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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Friends and family are rallying to support a Flushing family whose 2-year-old daughter faces a rare form of cancer.

Zoey Gorman was diagnosed March 5 with Bilateral Wilms Tumor, which affects only 500 people a year in the United States. Zoey’s parents, Ziklaly and Brian Gorman, took her to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, located in New Hyde Park, after she complained of abdomen pain. Doctors found a mass on her kidneys and she was quickly diagnosed and began treatment.

As of last week, Zoey is on her third round of chemotherapy out of an expected 12 rounds and doctors are confident she will pull through and live a healthy life.

Through all this, Zoey has remained strong and her spirits have been high. Her father said she is home and spending time with her older brother Kalem and with family.

“She is a fighter,” Brian Gorman said.

A week after she was diagnosed, Zoey’s family stepped up to do whatever was necessary to provide care for their daughter. Brian Gorman said while they were in the hospital, he and his wife were not thinking about cost of treatments, just about Zoey’s health. He said he did not learn about the GoFundMe page his sister started until a week after later.

On March 9, Brian’s sister, Katie, started the “Zoey Warrior Princess Z” campaign, which had raised over $$25,425 of its $50,000 goal as of March 28. Brian Gorman and his wife have come up with a nickname for Zoey, which they believe signifies their daughter’s strength. Now “warrior princess Z” has become the hashtag for the GoFundMe page.

“I wanted to make this page to try to ease some stress that they are under,” the page reads. “Any amount will help Brian and Zee get through this! Please keep this sweet girl in your prayers and help her beat this cancer! #warriorprincessZ. Zoey you can do this! Zoeygirl you will do this!”

Friends have been sharing their positive thoughts and donations. Donor John Restrepo, wrote: “For a family that has been nothing but sweet and loving! You will get through this and then some! My prayers are with your family. May God Bless you!”

Scott Morin wrote “Best wishes Zoey! One day at a time, you can do this.”

Brian Gorman said he and his wife feel incredibly grateful for the support.

“Truthfully, this has been humbling for our souls,” he said. “It has shown us that so many people love us and love her and just want to help us in anyway they can.”

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Zach Gewelb

TimesLedger Newspapers

Another Major League Baseball season has begun. The Mets opened their season Thursday afternoon and are set to embark on what should be an interesting 2018 campaign, the team’s first under the guidance of new manager Mickey Callaway.

Let’s take a look at what Mets fans can expect to see from their team this season.

Pitching Staff

The Mets added one new arm to the rotation, but much of their starting staff remains the same. Aces Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom will once again lead the staff, with free agent signing Jason Vargas joining holdovers Matt Harvey and Steven Matz in the rotation. Vargas will start the season on the disabled list with a hand injury, though his DL stint is expected to be short. Seth Lugo will start the season in the rotation, while Zack Wheeler is slated to begin the year in Triple-A.

Just like the last couple of seasons, as the starting rotation goes, so do the Mets. If the rotation is healthy and efficient, then the Mets should remain in the playoff picture throughout the season. If the rotation falls apart like it did in 2017, then it will be tough for the Mets to make a postseason push.

The Mets added Anthony Swarzak to the relief corps this offseason, joining Jerry Blevins, Jeurys Familia and AJ Ramos to form what should be an above average bullpen in 2018. After a breakout 2017 season, the Mets are counting on Swarzak to be a reliable option as a middle reliever, setting the table for late-game options Familia and Ramos. Blevins returns as a solid lefty out of the pen.

The Lineup

The Mets should have a more balanced lineup in 2018 after signing free agents Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier in the offseason. Those two — plus first baseman Adrian Gonzalez — bring some much-needed depth to lineup, which will also consist of holdovers Asdrubal Cabrera, Yoenis Cespedes, Travis d’Arnaud and 22-year-old shortstop Amed Rosario.

Michael Conforto will start the season on the DL, which allows Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo to split time in center field to start the season. Expect to see Nimmo start against righties, while Lagares will likely be in the lineup against southpaws.

Jose Reyes is back again and will provide some depth and versatility off the bench, along with Wilmer Flores and newcomer Phillip Evans, who gets Conforto’s roster spot while the 2017 All-Star is on the DL.

Prediction: 86-76

The Mets, while rebounding from their 70-win 2017 campaign, will improve this season, though they will fall just short of earning a sport in the playoffs.

The Mets will finish second in the division behind the Washington Nationals — who will clinch the NL East for the third consecutive season — and will just miss out on the final Wild Card spot, which will go to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Mets will have better luck with health this season, but it won’t be enough to make the playoffs, making 2018 the second straight year out of the postseason for New York.

