14 times • JANUARY 14, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Elmhurst activist killed in Jackson Heights car crash By Angela Matua amatua@ridgewoodtimes.com @AngelaMatua Robert Valdes-Clausell, an active presence in the Elmhurst community, died on Jan. 10 in a car crash, police said. He was 56. Valdes-Clausell served as the Newtown Civic Association treasurer and also frequently fought to preserve structures in the neighborhood, including the Elmhurst library. He was also an advocate for the restoration of an Elmhurst stop on the Long Island Rail Road, which is set to be rebuilt as a part of the MTA’s capital plan. “Robert Valdes-Clausell’s passing is a great shock to the Elmhurst community,” said Councilman Daniel Dromm. “Robert was involved in numerous organizations and was a strong advocate for the community. As a board member of the Newtown Civic Association, Robert fought to keep historical buildings in Elmhurst intact, advocated for the reopening of the Elmhurst LIRR and was involved in many other worthy civic activities. His presence will be sorely missed.” Marialena Giampino, spokesperson for the Newtown Civic Association, said she is still in shock and disbelief. Words can not express the sadness and great loss that the Newtown Civic and the Elmhurst community will endure,” Giampino said. “Robert was an extremely intelligent, dedicated and extraordinary person, always putting the greater good of the community and others before himself.” Valdes-Clausell was in the process of creating a nonprofit society called Newtown Preservation Society to expand his mission to preserve “what was left of former Newtown, so that Elmhurst’s great history would not be forgotten,” she said. According to authorities, who arrived at 77th Street and Astoria Boulevard at about 12:50 a.m., Valdes-Clausell was driving his 2006 Ford Explorer eastbound on Astoria Boulevard when he lost control of the SUV, which then crossed three lanes of traffic and came to rest after striking the concrete barrier in the left lane. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is still investigating. DEP begins $30M project to install litter capture devices near Newtown Creek BY KIRSTEN E. PAULSON editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @RidgewoodTimes Newtown Creek is getting a huge investment toward improving its health and restoring its natural beauty. Emily Lloyd, commissioner of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), announced on Jan. 11 that construction has begun on a $30 million project to build litter capture devices at four points in the creek’s vicinity. The project is the latest effort to keep trash and debris from making its way into New York Harbor and its connected waterways, including Newtown Creek. In late 2015, the DEP began installing underground capture devices at four locations within the sewer system in the vicinity of the creek. Similar devices already installed along the Bronx River and Gowanus Canal in the last three years have captured over 200 tons—or 400,000 pounds—of litter and debris. The Newtown Creek devices are expected to be completed and activated in 2017. Three of the four litter capture devices will be installed at locations in Queens (the other is in Bushwick, Brooklyn). The Queens locations are: • 47th Avenue between 28th and 29th streets, in LIC; • Rust Street and 56th Drive in Maspeth; and • Troutman Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Ridgewood. “Cleaning up and revitalizing Newtown Creek is one of our top priorities and this $30 million investment will help to capture trash and debris and ensure that it does not foul the waterway,” Lloyd said. “We look forward to continuing to work with elected officials, environmental groups and residents on the many other projects we are working on to further improve the health of Newtown Creek.” “I’ve been proud to work to ensure Newtown Creek received federal resources for its remediation through the Superfund program,” Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez added. “This latest project by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection will further help clean up this local waterway. By coordinating efforts at the local and federal levels, we can make Newtown Creek healthier and safer for the surrounding community.” “The new litter capture devices will help keep Newtown Creek healthier and improve our city’s sewer system,” said City Councilman Costa Constantinides, chair of the City Council Environmental Protection Committee. “The devices will also prevent litter from reaching our waterways, one of our greatest resources. I applaud DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd for her leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing a cleaner Newtown Creek.” Other leaders and elected officials involved with the project include state Senators Michael Gianaris and Joseph Addabbo; Assemblywoman Margaret Markey; City Councilmen Jimmy Van Bramer and Antonio Reynoso; City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley; Program Director for the Newtown Creek Alliance Willis Elkins; and Community Board 2 Chairperson Patrick O’Brien. RIDGEWOODTIMES/File photo Robert Valdes-Clausell
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