52 The QUEE NS Courier • october 8, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Teacher sentenced to community service for US Open drone crash BY ALINA SURIEL asuriel@queenscourier.com/@alinangelica The New York City public school teacher arrested for crashing his drone into a stadium during the U.S. Open has been sentenced to five days of community service, according to the Queens district attorney. Daniel Verley — a 26-year-old science teacher at the Academy of Innovative Technology in Brooklyn — was arrested on Sept. 3 after his unmanned model aircraft crashed into an empty seating area at the Louis Armstrong Stadium during a tennis match. Authorities say that Verley, a Jamaica resident who is also a professional photographer, went to Flushing Meadow Corona Park that night at approximately 7:45 p.m. to take pictures of the iconic Unisphere with his new robotic drone. During his second attempt to fly the aircraft, the drone lost its signal and flew away from the Unisphere, crashing into the famed tennis stadium during a U.S. Open match between Flavia Pennetta and Monica Niculescu. No one was injured as a result of the incident. District Attorney Richard A. Brown said the investigations of the incident revealed that Verley had never intended to allow the drone to fly into the stadium. “I urge hobbyists and other members of the public to use common sense when choosing to employ these unmanned vehicles — obtain the necessary permissions and only use these vehicles in areas deemed safe as the reckless use of unmanned model aircraft near locations where large groups of people assemble needlessly puts the lives and safety of people at risk,” Brown said. Verley has no prior criminal record and the charges against him will be dismissed six months after the completion of his community service. Photo via Wikimedia Commons The Louis Armstrong Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. THE COURIER/Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso The Harvey Family gathered on the field at Archbishop Molloy High School on Oct. 4 for the annual Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run. Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run held at Archbishop Molloy BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@queenscourier.com/@KellyMMancuso Friends, family members and alumni gathered at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood on Oct. 4 to participate in the school’s annual Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run. The race, now in its 28th year, was renamed in honor of Molloy student and athlete Andrew Harvey who lost his life in a tragic accident during his junior year in 1997. Harvey’s parents, siblings and other family members participated in the 5K race around the school alongside current Molly students, faculty members, alumni and friends. In addition to the big 5K race, other events included a 1-mile race and a “little one’s dash” for young children and families on the school’s track. Religion teacher and guidance counselor Brother Patrick Hogan kicked off the race. “Andrew was such a nice kid, and the family is a wonderful family,” Hogan said. “He was a good kid and everybody liked him. He was a long distance runner, so this race is the perfect way to honor him.” Plaques and medals were awarded to the top three male and female winners of the race, as well as the winners in each age group, by track coach, teacher and race coordinator Frank Gambino, followed by a reception in the school auditorium. In addition to the race, the Harvey family also established a scholarship in Andrew’s name.
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