Reach reporter Zach Gewelb by e-mail at zgewelb@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4539.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Melinda Katz

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s “Freedom Ticket” program is gearing up to become a broken promise that represents a classic bait-and-switch on Queens.

In a transit desert like Queens, residents greatly rely on buses and the Long Island Rail Road to get around.

The problem is that New York City buses – at $2.75 a ride – are notoriously unreliable and overburdened. The LIRR, while more predictable and time-efficient, is often cost-prohibitive at $10.25 for a one-way peak ticket between southeast Queens and Penn Station.

Enter: The Freedom Ticket.

First proposed in 2015 by the New York City Transit Riders Council, the plan calls for a discounted, one-way, $6.50 fare for about a half-hour ride between six Queens LIRR stations (Rosedale, Laurelton, Locust Manor, St. Albans, Hollis and Queens Village) and either Penn Station in Manhattan or Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn.

It’s a great idea, and holds much promise. Many – myself included – endorsed the plan, and were pleased when the MTA, with much fanfare, announced over a year ago that it was poised to implement a pilot version of the Freedom Ticket concept. It was meant to determine whether lowering the LIRR fare would not only increase LIRR ridership, but assist in alleviating overcrowded trains on the E and F subway lines.

Then recently, and rather quietly, the MTA began discussions to revise the plan by totally omitting Penn Station from the pilot.

Instead – and much to Queens’ dismay – they suggest that those who partake in the Freedom Ticket pilot from southeast Queens go only to the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. From there, LIRR riders are forced to take the subway into Manhattan. By excluding the Manhattan option on the LIRR, as was originally proposed as the pilot, that’s easily an additional 30 to 45 minutes each way on top of the existing commute.

So what would this mean in terms of transportation options for the families of southeast Queens?

Say you’re going to Midtown from Rosedale during the morning rush hour. You could:

A) Spend 30-60 minutes driving by car and possibly pay a $5.76 toll each way (we won’t even discuss the parking once you get into Manhattan);

B) Cough up $10.25 for a 37-minute ride into Penn Station;

C) Take the Q5 or Q85 bus from virtually the first stop to the last stop at Parsons and Archer, then hop on the E train for a 60-90 minute commute into Penn Station, OR;

D) Get a $6.50 one-way Freedom Ticket for a 37-minute ride to the first stop in Brooklyn, then transfer to the subway for an additional 30-minute ride to Penn. That’s, of course, on a rare good day when the trains are actually running nearly on time.

It’s not an ideal choice for any commuter. “Freedom” becomes a misnomer.

Let’s be clear about the purpose of the Freedom Ticket. It’s to offer the LIRR to commuters as a more viable, attractive mass transit option that saves riders both time and money, which would in turn help alleviate congestion on the roads and in the subways

Instead, the MTA is trying to sell riders an inferior fare option that would add at least an hour to their round-trip daily travel in exchange for saving a few bucks. Who – if they had a choice – would even entertain that? Anyone’s time is worth more than that.

The Freedom Ticket is not about charity. Queens residents should not be expected to “take what we can get,” certainly not in a global city like New York. It is a pilot specifically to determine the effects a fairer LIRR price would have on the LIRR and the subway.

At a time when there is broad citywide agreement on the need to relieve congestion and prioritize public transportation, we must make every concerted effort to make transit options more equitable and much more viable.

Watering down the Freedom Ticket pilot program does nothing to achieve this goal. Eliminating Penn Station would simply create a suboptimal choice and set the pilot program up to fail.

The MTA Board may vote during its meeting this week on whether to begin the diluted Freedom Ticket pilot.

Together, with my colleagues in government from Queens, we are urging the MTA to restore the original Freedom Ticket plan by keeping Penn Station in the pilot. For the transit desert that is Queens, anything short of that would be mere lip service to change.

Melinda Katz

Queens Borough President

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Members of FDNY celebrated the life and sacrifice of one of their own, Lt. Michael Davidson, after the 15-year veteran who grew up in Queens was killed quelling a blaze in Harlem last week.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan was filled with mourners Tuesday as FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro and Mayor Bill de Blasio extolled the Floral Park resident’s natural leadership abilities and talents as a firefighter with Engine Co. 69.

“Many nights Mike led his company into a fire toward the danger, using his remarkable abilities and talents to extinguish the fire. On one occasion, in particular, very early in his career, with only two years on the job, he showed the incredible tenacity he possessed battling a growing third-alarm fire on multiple floors. Mike pushed forward, crawling and inching room by room to knock down the fire on the third floor,” Nigro said. “It was clear from the very beginning of his career that he was special. He showed it that night, he showed it every day of his 15 years of brave service.

