28 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 28, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
year in review
AUGUST
At long last, Forest Park rapist caught
Detectives collared a Richmond
Myrtle Avenue and Forest Park Drive.
Hill man believed to be connected to
NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce
a series of sexual assaults of women
said that detectives were able to arrest
inside of Forest Park several years ago.
Andrade aft er forensic investigators
Mark Andrade, 46, of 91st Avenue was
matched his DNA earlier this week to
picked upon on Aug. 2 for the March
a genetic sample found on a beer bottle
29, 2013 attack of a 24-year-old woman
recovered from the crime scene of a
jogging through the park in the area of
March 29, 2013 assault.
Coca-Cola Maspeth plant sold to to
Home Depot
Quenching a thirst for cash, the owner of Coca-Cola's Maspeth bottling plant sold
the site for $63 million to Th e Home Depot. It was reported that the hardware giant
might refi t the existing 202,000-square-foot building into one of its box stores, or
build a smaller building on the 7.6-acre site. How much longer the Coca-Cola plant
would remain in operation was uncertain; the company has a lease on the site until
2020. More than 100 people are employed there.
Cops shut down a house of ill-repute in Flushing
Th e NYPD arrested four people in
connection to a prostitution ring that
was being run out of a Flushing home.
On Aug. 4 at about 11:40 p.m., police
entered 146-04 Kalmia Ave. and arrested
two men and two women who were
allegedly running and participating in
the illegal, x-rated business. Th e operation
occurred aft er state Senator Tony
Avella contacted the 109th Precinct in
June to relay reports from residents
who claimed to have seen troubling
behavior at the house during nighttime
hours. Wenbo Zhang, 30, of Flushing
and Quishi Wang, 30, of Flushing were
charged with promoting prostitution
and of off ering others sexual intercourse
for a fee.
Xiao Li, 35, and Fu Shin, 39, who are
both Flushing residents, were charged
with agreeing to perform sexual acts for
money.
Astoria ferry fi nally sets sail
Many Astoria residents rejoiced when the city launched its brand new ferry service
out of Hallets Cove. NYC Ferry’s Astoria route makes stops in Long Island
City, Roosevelt Island, 34th Street and Wall Street. Th e expansion of ferry service,
announced by Mayor de Blasio in 2015, aims to make Manhattan more accessible
to those who felt it was out of reach. Ferries run every 25 minutes during morning
and evening peak hours and every 50 minutes during off -peak hours. On weekends,
ferries run every 33 minutes. Service will begin at 6:30 a.m. and end around 10 p.m.