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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

The 111th Precinct bid farewell to Deputy Inspector William McBride and welcomed a new face to the role of leading law enforcement in northeast Queens.

Community Council President Jack Fried said McBride was rotated out of the precinct, as is customary in the NYPD every two three years. He pointed out that the precinct is looking forward to a new chapter with a familiar face in Capt. John Hall.

“We were very happy with McBride. When he was here, he was out there. You could always sit down in his office and talk to him. We feel bad losing him, but we know Capt. Hall – he’s been at our precinct as a deck officer,” Fried said. “[He’s] a very nice guy, pleasant, and hopefully we have a good relationship with him like we did with McBride.”

Hall, a Sunnyside resident, appeared before Community Board 11’s monthly meeting on March 5 and explained he had worked with the 48th and 52nd precincts in the Bronx and spent some time with the 5th Precinct in Manhattan’s Chinatown

“I know what we face as Queens residents — parking is a big issue,” Hall said, explaining he planned to keep enforcing against illegal parking of abandoned cars on residential streets.

One board member asked Hall how he planned to address the fact that residents often report calling community affairs at the 111th without receiving a response, and recently one called without even reaching an answering machine on the other end.

Hall said the new neighborhood policing program in the precinct should give residents a line to officers in the program through email to address non-emergency issues.

Others hoped the new commanding officer would help alleviate their woes regarding illegal fireworks in neighborhoods, an issue which Hall said the precinct would be handling.

McBride had come to the 111th in 2015 after having spent all 24 of his previous years with NYPD in Queens at other precincts, including the 108th.

The 111th was McBride’s first opportunity to lead a precinct of his own, which he said was always his goal upon being promoted to captain.

“When new blood comes, in things change, but hopefully whatever changes are made will be for the better,” Fried said. “Our precinct is not a high-crime precinct. Most of our problems are local break-ins or tires stolen off of cars, or what have you, and it requires a different touch when dealing with the community.”

The 111th Precinct Community Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled so that Hall could have an orientation period with the officers he will be serving with.

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

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city’s office of Emergency Management issued a weather advisory Wednesday as another nor’easter prepared to wreak havoc in New York City just one week after a stormed downed trees and power lines across Queens.

Although the weather advisory took effect Tuesday evening for snow, New Yorkers woke up to wet streets. But the expected six to 10 inches of snow is expected to begin falling Wednesday afternoon and continue into the evening, Emergency Management said.

“Mother Nature’s March madness continues as another nor’easter is forecast to bring snow that will make travel dangerous on Wednesday,” Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito said. “New Yorkers should take mass transit if possible and allow for extra travel time.”

John F. Kennedy Airport announced on Twitter that approximately 467 Wednesday flights have been canceled due to the nor’easter. LaGuardia Airport said on Twitter approximately 587 flights scheduled for today have been canceled

The Department of Education announced Tuesday night that schools would be in session despite the expected storm. After school-programs are going to continue as planned, though PSAL games, public hearings, and field trips using yellow bus service were canceled, the DOE said in a release.

With wind up to 15 mph to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph, the city warned residents to take public transit and allow for longer travel time.

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 Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Pastor Kehinde Oyetunde has denied reports by the Daily News that Celestial Church of Christ in Jamaica is closing after four men from a group home assaulted a congregant in July 2017.

Seven months ago a 50-year-old mother of two was robbed at gunpoint and sexually assaulted at night as she left the church, located at 150-08 on Liberty Ave., and then taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she was in stable condition, according to police.

The four men were arrested within days, charged with sexual assault and armed robbery, and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The four men are to appear in court March 5, the DA’s office said.

Despite a sharp drop in the number of church members from from its average of 150 over the course of nearly a decade to slightly above 20 on Feb. 19, as reported by the Daily News, Oyetunde maintains that the recent low attendance has been the result of a bitter cold winter.

Oyetunde does concede that after the July assault, there was an initial decline in churchgoers, but he said they have been streaming back to the church since the attack and police have been patrolling the area more since the incident.

“The cops have been doing a great job,” Oyetunde said. “We have recovered and people have been coming back gradually.”