“Mike commanded every situation and led his fellow firefighters into battle. He wasn’t their captain, he wasn’t their lieutenant, but he was without question a leader.”

Davidson, 37, was posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant since he had passed the exams in 2015 and was awaiting an open position.

He was the 1,150th FDNY member to have died on the job as he tried to find his way out of a smoky basement of a building converted to a film set during the five-alarm fire that broke out in Harlem March 23.

The tragedy follows the deaths of FDNY members and reservists Lt. Christopher J. Raguso, of Division 13 in Richmond Hill, and Fire Marshal Christopher T. “Tripp” Zanetis, of Long Island City. They were two of seven killed in helicopter crash on March 15 during an American military operation in Iraq.

Davidson served as “nozzle man” and was first into the building. The medical examiner determined he died of smoke inhalation. He left behind his wife Eileen and four children.

The firefighter grew up in Sunnyside’s Phipps Houses and attended St. Sebastian’s Catholic Academy. He graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood.

“Michael made this city great through his actions every day and for him it was not just enough to serve, he exhibited so many forms of leadership. He was a cornerstone, a cornerstone of his company as the nozzle man, cornerstone of his wonderful community, Floral Park. A firefighter’s firefighter, an example to everyone, someone the rookies looked up to and learned from,” de Blasio said.

“To Michael’s children, to Brooke, to Joseph, to Emily, to Amy, this is a difficult, painful, confusing time for young people there’s so much to wonder about. Let me offer you a personal thought. I had a dad who wore a uniform and served with pride as well, lost him too early in life as well. One thing you will find that you will remember your father as a hero, you’ll remember his goodness, in your own moments of challenge, in your moments of doubt. Your father will be there with you.”

De Blasio’s father was a World War II veteran who committed suicide when the mayor was 18 years old.

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) recognized Davidson’s origins in his district with a moment of silence at a town hall meeting at PS 150 the night prior to the firefighter’s funeral.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, whose district covers Manhattan, paid his respects to Davidson in a statement.

“This is a tragic day for New York City. Michael R. Davidson was a 15-year FDNY veteran whose service for our city included four separate instances in which he was cited for bravery,” Johnson said. “My deepest condolences to his wife, Eileen, and their four children. They lost a husband and father, and New York lost a true hero whose life was dedicated to keeping us safe.”

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

Are you looking for some Passover alternatives to the usual Seder fare?

Tradition has you eating items such as gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, and a number of other “same old, same old” items, but why not change the menu options to tantalize your palate, especially since there are two consecutive Seder dinners to enjoy?

A tuna and salmon tartare could be an alternative to gefilte fish. For this, you must purchase “sushi grade” fish. You can get this at any fish market, including Crossbay Seashell Seafood in Howard Beach. Call ahead to make sure they have it available. Add chopped avocado, cucumbers, and a bit of vinegar. You can also top it with julienned mangoes.

Fish filets of salmon and either sea bass or scrod can prove to be really tasty for both the taste buds and the eyes by decorating the plate. Prepare an avocado mash and place chopped red peppers and red onions in between the dollops, position it alongside the fish.

Rather than spend the day preparing chicken soup and matzo balls, how about a zucchini soup, instead? A red onion, two chopped potatoes, four chopped zucchinis and five cups of vegetable broth will do. Use an immersion blender or puree in a food processor after it’s cooked. You can always top it with some shredded chicken.

Crepes are great to have for either a savory part of your main meal or dessert. For that, you will need eggs, potato starch, water, sugar and oil for frying. You can prepare and refrigerate for about five days or freeze for about two months. After they are cooled, place between layers of wax paper and paper towel inside a heavy duty zip-top plastic bag.

Gnocchi is another prep-and-freeze idea for either a dairy or meat dish. Potatoes, potato starch and an egg are all you will need. Check out a recipe book for directions. How about gnocchi with wild mushroom or meat sauce? If you are cooking dairy, top the mushrooms with grated cheese. You can also use the gnocchi in a soup as a substitute for the matzo balls.

Jewish people from Spain, Italy, North Africa, Portugal and the Middle East, who are considered Sephardic, are open to using different grains than those who are Ashkenazic, from Eastern Europe. Rice, corn, millet, dried beans, lentil, peas, and peanuts are some ingredients that can be used in Sephardic Passover meals.

