Fire in the hole!
ABLAZE: A fi re erupted in a manhole on Bay Ridge Parkway and 19th
Avenue on Jan. 28, injuring two workers. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
COURIER L 16 IFE, FEBRUARY 7-13, 2020
Cops are hunting the bandit who shot a grocer in the eyebrow during
a heist in Brownsville. NYPD
BY COLIN MIXSON
A gunman fi red at a hapless
grocer amid a robbery
in Brownsville on Jan. 10,
grazing his eyebrow before
nabbing his cash.
The victim told police he
was working the register at
the deli on Church Avenue
near Rockaway Parkway at
9:30 pm, when the masked
suspect barged in waving a
gun and demanding loot.
Surveillance footage appears
to show the ballsy
bodega worker waving his
hand at the gun dismissively,
leading the robber to
fi re off a shot that police say
struck the victim above his
right eyebrow.
The victim them quickly
handed the thief a wad of
cash, followed by some more
money stuffed in black plastic
bag, cops said.
Doctors treated the
wounded grocer at Brookdale
Hospital following his ordeal,
and he has since been
released, according to police.
BY ROSE ADAMS
An underground fi re
erupted in a Bensonhurst manhole
on Jan. 28, seriously injuring
two workers, according to
authorities.
The contracted workers
were upgrading a 12-inch National
Grid gas main on Bay
Ridge Parkway and 19th Avenue
at around 10 am when a
rupture in the pipe sparked the
enferno, offi cials said.
More than 65 fi refi ghters
rushed to the scene, where they
found the two workers with serious
burns to their body, a
Fire Department spokesman
said.
First responders rushed
the victims to Staten Island
University Hospital Northwell
Health Burn Care Center in
stable condition for treatment,
authorities say.
Smoke eaters quelled the
blaze in about 45 minutes, but
National Grid continued excavating
the area for hours —
shutting down the gas to six
nearby properties, and disrupting
service to about 25 customers.
Gas service was restored
to all affected customers later
that night, according to National
Grid spokeswoman
Karen Young, who said that an
investigation into the incident
remains ongoing.
“Safety is our top priority
and we will conduct an incident
analysis,” said Young.
Bodega bandit shoots grocer in
the eyebrow amid two-bit heist
Bensonhurst manhole fi re leaves two with serious injuries
By Camille Sperrazza
That’s why customers from all over
the tri-state area bring their cars to T.J.’s
Automotive in Bensonhurst.
A lifetime ago, mechanic and shop owner
Tony Jacono (T.J.), was a race car driver,
written about in trade publications. He still
owns a ‘65 Corvette. A perfectionist who
doesn’t let a car leave his shop until it meets
his high standards, he has been working on
vehicles since he was 17 years old.
Jacono briefly attended Brooklyn’s
Automotive High School, but was told
he was “too advanced” for the basic car
skills that were being taught there. Other
students may have been learning to put
keys into the ignitions, but Jacono was
already taking motors apart, and putting
them back together again. So he decided
to go to work, and he toiled for other
shops, before going into business for
himself 34 years ago.
While a good deal of the work he does
involves standard automobile repairs, he
also specializes in repairing and restoring
classic cars, as he happens to own a few
of those, too.
The seasoned car veteran says he has
worked on all types of cars, including
various versions of the Batmobile, the
Monkee Mobile, (as in “Hey, Hey, we’re the
Monkees), and 007 vehicles. He says that
George Barris, the American car designer
and builder of many famous Hollywood
custom cars, “couldn’t believe it,” when
he saw his recreation of the Batmobile.
These vehicles remain in demand, as they
are often requested for comic shows and
conventions, says Jacono.
He likes to call himself, “old school,” and
says there’s really not too much mystery
when it comes to auto repairs: “Cars
run on gas and spark.” He doesn’t have
a website. Instead, he has a reputation.
“People in the industry, know us,” he says.
Car collectors from all over bring their
“muscle cars,” hot rods, and classic
vehicles to his auto repair shop for
restorations. At press time, among the
cars he was working on included a ‘66
convertible.
“We do whatever is needed,” says
Jacono. “All the mechanical work and
the computer work.” Every car is treated
with loving care, the same way he treats
his own vehicles.
There are three other mechanics at
the shop, and Jacono makes sure he
personally oversees everything so that his
standard of excellence will be maintained.
It has to be perfect for his clients so that
his reputation remains intact. After all,
the shop bears his name.
Jacono invites the owners of classic
cars to come in for a look around. “They
are welcome to check us out before
spending their money,” he says. They’ll
talk shop, maybe reminisce a little, and
all expectations will be put in writing to
make sure everyone is on the same road.
T.J.’s Automotive 1602 McDonald
Ave., off Ave. N in Bensonhurst, (718) 376-
2929. Open Mondays through Fridays, 6
am – 4 pm. (The shop sometimes closes
earlier on Fridays, so call ahead).
T.J.’sAutomotive
An HONEST and TALENTED Mechanic is NOT EASY to FIND
Tony Jacono, Owner