FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com january 31, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 35 Several businesses and two churches were damaged by a fire in East Elmhurst. THE COURIER/PHOTO BY ALEXA ALTMAN FOUR-ALARM BLAZE ENGULFS STOREFRONTS BY ALEXA ALTMAN will be a build back but we’re thankful. We will [email protected] rebuild. We’ll continue to be a light in this community.” When the Rev. Alfonso Wyatt heard there was a According to the FDNY, the blaze began fire on the same block as his parents’ church, he around 10 p.m. at 104-15 Northern Boulevard. thought about the portrait of his father hanging Several units were dispatched to the four-alarm on the wall, and whether or not it had survived. fire, which took nearly two hours to control. The On Sunday night, January 27, a fire raged buildings contained both stores and residences, through several buildings on Northern Boulevard officials said. No rescues were reported. in East Elmhurst, including Friendship Church The cause of the fire is still under investigation. of Christ, founded by William and Mae Wyatt. While their church suffered only smoke and water Wyatt, who said he was still in shock, said damage, the nearby Church of God in Christ and his thoughts were with the nearby church that several businesses including Lospinos Lounge wasn’t as lucky. and Sign Plaza of NY Inc. were destroyed. “Our hearts go out to our sister church,” he “We’re thankful it was saved,” said Wyatt. “It said. “They were burned to the ground.” Bayside shoppers can take a load off BY ALEXA ALTMAN [email protected] Relax and kick up your feet, Bayside. Assisted by funding from former State Senator Frank Padavan and donations from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Bayside Business Association installed 14 new benches along Bell Boulevard, the first phase of a multi-layer beautification initiative. “It’s always been a dream and a vision of people shopping on Bell Boulevard to sit and talk to neighbors,” said Judith Limpert, president of the Bayside Business Association. “It’s a very communal feeling and benches are hopefully going to foster that feeling.” The $1 million project, spanning Bell Boulevard from Northern Boulevard to 35th Avenue, will also include new street lamps and improved sidewalks. Alex Cosentini, 21, of Bayside, believes the benches will add a wonderful aesthetic to the neighborhood. “It’s the small little things sometimes,” said Cosentini. “You don’t always have to do big things. Anything to help improve the quality of life.” Additional reporting by Anthony O’Reilly PHOTO BY ANTHONY O’REILLY New benches along Bell Boulevard are part of the multi-phase beautification initiative happening in Bayside. Cascarino’s on Bell now only for catering BY MELISSA CHAN [email protected] A popular Bayside pizzeria is now only open for catered events, managers said. Cascarino’s has shelved its pizza delivery and takeout operations at its 39-17 Bell Boulevard location, but officials said they are renting out the second floor for parties. Brick oven pizza lovers craving a slice can visit Cascarino’s other Whitestone store at 152-59 10th Avenue, which will remain the same, managers said. Co-owner Jimmy Coady cited logistics for the change. “The place was doing well, but it’s just beneficial for me to have everything at one location to save money on the overhead,” he said. “The food business is very tough. With this economy, it just makes sense.” New tool in fight against guns BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly called 2012 the year that will be remembered for an “epic” storm, a presidential election, the fiscal cliff and New York City’s fewest homicides in more than half a century — and the police department may have a new tool to decrease that number. At this year’s State of the NYPD address, he announced that the police department recently received delivery of a new technology that can detect a hidden gun on a person. With the help of the London Metropolitan Police (also known as Scotland Yard) and the item’s vendor, a tool has been developed that reads a “specific form of natural energy emitted by people and objects,” according to Kelly. If something is blocking this radiation, such as a weapon, the tool will highlight that object. “We still have a number of trials to run,” said Kelly. “But we’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made over the past year.” Currently, the NYPD is determining how best to deploy the new technology to ensure its success in detecting concealed weapons.
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