Chicken fricassee is a great main dish for a family Seder and the leftovers can be enjoyed a few days after. It is a combination of meatballs and chicken wings. Be creative in the herbs and spices to give it a different country flavor. Serve it over a tasty rice, such as jasmine.

Here is another one for you: lamb kebab in tahini sauce and tomato salsa. Lamb is fine as long as it is not roasted. Marinate the lamb with garlic, olive oil and sumac. Refrigerate for a few hours or even overnight. Prepare tahini sauce by combining the tahini paste with garlic, cold water, lemon juice and chopped mint. For the salsa, use chopped tomatoes, jalapeno pepper (seeded and finely chopped), lemon juice and cilantro. Place the cooked kebab over rice, drizzle the tahini sauce and top with the salsa.

If you are preparing a dairy meal, how about quiche? There are a number of cheeses that are kosher for Passover — including mozzarella for an eggplant parmesan. Cream up your vegetable soups or add some potatoes and sour cream to a bottle of borscht.

How about a Greek salad with grape tomatoes, diced cucumbers, thinly sliced red onions, yellow bell peppers, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese?

Now we come to desserts. If you want to avoid dairy, there is a dessert where you beat egg whites with a sugar until stiff peaks form. Then you beat the yolks in a second bowl with oil, ground almonds, dissolved instant coffee and potato starch. old in the egg white mixture, place in a pan and bake. It will certainly melt in your mouth.

And don’t forget the mandatory four cups of wine.

L’Chiam!

*Some food ideas were taken from the book, “A Taste of Pesach 2.”

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) blasted the Trump administration’s decision to include a question regarding citizenship on the 2020 US Census.

The administration’s action was made following a request by the Justice Department, which suggested that the question be reinstated in an attempt to better enforce the Voting Rights Act.

“The decision to add this question without any testing at this late stage is deeply troubling and reckless,” Meng said. “Asking respondents if they are citizens will likely decrease response rates in immigrant communities, and as a result produce an inaccurate and incomplete count that will impact the distribution of federal resources, and the number of Congressional districts that each state receives.”

At least 12 states — including New York — announced their intention to sue the Trump administration in an effort to block the decision to add the citizenship question on the grounds that it violates the Constitution and would lead to fewer Americans participating in the census.

“New York City is joining Attorney General Schneiderman’s lawsuit to stop President Trump from this unprecedented move to politicize the census,” Mayor de Blasio said Tuesday. “A fair and accurate 2020 count is constitutionally mandated to ensure political power and resources remain with the people – where they belong. President Trump’s decision puts our amazing city of immigrants in jeopardy and threatens federal funding for infrastructure, health care and public safety in New York.”

Queens is the nation’s most ethnically diverse county, where nearly half of the residents are foreign-born.

Meng said that she believes immigrants may choose to not take part in the survey due to the inclusion of the question.

“Many immigrants who are fearful of deportation under the current administration will simply choose to not participate in the census out of fear that the information they provide will be used against them,” she said.

Meng questioned and expressed concerns to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing March 20, reaffirming her opposition to the Justice Department’s request to add a citizenship question to the census.

“But unfortunately, the secretary decided to add this misguided question. I am deeply disappointed with Secretary Ross, and I will now look to introduce legislation to stop this question from being included on the census,” she said.

The Census Bureau is required to provide Congress with the final 2020 census questions by March 31.

During the hearing, Ross said he had yet to make a decision on whether or not to include the question of citizenship. Meng called it “outrageous and irresponsible” that Ross had no answer on whether or not a citizenship question would be included. She and Rep. José Serrano (D-NY) sent a letter to the secretary in January urging him to reject the proposal.

At the hearing, Meng said Ross failed to adequately answer her questions about the costs associated with adding such a question, and whether or not it would improve accuracy.

“Adding a question about citizenship status would be reckless and misguided,” Meng said. “It would lower response rates from those in immigrant communities, make the census more expensive, and add further complications to an already underfunded and under-prepared Census Bureau. There is too much at stake to risk an inaccurate count. Secretary Ross must make a final decision, and that decision must be to reject any plan that would ask about citizenship on the 2020 census.”

The national census, completed every 10 years, is the mechanism by which funding for federal programs is allocated and congressional seats are apportioned. Meng said issues with undercounting and inaccurate reporting from the previous censuses in 2010 and 2000 have cost New York billions of dollars in funding for community programs, as well as seats in Congress. The count is mandated in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.

Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the idea of adding a citizenship question to the Census is a thinly veiled attempt to depress immigrant census turnout.

