 703588/2015. Michael A. Cervini, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792Dated: September 24, 2025

Notice of Formation of Snap Chocolates LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/17/2025. Office 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: ALEXANDRA ELLIOTT, 42-77 HUNTER STREET, APT 6B, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of STRICTLY WHOLESALE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/25/2025. Office 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: ARTURO CIFUENTES, 8709 164TH ST BSMT, JAMAICA, NY 11432. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS IN TAX LIEN FORECLOSURE –SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS – NYCTL 19982 TRUST, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 1998-2 Trust, Plaintiffs, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF VELIA R. TENERIO, et. al., Defendants. Index No. 722337/20. To the above named Defendants –YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty days after service is completed if the summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Plaintiffs designate Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the county in which the property a lien upon which is being foreclosed is situated. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to the Order of the Hon. Alan J. Schiff, J.S.C., entered on October 27, 2025. The object of this action is to foreclose a tax lien covering the premises located at Block 9806 Lot 59 on the Tax Map of Queens County and also known as 91-08 172nd Street, Jamaica, New York. Dated: October 27, 2025 BRONSTER, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiffs NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 1998-2 Trust, By: Leonid Krechmer, Esq. 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703, New York, NY 10019 (212) 558-9300

Notice of Formation of ROSMUC INVESTIGATIONS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/08/2025. Office 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, 6731 52ND AVE, MASPETH, NY 11373. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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