Author: Dan Rose

An early Tuesday morning collision on the Whitestone Expressway has left one man dead and another in the hospital.

Police say that at about 7 a.m., authorities found a 50-year-old man unconscious and another 51-year-old man with neck and back pain near Exit 14.

EMS responded to the scene and took both men to Booth Memorial Hospital (now called New York Presbyterian-Queens). The 50-year-old man was pronounced dead.

The 51-year-old victim was listed in in stable condition.

After a brief investigation by the NYPD’s Highway Collision Investigation Squad, police say the 50-year-old man, driving a 2011 red Ford truck, lost consciousness and sideswiped a 2013 white Audi sedan driven by a 34-year-old man.

The Ford truck then rear-ended a 2007 white Chevy truck, driven by the 51-year-0ld victim.

The 34-year-old Audi driver was not hospitalized.

There are no arrests at the time. The investigation is ongoing.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic joined State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Councilman Peter Koo at a panel on affordable housing yesterday at the Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Prince Street Innovative Senior Center.

The elected officials were joined by representatives from the Department for the Aging (DFTA), Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Agency and Selfhelp Housing.

They discussed affordable housing options available for seniors and how to navigate them.

Councilman Paul Vallone and the Department of Education (DOE) announced today that students living in College Point will finally have their own middle school.

The new 507-seat junior high school is expected to open with a new class of 6th graders in 2018.

The school will be located at the former St. Fidelis School at 124-06 14th Avenue.

“This long awaited middle school is a huge win for the students and parents of College Point who have asked for this for years,” Vallone said. “This new school is a critical investment in our children’s educational future.”

Vallone is asking all residents attend the next meeting of the Community Education Council (CEC) for District 25 next month on May 3rd to learn more about this school. It will be at 7 p.m. at 30-48 Linden Place in Flushing.

“As we approach its official opening in 2018, our office will ensure the community and DOE are engaged along every step of the way,” Vallone added, “to establish the best possible school for the students throughout College Point.”

Last week, Dime Bank and the Queens Chamber of Commerce brought local Queens businesses together by hosting a networking event at Dime’s Whitestone location.

Leaders of local Queens businesses talked about what they do, why they do, and how they positively affect the Queens business scene.

“Dime Bank is proud to serve Queens, and we strive to promotes economic growth in the Queens business community,” said DIME’s Glen Oaks branch manager,  Charisma Vega

“We thank DIME Community Bank for bringing Queens businesses together as this event. We are elated to have them as a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce,” said Chamber Executive Director Tom Grech, who, with a new publishing partner, has just revamped the Chamber’s Magazine, ‘This Is Queensborough’, with a goal of bringing attention to Queens business news and spurring economic growth in Queens.

DIME’s Whitestone branch manager, Konstantina Foukas spoke about DIME’s ability to help local businesses. “Whether you need an exceptional account for your growing business, or your established business requires a checking account with more benefits, Dime has solutions for all types of businesses, that will save you time, and help your business grow,” said Foukas.

Charisma Vega can be reached at DIME’s Glen Oaks location | (718) 343-1698 | 253-15 Union Tpke, Glen Oaks, NY 11004

Konstantina Foukas can be reached at DIME’s Whitestone location | (718) 746-6500 | 24-44 Francis Lewis Blvd, Whitestone, NY 11357

Police arrested a Long Island woman in connection to an incident that occurred at Spa Castle in February.

Authorities say 24-year-old Areli McMillian, from East Patchogue in Long Island, left Spa Castle on February 26 without paying.

When a 21-year-old employee approached McMillian’s car, she hit him with the vehicle.

EMS took the employee to a local hospital, where he received treatment for bruising and other pains.

After an investigation, police on Sunday arrested McMillian for assault charges, petit larcency and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police are looking for this suspect, in the video above, for multiple incidents of forcible and inappropriate touching.

Authorities say that three separate female victims, each 18 years old, have reported that while they were aboard the Q76 bus in eastern Queens, this man grabbed their behinds.

The incidents happened separately in October, November and December of last year.

In each case, the creep made his move after the victims boarded the bus at the intersection of Francis Lewis Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway, all at approximately 3 p.m.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

The Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) is launching its new public service campaign,”Strength, Resilience, Justice,” to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is from April 2 to 8.

The campaign will be featured on two major Korean-speaking radio stations – FM 87.7 Korean Radio Broadcasting (KRB) and AM 1660 K-Radio.

According to the organization, the initiative’s goal is to encourage underserved crime victims to learn more about their rights and available resources toward recovery.

They say it will also send a “clear message” that the immigrant community should come together to advocate for the rights of crime victims.

KAFSC is a local nonprofit organization that aims to prevent and end domestic violence and relationship abuse, ultimately to create a “violence-free society.” Its programs include a 24-hour bilingual hotline, individual and family counseling, advocacy for clients in the legal, medical and public welfare systems, and community workshops on a variety of topics.

The group will launch the campaign at a press conference on Monday, April 3rd at 3 p.m. in front of the 109th Precinct at 37-05 Union Street.

 

Police are looking for two men who robbed two commercial establishments in the area over the weekend.

Authorities say the first incident occurred on Saturday at 7:18 a.m. The two suspects entered Green Garden Spa, located at 43-32 College Point Boulevard. They took $6,000 from the store, and left inside a yellow Prius cab.

A few hours later, at 11 a.m., the two men snuck into SUIY Internet Cafe at 35-16 Farrington Street in Flushing. They took $700 from the establishment and left in a tan Toyota minivan.

The two men were caught with surveillance footage. Their images are seen above.

There are no reported injuries from the incidents, police say.

Anyone with information in regards to these robberies is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Police are looking for a man who robbed a pregnant woman inside a Flushing elevator.

Authorities say that the incident happened on Wednesday, March 15 at approximately 11:50 a.m. The 29-year-old victim walked into the elevator inside a commercial building at 133-47 Sanford Avenue. The suspect was already inside.

When the elevator reached the second floor, the suspect blocked the elevator door and demanded money from the pregnant woman. She complied, and quickly exited the elevator.

The suspect then stayed inside the elevator, police said. He left the building through the basement.

There were no injuries reported from the incident.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Elected officials attended the 15th annual Sino-America Business Association’s gala last week.

The association boasts more than 100 members and has a strong presence in the Flushing community, officials said.

Their mission is to foster beneficial relationships between American and Chinese businesses and promote entrepreneurship. They provide free cultural services and information to the community to bridge cultural divides.

Among the attendees were Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Senator Toby Ann Stavivsky, Councilman Peter Koo, and SABA leaders Jimmy Fu, Annie Lin Fu and other Flushing business owners.