“Message to the Administration: we are watching you, and with the help of Congressional allies like Grace Meng, we will fight on every front together with the New York Counts 2020 coalition to ensure that every New Yorker is fully counted in the 2020 Census.” Choi said.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A suspended MTA train operator has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for the road rage killing of a Forest Hills jeweler known for his high-profile clientele, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter found Charles Jordan, 48, guilty after a two-week-long jury trialof first-degree manslaughter and felony for leaving-the-scene in February.

The death of Aron “Eric” Aranbayev came following a petty dispute in front of his 71st Avenue and 110th Street home before Jordan backed his 2005 dark blue Dodge Magnum into the man, causing fatal head injuries, the DA said.

“Today’s sentence, imposed by the court, punishes the defendant for this vicious act that arose out of a petty dispute,” Brown said. “This was a senseless death that could have easily been avoided.”

Aranbayev was known to cater to the rich and the famous, earning him the title of “Jeweler to the Stars.” A husband and father of four young children, Aranbayev was co-owner of Rafaello & Co. in the Diamond District of Manhattan where he had his own cadre of famous customers, such as Floyd Mayweather, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Alicia Keys and Jamie Fox

He was getting out of a vehicle dropping him off at his home when Jordan, of Valley Stream, L.I., passed by at a high rate of speed, the DA said. When Aranbayev shouted at the driver, Jordan stopped the car and backed up.

During the dispute, Aranbayev and Jordan exchanged words before the defendant threw the car into reverse for a second time and struck the 40-year-old victim, who suffered skull fractures and brain injuries. Aranbayev died from his injuries at Jamaica Hospital the day following the incident

Jordan fled the scene, but was eventually picked up by police and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting a death and criminal possession of a weapon, the DA said.

“After weighing all the evidence, including video surveillance of the fatal encounter, the defendant was found guilt of manslaughter,” Brown said after the guilty sentence was handed down in February. “The defendant rammed a 1,000-plus pound vehicle into the victim and knocked him to the ground, where he hit his head.”

Jordan is a former MTA train operator on suspension and was apprehended about a week after the incident by the 112th Precinct’s detective squad and the Queens North Homicide Squad.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A town hall to discuss the revised city Department of Transportation proposal for protected bike lanes in Sunnyside drew a standing-room-only crowd Monday as the mournful widow of a bicyclist who was killed in the area called for better safety and the community debated whether the improvements were worth the lost parking spaces.

The original proposal by DOT, heavily opposed by the community, eliminated up to 158 spaces in exchange for bike lanes, while the new proposal eliminates 117 and 129 parking spaces on both Skillman and 43rd Avenues combined between Roosevelt Avenue and Queens Boulevard.

The two corridors came under scrutiny by the de Blasio administration and the Vision Zero initiative after cyclist Gelasio Reyes was killed by a drunk driver in April 2017 at 43rd Avenue and 39th Street, which was just one of many incidents in the area.

“All I want to say is to ask the authorities to so something so these avenues are more safe… I don’t want other families to go through this. What we’re going through is very difficult,” Flor Jimenez, Reyes’ widow, said through a translator as she cried. “I told my husband to take the train, but he said no — by bicycle he would get there faster because the trains take too long. If there’s something that can be done, please do so, so there is no family left as we are right now.”

DOT plans bring parking out into the street with spaces at an angle and the bike lane situated between parked cars and the sidewalk.

On 43rd Avenue, parking will remain parallel with the sidewalk, but will be pulled further into the street to make room for the bike lanes with the addition of pedestrian islands to force drivers to make more cautious turns.

The new proposal shortens those islands to restore about 12 spots and other treatment measures will retain 12 more spots while DOT plans to add 14 spots elsewhere.

One man in the audience who grew up in Sunnyside said there were no safety issues concerning bikes when he was young, and that increased congestion from the bike lanes and lost parking would cause frustration and more safety problems.

The city agency said it counted 1,400 bikes at the intersection of Skillman and 43rd Avenue on a single weekday in May 2017, which many audience members scoffed at in disbelief and brought angry disagreement from speakers.

The auditorium at PS 150 40-01 43rd Ave. was packed to standing room with bicycle advocates associated with Transportation Alternatives, which fights for safer streets, and community leaders such as Patricia Dorfman, executive director of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, who claimed many small businesses feared going out of business entirely.

One woman opposed to the bike lanes said putting one in front of a school only puts children at risk of being hit by cyclists instead of cars while many others argued that less parking means more economic distress in Sunnyside’s business district.

Between 2012 and 2016, 283 people were injured along these two corridors, including 34 bicyclists and 61 pedestrians, according to DOT, with the remainders being motorists.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger