10 The QUEE NS Courier • april 11, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com FROM THE HEART Community contributes to family following tragedy BY MAGIE HAYES At the beginning, Rinaldi, 25, [email protected] received donations from his immediate Queens community. Eventually, People the world over are helping that spread to the entire state and now one College Point family racked by several donations have come in from tragedy. overseas. The Malave family was driving home “I look at that picture of the family, from a spring break vacation in Florida and it’s been my motivation. I think it on Saturday, March 30 when they were has been a lot of other people’s motivation reportedly hit by a driver heading down in wanting to give back, too,” said the wrong side of the road. Christian Rinaldi. “They say, ‘You know what, Malave, 11, was killed in the crash, and this could have been me, my family; this his parents Carlos and Hilda, and older could have been my little kid.’” sisters Melissa and Aly, were severely More than 600 people have contributed injured. to the Malave fund. Rinaldi Days later, longtime family friend hopes that the money will further provide Daniel Rinaldi got the idea to raise for the family and give them time money for the Malaves, potentially to help pay for their medical bills and funeral expenses. On Monday, April 1, Rinaldi set up a website with a fundraising to recover, whether they need to pay for a physical therapist or simply put food on the table. “Money should be the very last thing this family must worry about at this time,” said Allison O’Hagan on the fundraising site. “DONATE DONATE DONATE!” Promotions for the Malave fund have been done primarily via social media – the site has been shared more PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL RINALDI The Malave family was in a car accident that resulted in the death of their youngest son, Christian, 11. Now, their community is behind them, raising tens of thousands of dollars to help them recover. FENCED IN JOGGERS AT LITTLE BAY PARK SAY CHAIN LINK A PROBLEM BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] A newly-erected fence blocking a running path at Little Bay Park is pushing pedestrians onto a detour road for cars, The Courier has learned. The chain-link fence was put up about one week ago when construction for a comfort station at the Bayside park began, according to the city’s Parks Department. Runners heading toward Fort Totten say they are brought to a halt near the roller rink. “It’s a problem because we can’t get around to the other side,” said Robert Martucci of Floral Park. “That’s where we were headed right now, but we can’t make it.” They are forced to choose between turning back around and hopping a rail to continue their jog alongside oncoming traffic on a small detour road heading toward the Cross Island Expressway. “It’s very annoying. It’s blocking the path. Now you’re endangering your life by passing through the highway,” said Fay Alvarado of Bayside. Victoria Lippert, a regular jogger from Bayside, said the fence is necessary but should not impede pedestrian traffic. “Traffic is heading onto the Cross Island Parkway, and you’re walking against it,” she said. “It’s very dangerous.” But Ron Seltzer, a regular walker from Whitestone, said the incoming comfort station is worth any inconvenience. “The walk is cut in half. I don’t like it, but I’ll put up with it because it’s definitely a plus,” he said. “I never liked going to the port-a-potties.” The Courier placed multiple inquiries to the Parks Department after receiving a tip from regular joggers last week. An agency spokesperson responded on April 8, saying the contractor plans to move the fence five feet into the park to “allow for improved pedestrian access” immediately. The fence had not been moved as of press time on April 10. goal of $1,000. A little more than a week after the crash, with the Malaves still in a Florida hospital, donations at home reached over $40,000. “We’re still climbing,” said Rinaldi. “There’s no indication of slowing down or capping it.” ROBBERY SUSPECTS CHARGED AFTER CHASE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] Two robbery suspects who led police on a high-speed chase through Queens have been charged with robbery, criminal use of a firearm and possession of an imitation pistol, according to the district attorney. One of the defendants, Ravinder Dharamshot, 32, of Queens Village, has additionally been charged with reckless endangerment. Dharamshot and his accomplice, 23-year-old Umair Farooq of Oakland Gardens, are accused of robbing several gas stations and a deli in the borough last month. Around 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, a police officer spotted a minivan that matched the description of the vehicle used in those robberies near Utopia Parkway and Cross Island Parkway and gave chase, according to the DA. Dharamshot, who was driving the vehicle, allegedly started speeding dangerously, during which time he headed the wrong way down the Clearview Expressway and drove onto the sidewalk, nearly hitting pedestrians. After striking a police car at Colden Street and Elder Avenue and injuring two officers, Dharamshot fled the minivan. Farooq was apprehended shortly after the crash. Following a manhunt through Kissena Park and the surrounding streets, police found Dharamshot in a parked car in Queens Village later that day. The pair faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. than 3,000 times on Facebook, and 500 times on Twitter. Rinaldi said he sent out a few emails requesting help, but that the entire project has been done without any banks or big corporations. “It’s just regular people willing to give up the money they may have spent on their lunch,” he said. The family, well-known in their neighborhood, is said to be one of the most wonderful families you could ever meet, and the youngest Malave was a pleasure to be around. “Christian was a beautiful little boy. He had a smile the just lit up a room,” said Tracy Salerno on the Malave fund website. “Always polite, always respectful. Be very proud of the little man that you raised.” The community has no plans of stopping their efforts anytime soon. The College Point Five Guys on 14th Avenue donated 10 percent of every purchase from Thursday, April 11 to the Malave fund. “If we can take some stress away, and show them there are good people out there, we can make a difference,” said Rinaldi. “It’s about trying to help a family that didn’t deserve this to happen to them.” If you would like to contribute, visit www.gofundme.com/2gy7cc. THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan A newly-erected fence at Little Bay Park is blocking a jogging path and pushing pedestrians onto a detour road for cars.
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