8 The QUEE NS Courier • JANUARY 22, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Police save pup struck by car on GCP BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 One pit bull mix puppy, who found himself on the Grand Central Parkway on the morning of Jan. 19, proved that cats are not the only ones with extra lives thanks to help from local police. Police Officers Melissa Mezzoiuso and George Morinia-Blocker of the 110th Precinct responded to a call at 8:21 a.m. of a “vicious dog” wandering in the westbound lane of the Grand Central Parkway, near the Long Island Expressway, according to police. Upon getting to the scene, the officers saw the dog sitting motionless on the highway. Morinia-Blocker then maneuvered the car to keep Mezzoiuso safe as she got out of the car and went toward the puppy, who was not “vicious,” but instead scared and injured. Mezzoiuso then picked up the dog, who could not move on his own, and carried him to the side of the road. The officers then placed the dog in their squad car and took him to the ASPCA office in Queens. It was then decided to take the dog to Animal Care & Control of NYC in Manhattan. The 110th Precinct later tweeted that the almost 6-month-old dog, dubbed “Rocky” by Mezzoiuso and Morina- Blocker, had been struck by a car and had broken its leg. The puppy has since been transferred to the ASPCA Animal Hospital in Manhattan. According to the ASPCA, “Rocky” is resting comfortably at the hospital where he underwent surgery for the broken leg on Jan. 20. His fracture has since been fixed and he will continue to Photo courtesy of the NYPD Large weekend turnout boosts bid to save historic Forest Hills movie theater THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Jankiewicz Cinemart, a cinema in Forest Hills, is trying to boost ticket sales to become a first-run movie theater again. BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com @EricJankiewicz Cinemart has been collecting “powerful ammunition,” as the owner said, in its battle to remain open. The almost century-old Forest Hills theater sold out most of its weekend showings of “American Sniper,” and owner Nicolas Nicolaou plans to use the high numbers in his bid to convince Hollywood movie companies to grant the theater first-run movies. “We’re hoping this will allow us to see the executives of the film companies so they will give us the opportunity that this theater deserves: the opportunity to play upscale film,” Nicolaou said. “People in our community supported their local theater, somewhere that has history.” After installing digital projectors, the theater gained the rights to play Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper.” But Nicolaou said this is just a test run and the future of the theater depends on the sales of tickets for the new movie. “It’s powerful ammunition,” Nicolaou said about the high customer turnout over the weekend. “They want to see the money? Well, here it is.” Nicolaou will be setting up meetings with the New York City branches of major media companies to discuss the theater’s viability to show first-run movies. “We have the tickets to prove it,” Nicolaou said. “And if we have to do more we will do more.” receive “around-the-clock care” and is expected to make a full recovery. “We urge anyone with information about Rocky to please come forward,” an ASPCA spokeswoman said. “Thank you to the officers of the 110th Precinct who rescued a dog in need and brought him to safety at the ASPCA.”
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