Oyetunde said that not only have congregants returned to the church, except for days where it snowed or was brutally cold, but the church had been making plans to relocate to a bigger space either in St. Albans or Queens Village since before the incident.

Pastor Oyetunde also said the woman who was assaulted returned to church two months ago.

“The church is moving forward,” said Oyetunde. “We are looking for a better place.”

The pastor said the church, which is surrounded by auto shops and a wholesale store, is around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, and that he as well as many church members have been longing to have a spot that they can own with its own parking instead of renting a space monthly.

Celestial Church has been in Jamaica for eight years, the pastor said as he greeted a congregant and her toddler.

According to Oyetunde, the incident has galvanized him and his parishioners to work harder in raising more funds for a new facility, especially since 60 percent of them are women.

“We want to have our own sanctuary,” said the pastor. “We want to have our own church.”

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Flatbush man has been convicted of the 2015 stabbing death of his girlfriend at Kissena Corridor Park, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Following a three-week trial, 28-year-old Christopher Sobers was found guilty of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

According to Brown, the “horribly mangled” body of 28-year-old Elmhurst resident Qing Qing Kiemde was found by a homeless man off a pathway in Kissena Corridor Park, near Colden Street and Laburnum Avenue on Oct. 11, 2015.

Brown said Kiemde, who worked in a Queens bakery, met Sobers in a group meeting at Elmhurst Hospital and began dating him.

According to Brown, Sobers violently stabbed Kiemde to death on Oct. 10, 2015.

Brown said when Sobers was taken in for questioning by police, he was in possession of Kiemde’s cell phone, which he had wiped clean of all all her personal information substituted his own. Kiemde was also known for owning a very distinctive handbag in which she carried all her personal belongings, Brown said.

After she disappeared, Sobers was seen carrying a bag with the exact features of Kiemde’s shoulder bag.

Brown said Kiemde’s stabbing was a brutal killing.

“The crime scene was seeped in blood and the victim’s body mutilated and disemboweled,” he said.

“After thoroughly reviewing the evidence, the jury found the defendant guilty and he now faces a very long term of incarceration – to protect others from harm and to punish him for this heinous crime.”

Queens Supreme Court Justice Deborah Stevens Modica set sentencing for March 14 at which time Sobers faces 25 years to life in prison.

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 Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city’s Department of Education has reversed course on a plan that would have sent kindergarten students from overcrowded PS 78 in Long Island City to a school in Woodside, and instead are offering parents a new school site at Court Square.

After intense scrutiny from angry residents and civic groups like the Gantry Parents Association, the LIC Coalition and the Hunters Point Civic Association during two public meetings, the DOE is now offering a new location at the Jackson Avenue pre-K center, instead of using St. Teresa’s school on 50th Avenue in Woodside.

Kindergartners will use the “incubator site” located at 27-35 Jackson Ave. until construction on the new PS 375 elementary school on 57th Avenue, which is expected to open in 2021.

“Community engagement is a critical part of this process, and after listening to families and local elected officials, we developed a proposal to ensure students attending PS 384 next year can remain within their zone in District 30,” a DOE spokesman said.

State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Long Island City) called the DOE’s decision a “step in the right direction.” and said she would continue to advocate for the trailers that are currently near PS 78 to remain as a short-term solution to the overcrowding at the school. Nolan also called for more support from developers who have “personally benefitted from the construction in LIC” and more attention from city government to solve the overcrowding problem that has resulted from the unprecedented growth in the area.

“The long-term issues must be addressed by investing in our infrastructure, so that we can responsibly plan for additional schools, hospitals, public transit, adequate roads and green space as additional residents continue to move into our communities,” Nolan said. “My thanks again for the progress that has been made and I look forward to hearing feedback from parents.”

Meanwhile, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) is calling on the State Liquor Authority to reject the application of Armazen, Inc. to open a liquor store near Q972, the pre-K center and new home of the incubator site at 27-35 Jackson Ave. In his letter, sent to the SLA Monday, Gianaris highlighted the concerns of neighborhood parents who send their children to the pre-K at the site.

Last July, the SLA rejected an application by the same operator to open a liquor store at the same location.

