Author: Dan Rose

On Wednesday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m., the Whitestone community is having a town meeting at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church at 150-05 12th Avenue.

A representative from the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Members of the 109th Precinct will also be there to provide an update on safety in the neighborhood.

In addition, community members can sign up to receive a free smoke/CO detector alarm, courtesy of the FDNY and Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz.

A Flushing medical doctor was indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges as a result of a botched abortion that resulted in the death of a 30-year-old woman.

The arraignment alleges that 52-year-old Robert Rho, of Lake Success, New York caused the woman’s death by perforating her uterine wall and causing a disruption and transection of the uterine artery during a surgical procedure on July 9, 2016, at the Flushing health facility where he practices. He subsequently failed to provide her with appropriate and timely medical attention.

After the initial procedure, the arraignment states that the victim was bleeding profusely and underwent a second procedure. She was subsequently allowed to leave the Liberty Women’s Health Care of Queens, located at 37-01 Main St., with her sister, despite having collapsed and appearing disoriented.

On the way to her sister’s Bronx apartment, she reportedly fell unconscious. She was taken to a Bronx hospital where she was pronounced dead later that night after being given six units of blood.

If Rho is convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

 

Police are looking for a thief who pocketed more than $10,000 worth of watches in Whitestone.

Cops say that on Wednesday, September 28, at 10:30 a.m., the man pictured on the left entered a Hallmark store at 153-75 Cross Island Parkway.

The suspect, somehow without anyone noticing, walked behind the register and removed a key.

He used that key to open a watch display case and took 30 watches, worth more than $10K.

He placed them in his black book bag and left the store.

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 submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM.

With the presidential election fast approaching on Tuesday, November 7, the deadline to register to vote is on October 14.

With that in mind, Councilman Peter Koo teamed up with food delivery service website FlushingFood.com to register voters in the local area.

Until October 14, FlushingFood.com will include voter registration forms with each of their deliveries to encourage voter participation in the Asian American community. The company will also deliver voter registration forms even to residents who don’t order food, if called at 718-460-7858.

“New York City is the most diverse city in the world, and candidates are vying for Asian American support because they know we are a growing segment of the population,” Koo said. “Unfortunately, barriers in language often prevent new Americans from realizing their potential in the polls. especially in immigrant communities, voter education is often as simple as letting people know how to register.”

“That’s what we’re doing today,” he added. “FlushingFood.com is doing an outstanding service by carrying registration forms to its constituencies, and I encourage everyone to remember to take part in our democracy and register to vote.”

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Councilman Barry Grodenchik and the city Department of Transportation teamed up to give away free bike helmets to more than 1,000 residents in Oakland Gardens over the weekend.

The event was held at PS 46 Alley Pond School. DOT staff helped fit the helmets for all users and provided instructions on how to properly wear them.

“It is incredible important that we take proactive measures to bike safely whether we are going around the neighborhood as a leisurely activity or commuting,” Rozic said. “With the Kissena Velodrome and Eastern Queens Greenway in the heart of the neighborhood, I want to make sure our community knows we are working tot make protective gear accessible to ensure their everyday safety.”

Close by are two popular parks – Alley Pond Park and Cunningham Park – that many bicyclists enjoy riding through.

“People enjoy cycling in the streets, in the parks as well as in bike lanes year round, and as ridership continues to grow, it is important that we encourage rider safety,” Grodenchik said.

 

Last week, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein presented a check to the Douglaston/Little Neck Community Library at their National Art League Student Art Show.

The $125,000 grant was allocated to replace the windows and doors at the library.

“The Douglaston/Little Neck Community Library has one of the highest circulation rates in the Queens Library system and the building is in need of repair so that its many users are properly served,” Braunstein said. “I am pleased to provide the Douglaston/Little Neck Library with a $125,000 grant for much needed window and door replacement.”

 

Police are looking for a man who assaulted a female bartender at a bar in Murray Hill.

On Sunday, September 18, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the man in the photo above grabbed the 38-year-old victim by the hair and hit her in the head with a glass. According to police, he committed the heinous act after she refused to serve him alcohol because he failed to pay for a previous round of drinks.

Police have not indicated if he was drunk or not.

The bartender suffered a laceration to her head that required five stitches. She was taken to Flushing Hospital and is in stable condition.

The suspect, however, left the bar in an unknown location.

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  submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM.

See the incident in the video below:

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Councilman Barry Grodenchik are hosting a free bike helmet fitting and giveaway this weekend at PS46 Alley Pond School.

Community members must be present to get a helmet to learn how to fit it. Adults over the age of 18 must sign a waiver, and youth under 18 must have a parent present to sign the waiver.

The event starts at 10 a.m. at 64-45 218th Street in Oakland Gardens.

Elected officials cut the ribbon to the YWCA’s new COMPASS NYC (Comprehensive After School System of NYC) program last week.

Operated by the City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the program now becomes an available after school option for students in grades K-12. Students participate in hands-on projects that “strengthens comprehension and application of their classroom education.”

At the ceremony were Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Councilman Peter Koo, Public Advocate Letitia James and Katherine Kim, executive director of the YWCA.