UPDATE:
Authorities have taken the scaly fiend into custody. He’s being transported to the New York City Parks Department. Police shared a photo of the alligator, which was about two feet long.
News
NYPD program in 109 Pct. wins Best of NY award
During the 2015 New York Digital Government Summit in Albany, a NYPD pilot program that began in the 109th Precinct received a “Best of New York” award from the Center for Digital Government.
The program was honored with the trophy for “Most Innovative Use of Social Media/Citizen Engagement.” The Precinct worked along with IdeaScale, a crowdsourcing platform, to crowdsource the quality-of-life agenda in the community. Through the platform, residents can bring up issues facing their community, which is then ranked based upon the amount of user contribution, comments and votes.
The program has helped the NYPD identify issues that would have otherwise been unknown. In turn, the precinct has been able to provide sufficient solutions.
“Social breaks down the barriers. The New York Police Department has had many, many issues over the past several years. We’re keenly aware of them,” said Zachary Tumin, NYPD deputy commissioner, Strategic Initiatives, to Warc.com. “Our job here is to help build trust and restore confidence in police and policing.”
The NYPD also won the award for “Best Application Serving the Public.” Through their Emergency Service Unity Mobile Computer Assisted Dispatch, first responders can receive emergency information in real-time, saving time and lives for those in need.
Fire in Flushing closes part of Northern Boulevard
Police are advising residents to avoid Northern Boulevard between 150th street and 154th Street due to a commercial fire.
The fire looks to be at H&Y Marketplace (Han Yang Mart) according to a photo supplied by police.
The FDNY was on the scene within the last hour to get the incident under control, but part of Northern Boulevard was closed, due to the fire.
ALERT Pls avoid Northern Blvd 150 St to 154 St due to a Commercial Fire pic.twitter.com/DwwfkLh5IB
— NYPD 109th Precinct (@NYPD109Pct) September 9, 2015
Politicians condemn Jeb Bush ‘anchor babies’ comment
Queens elected officials called for an apology from Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush on Friday, following his comment last week that “anchor babies,” a term he’d invoked and been chastised for in recent weeks while discussing immigration reform, was “frankly more related to Asian people.”
The term has been utilized by Bush, as well as GOP presidential rival Donald Trump in recent weeks, to refer to children born in the United States to non-American parents, solely as a means of attaining American citizenship.
At Flushing Town Hall on Friday, community leaders in the Asian-American community condemned Trump and Bush’s remarks, calling the term offensive and cautioning that it would only propel anti-immigrant and racist sentiment.
“Jeb Bush’s comment is only the latest in a string of knee-jerk invectives by presidential candidates intent on pandering to radicals hell-bent on eviscerating immigrant communities across the country,” said Councilman Peter Koo. “We are calling on all presidential candidates to immediately end this anti-immigrant one-upmanship.
“Instead of further marginalizing communities, our presidential candidates should be campaigning on ways they can bring our country together,” he added.
Read the full story at the Queens Examiner.
Stars make appearances at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day
Before the tennis stars got to duke it out on the courts this week, the U.S. Open held its annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. While the day centers around the idea of promoting youth tennis and encouraging children to develop healthy habits through fun activities, the event concluded with a star-studded concert for fans of all ages.
Former performers include Rihanna, Backstreet Boys, Jason Derulo, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato among others. Similarly, this year’s lineup also consisted of young up-and-comers such as Bea Miller, who rose to fame on ‘The X Factor’ with Simon Cowell, and Jacob Whitestone, who was named an “Artist to Watch” by MTV in August. American Authors, the Brooklyn based band behind the hit song ‘Best Day of My Life,’ brought their optimistic alternative rock to the stage while the hip hop duo Kalin and Myles returned for the second consecutive year.
To read the full story and see more photos, check out the Queens Ledger.
ATM skimming devices found in Flushing
According to the 109th Precinct, ATM skimming devices were discovered in 
automated teller machines and gas stations in and around the Flushing area.
One was found inside a Flushing Duane Reade at 136-02 Roosevelt Ave. Two more skimmers were found attached to gas pumps at the gas stations located in Whitestone at 17-55 Francis Lewis Blvd. and at 29-16 Francis Lewis Blvd.
Police told a local newspaper that the devices were discovered by employees of Duane Reade and gas station, respectively, who then immediately called NYPD to investigate.
If you may have used your credit or debit card on these ATMs or gas pimps since Aug 1, police advise to call your credit card or bank companies and inform them of the cards which may have information in the open.
Flushing’s New York – Presbyterian Hospital Doctor Ranks #2 on Top Doctor List
Dr. Pierre Saldinger
New York – Presbyterian Queens
Chairman, Department of Surgery
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Dr. Pierre Saldinger joined the staff at New York – Presbyterian Queens (formerly NY Hospital Queens) to lead the effort in expanding the scope and depth of surgical services to increase access for the Queens community.
He earned his medical degree Switzerland’s University of Basel School of Medicine and completed a residency in general surgery at Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston and a clinical fellowship in hepatobiliary surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
It’s Queens the Magazine | Full story here.
Flushing pols host music and movie night
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Council Member Peter Koo joined Flushing civic leaders and community families for a night of music, a movie and a great time.
Hundreds of local residents and families gathered in Kissena Corridor Park to enjoy a performance by the Tony-O band and a free screening of Big Hero 6.
Bayside activist Frank Skala passes away
Longtime Bayside community activist Frank Skala passed away. He was 78.
Skala was was a longtime teacher in Queens, and founded the East Bayside Homeowners Association and the New Bayside High Alumni Association. He also served on Community Board 11 for over a decade.
Full story here.
Snowdays on Prince Street opens its doors
This week saw the hottest day of the year, which brought a reminder that summer is not over yet in New York City.
Everyone’s looking for another way to cool their internal temperature, and in Flushing there’s a whole new way to do that with shaved cream at Snowadays, which opened its doors last week.
Made from locally sourced ingredients and natural organic 1 percent milk from the Hudson Valley, Dewan Tarek and his business partner Tony Quach are bringing the new frozen desert that is reminiscent of the fluffiness of snow with a taste like ice cream.
“Really, it’s on its own in terms of frozen desert,” Tarek said.
Tarek explained that the cream is frozen and after you choose your flavor, they start shaving the block and then you can then add your toppings in a totally customizable experience.
“Everything is made to order,” he said. “We’ll take the block right out in front of you from the freezer.”
Read full story here.
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