for breaking news visit www.timesnewsweekly.com may 28, 2015 • times 19 104th Precinct looks to improve crime drop BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO looking to do even better. reduction in overall crime in the editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com Capt. Mark Wachter, the 104th past month. This included a significant @Ridgewood Times Precinct’s commanding officer, came to downturn in domestic violence and felony the precinct’s Community Council meeting assaults. Crime numbers continue to plummet in on May 19 at The Shops at Atlas The precinct also experienced a 40 percent the 104th Precinct, but the command is Park in Glendale and reported a 26 percent decrease in grand larcenies and stolen cars. Wachter credits crime prevention tactics, such as personalized home visits and spreading awareness about scams, with the large reduction. In an effort to confront quality of-life concerns, the 104th Precinct also held a successful undercover sting operation last Saturday to combat prostitution along Cypress Avenue and Starr Street on the Ridgewood/Bushwick border. According to Wachter, officers made six arrests and seized one vehicle for illicit activity. “We put pressure on and basically make it go away,” he said. “We don’t want it to go somewhere else; we want it to go away.” Despite these victories, burglaries remain an area of particular concern for the command. The Community Council’s Public Safety Committee and P.O. Eddie Collado of the precinct’s Crime Prevention Unit delivered a video presentation and discussion on home burglary prevention. “The burglar is an opportunist,” Collado said. According to police, perpetrators often gain access to homes through unlocked rear windows, doors and fire escapes. Collado urged residents to secure windows and doors with the proper locks and volunteered to conduct personalized home safety surveys upon appointment. He also asked that residents register their valuable items such as electronics and bicycles with the precinct’s Crime Prevention Unit. The items are marked with serial numbers that can potentially help identify and recover them if lost or stolen. P.O. Sean Paul Hynes was honored as Cop of the Month for apprehending a suspect wanted for robbing a Boar’s Head delivery truck driver at gunpoint on April 21 on Woodward Avenue at Woodbine Street in Ridgewood. According to Wachter, Hynes and his fellow officers from the 104th Precinct’s Anti-Crime Unit were able to track the suspect and his getaway vehicle through the use of undisclosed computer resources. Within minutes of the robbery, Hynes was able to track the vehicle to a specific location in Brooklyn. A brief foot pursuit ensued, after which the male suspect and his weapon were taken into custody. “It’s one less gun on the street, but we can never measure how many victims the RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso gun could have taken out,” Wachter said. Ca2pt2. M aTrkh Wea Qchuteere anddsr eCsoseus rthiee r10 4•t hm Paryec 2in8ct 2 C0o1m5m u n i t y C o u n c i l m e e t i n g o n M a y 1 9 . for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks returning to Queens bY CristabeLLe tUMoLa ctumola@queenscourier.com/@CristabelleT The Queens waterfront will once again explode with excitement this Fourth of July. On May 20, Macy’s and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that this Independence Day, the 39th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will launch from two locations in the East River — in Midtown and within the South Street Seaport historic district, starting at about 9:20 p.m. There will be four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th streets in Midtown and one doublebarge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge. The Midtown barges will be visible from the Long Island City waterfront. After moving to the Hudson River in 2009, Macy’s and de Blasio announced last year that the department store’s annual 4th of July Fireworks show would return to the East River that summer. But the initial excitement and potential revenue that the festivities could bring to Long Island City was squashed when residents and business owners realized that the launch point, from the Brooklyn Bridge and from barges positioned on the lower East River, would not be a prime viewing spot for Queens. This year, however, will be different, and could bring back big bucks to the waterfront area. “Once again the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks spectacular will light up the East River skyline,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said in a statement. “I have advocated tirelessly for years alongside Mayor de Blasio to bring the fireworks back to the borough of Queens. Today we are delivering on our promise and bringing borough residents an opportunity to enjoy one of our nation’s most spectacular events. Residents from Hunters Point in Long Island City and all of western Queens will Macy’s Fireworks over the East River in 2014 rejoice welcoming thousands into their neighborhoods to celebrate. Staging the fireworks along the East River will give our local small businesses a boost and draw attention to all we have to offer here in Long Island City. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Macy’s for helping us keep this promise and making this day a reality.” Photo by Diana Robinson/Mayoral Photography Office The country’s largest Independence Day pyrotechnic display, Macy’s are the only fireworks that borough residents can watch locally on the actual holiday. But for the first time this year, Fort Totten will be having a fireworks celebration to mark the nation’s birthday on July 1. The annual Astoria Park fireworks will take place on June 30. by cristabele tumola ctumola@ridgewoodtimes.com/@Cristabelle T
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