16 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 26, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Photo courtesy of the Offi ce of Council Member I. Daneek Miller
Repaving of Jamaica Avenue through
south Queens is fi nally fi nished
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
and suppliers to use this crucial
miles, or 2.2 miles, including traffi c lanes
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
artery under hazardous conditions that
and a parking lane in each direction.
detracted from the economic growth
In addition to the repaving, almost 100
Aft er not being repaved for over 25
of local businesses, and left pedestrians
corner pedestrian ramps were repaired,
years, Jamaica Avenue’s much-needed
prone to injury. Th is repaving
and over 19,000 square feet of sidewalk
makeover through south Queens has
underscores the public recognition that
and more than 1,200 feet of curbs were
been completed.
Jamaica’s appeal extends beyond the
repaired or replaced.
On Friday, Oct. 20, Councilman I.
boundaries of Southeast Queens to all of
“Th is resurfacing makes Jamaica
Daneek Miller joined Nicole Garcia of
our city’s residents.”
Avenue safer and work better for everyone
the city’s Department of Transportation
During a town hall meeting that Miller
who lives, travels or does business
(DOT), representatives of the
hosted last September, Mayor Bill de
in this community,” said Garcia, the
Department of Design and Construction
Blasio announced that Jamaica Avenue
DOT’s Queens borough commissioner.
(DDC), elected offi cials and community
would be resurfaced. Th e fi rst phase of
“While the fresh asphalt gives everyone
leaders to celebrate the resurfacing of
the project was completed later that year,
a smoother surface, we also improved
Jamaica Avenue.
with seven lane-miles of the thoroughfare
safety around schools by installing concrete
“Jamaica Avenue runs through the
between Francis Lewis Boulevard
islands to shorten crossing distances,
heart of our community’s bustling
and 224th Street being repaved.
adding new pedestrian signals and
Jamaica commercial district,” Miller
Th e newly resurfaced portion of
fi xing and replacing sidewalks, curbs
said. “Years of neglect forced consumers
Jamaica Avenue spans 12.74 total lane
and pedestrian ramps.”
Cops still looking for suit-wearing
crooks in Ozone Park shooting
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
Detectives are still searching for
three dapper-looking crooks who shot
a 53-year-old store owner in the head
during a robbery attempt in Ozone
Park on Monday morning, police
sources said.
According to law enforcement sources,
the suspects walked into the business
located at the corner of 101st Avenue
and 99th Street at around 10:30 a.m. on
Oct. 23 and confronted the victim and
his son, a man in his 30s.
Police said that one of the crooks
pistol-whipped the 53-year-old store
owner in the head. CBS New York
reported that the victim’s son was also
pistol-whipped by the crooks when he
attempted to help his injured father.
Upon arrival, paramedics found the
Th e victim’s father suff ered a laceration
Soon aft er the attack, authorities said,
53-year-old man in cardiac arrest; he
and is now being questioned at the
the bandits fl ed the scene in an unidentifi
was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where
106th Precinct stationhouse in Ozone
ed four-door vehicle.
doctors determined that he had also
Park, sources familiar with the investigation
Offi cers from the 106th Precinct and
sustained a gunshot wound to his head.
said.
EMS units rushed to the location aft er
Police said the man is listed in critical
No arrests have been made as of yet,
receiving a 911 call about the incident.
condition.
police noted.
Photo via Shutterstock
Free senior
transit pgm.
is relaunched
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@starnetwork.com
@smont76
Northeast Queens seniors have a new and
easy way to get where they need to go.
Th e Senior Transportation Program allows
seniors living in the 19th City Council
District, which covers sections of Flushing,
Whitestone, College Point, Douglaston and
Bayside, to schedule rides to and from medical
appointments, family visits and shopping
trips through a local senior center for free.
Th e program was funded by Councilman
Paul Vallone.
A pilot of the program was launched in
April and ended in June. On Nov. 13, the
program is slated to start up again.
A senior interested in taking advantage of
the program should call Bayside’s Selfh elp
Clearview Senior Center between 9 a.m.
and noon to schedule a pickup for the next
day and provide their name, address, phone
number, time of pick up and destination.
Th e senior will then later call back for their
return trip.
Prior to the ride, the senior will fi ll out a
brief form with basic information and an
emergency contact. Rides are provided in
partnership with the Four Two’s and Selfh elp
Community Services.
We may be living longer, but it is not easy
for us to get around,” said Ida Joseph, a
Bayside resident. “I and the rest of the seniors
really appreciate this program.”
Vallone said the program will be an
important transit option in an area considered
to be a transportation desert.
“Seniors in our city, many of who live on
fi xed incomes, are already faced with enough
hardships such as rising property taxes, costs
of living and stagnant funding for critical
services,” Vallone said. “Th e last thing they
should have to worry about is how they’re
going to get to the doctor.”
“Continued investments by government,
including through this program, enable older
New Yorkers to continue to age in the city
they call home,” said Sandy Myers, vice president
of external relations and communications,
Selfh elp Community Services. “We
are proud to partner with Council member
Vallone and look forward to the continuation
and growth of this critical service.”
For more information, call the Selfh elp
Clearview Senior Center at 718-224-7888.
Photo by Robert Stridiron/RHS News