“Our youngest children and their families should not be subject to the flow of traffic coming in and out of a liquor store during the school day,” Gianaris said. “I urge the SLA to listen to our community and reject this application again.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Frantz Petion, an emergency medical technician for the FDNY was arraigned Monday on charges of first-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a 10-year-old girl in Kew Gardens at Queens Criminal Court, the Queens district attorney said.

Petion is accused of forcibly sexually assaulting the girl while she was sleeping in an attic bedroom during a house party in Hollis on Saturday evening, according to the DA’s office.

“The defendant, who attended a birthday celebration while off-duty is alleged to have turned it into a nightmare for this 10-year-old girl and her family,” DA Richard Brown said.

Petion allegedly held the girl by her neck as he raped her, and she started to scream as he put his hand over her mouth and threatened to hit her, according to the DA’s office.

Petion’s voice alerted a male family friend to his presence as he went upstairs to check on the victim in her bedroom, the DA said.

Once the family friend opened the door, he saw the defendant next to the partially clothed victim,

If convicted Petion, could face up to 25 years in prison, Criminal Court Judge Scott Dunn said.

“He will be vigorously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Brown said.

Dunn set Petion’s bond at $500,000 and cash bail at $400,000.

Petion was ordered to return to court March 23.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Whitestone cat advocacy group is fighting to be able to relocate a feral cat colony.

Le Cats on the Water, a non-profit organization based in northeast Queens, said it is “heartbroken” that a 20-year-old cat colony will be relocated by the New York city Department of Transportation. DOT said it will work with the Department of Health but has not named an animal organization that will supervise the relocation and has not provided the local group with any details as to where the new colony will be set up.

Le Cats has asked to move the colony, which houses six cats, less then an acre away on 12th Avenue from the current location at 9th Avenue and Totten Street. The group has offered to pay to clean the small lot of garbage and to make a gate on the chain-link fence for feeders to feed the cats at no cost to the taxpayers or DOT, but its requests have been denied by DOT.

Le Cats has placed the blame on state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who they say has silenced them and as a result the cats, most of which are old, will be relocated to a spot where they will not be able to survive.

Avella called the Le Cats charity a scam and said he is not the bully but that Pam Greco, president of Le Cats, and her husband Phillip have been stalling the cleanup of the area for over 20 years and have used the colony as a way to stop the city or state from taking action. Avella said he is a well-known animal advocate and he has spoken to a number of experts about trapping and neutering and they all have told him that if Le Cats was doing what they said they were, the cats would not still be there.

“This goes back to my days in City Council,” he said. “The Grecos have bullied, threatened and lied to people anytime they try to clean the area up. I’ve put a stop to their bullying. The plan to clean up the wetland is moving ahead and they’re unhappy because this is their little kingdom.”

Le Cats reached out to a feline expert, Carole Wilbourn, who said the displacement of the cats could be a death sentence. Wilbourn, a cat therapist, said because cats have a “homing ability” which involves their scent, visuals determination and memory, destroying their home for the last 20 years would displace them.

“These colony cats, being feral with inborn, unflappable determination and focus, their M.O. would be survival. This survival would be “home” and they could die in their pursuit. My feeling is that it is imperative to keep this colony intact.”

”We are not allowed to give our opinion or fight for our colony by this ruthless politician,” Pam Greco said. “Will he give our well-maintained houses that we scraped and saved for to this group or throw in garbage? I have to ask, where is the heart in New York?”

The cat colony is being moved to make way for a community garden. DOT has said the cats live at the far end of the tidal coastal wetlands on the shoreline, which needs to be remediated to maintain water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce the impact of flooding. In a letter to Le Cats, DOT told them relocating the feral cat colony would be necessary to preserve the shoreline.

“The landscaper performing the work at this location is being given a community garden license to renovate the property as well as clear out any invasive vegetation,” DOT wrote in its letter. “This will provide necessary remediation of the site, while also preserving the integrity of the shoreline. The Department of Sanitation will assist in this effort by removing debris and abandoned structures. Furthermore, the Department of Health will be collaborating with DOT to find a new home for the cats currently occupying the property.”

As far as the future of the colony, a DOT spokeswoman said it is still in the process of reviewing options with all stakeholders.

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

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Source: Times Ledger