FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com december 25, 2014 • The Queens Courier 3 CANDLELIGHT VIGILS HELD FOR OFFICERS SLAIN LAST WEEK IN BROOKLYN Photo via Twitter/@NYPD115Pct The 115th Precinct held a candlelight vigil for the fallen officers. More 7 train suspensions coming next year BY CRIS TABELLE TUMOLA AND ANGY ALTAMIR ANO [email protected] @queenscourier It’s déjà vu for No. 7 train riders. The MTA recently announced its latest round of service suspensions on the subway THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Janiewicz line, slated to start right after the new year and continue through the spring. The work is part of three capital improvement projects on the No. 7 train to install a new signal system, replace elevated track, perform infrastructure work, and reconstruct and fortify the Steinway tubes, according to the transit agency. Most of the work is scheduled for the weekend and will disrupt service between Manhattan and Queens during the majority of the suspensions. From Jan. 2-5 and Jan. 9-12, there will be no service between Mets-Willets Point and Flushing Main Street. From Jan. 9-12, Jan. 17-19, Jan. 24-26, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, and Feb. 6-9, there will be no trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza. From Feb. 27-Mar. 2 and Mar. 6-9, service is suspended between Times Square- 42nd Street and 74th Street-Broadway. From Mar. 14-16, Mar. 21-23 and Mar. 28-30, there are no trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Hunters Point Avenue. From May 22-25, there will be no service between the Mets-Willets Point and Flushing Main Street. During the suspensions, riders can use the E, F, G, N, Q and R lines as alternative service. There will also be free shuttle buses between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. The service disruptions are continuing despite pleas from western Queens residents and business owners who are fed up with years of constant disruptions on the line. The service disruptions hit Long Island City and its local businesses hard. Though the MTA agreed to a campaign to promote Long Island City during the shut downs, the agency refused community and politicians’ requests for a shuttle bus from Vernon Boulevard through the Queens Midtown Tunnel into the city to make up for some of the lost subway service. This year’s suspensions began in late winter and continued through the fall. When they started in early March, Long Island residents and businesses struggled the first weekend. “It hurts us, there’s no doubt about it,” said Jeff Blath, owner of Alobar. “The MTA did not come to us and say, ‘What works the best for you guys?’ It’s just a multitude of problems and no communication.” Now this time around, residents are feeling neglected by the transit agency and say they have to start thinking of ways to get around without depending on the No. 7 line. “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but we all knew the MTA would do this to us again,” said 27-year-old Stefanie Torres, a LIC resident. “They forget about Long Island City. I guess now I have to figure out some other ways to get home.” Stacey Higgins, 56, who uses the train to get to work and around the borough, is also upset the suspensions will happen again. “Here we go again, that’s all I have to say,” Higgins added. “This is one of the only ways we as a community can get around, but they don’t care. Forget LIC. That’s their mentality.” THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano BY SALVATORE LICATA [email protected]/@Sal_Licata1 Communities around Queens came together, holding emotional candlelight vigils to show their respect for the two NYPD officers who were murdered last week and to express sympathy for their families. From Ridgewood to Long island City and Jackson Heights, among other neighborhoods, residents and the men and women in blue held a moment of silence for Police Officer Rafael Ramos and Police Officer Wenjian Liu, who were both shot dead by a deranged man who traveled from Baltimore to Brooklyn with the intention of killing police officers. “This is a difficult time for everyone in the city of New York,” said Borough President Melinda Katz, who attended the 104th Precinct’s vigil in Ridgewood. “Our prayers go out to Officer Ramos and Officer Liu.” In Long Island City, officers at the 108th Precinct, located at 5-47 50th Ave., gathered on the night of Dec. 22 with residents, local leaders and elected officials during a vigil for Liu and Ramos. “We in this community are a model, a beacon of light in the darkness,” said Captain John Travaglia, commanding officer of the 108th Precinct. People filled the street in front of the precinct holding candles and joined in prayer for the fallen officers. “Our community responds with love, remembrance and gratitude for Officers Liu and Ramos and the NYPD,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said. Over in Jackson Heights, instead of the holiday tree lighting ceremony at Diversity Plaza, located on 37th Road and 74th Street, a vigil was organized to honor the two police officers and also “condemn violence in any form.” Another vigil was held in Whitestone last night as well, with local residents and officers from the 109th Precinct. On Sunday, Dec. 21, there was a candlelight vigil in front of the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights as well. The family of Ramos, who lived in Brooklyn, has made arrangements for his viewing ceremony on Dec. 26 from 2 to 9 p.m. at Christ Tabernacle Church, located at 64-34 Myrtle Ave. in Glendale. The funeral will be on Dec. 27 at the same location at 10 a.m. Arrangements for Liu were still pending as of press time.
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