4 times • JULY 9, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com Woodhaven graffiti cleanup helps local charity BY ROBERT POZARYCKI [email protected] @robbpoz This summer’s Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) graffiti removal campaign will do more than just make the neighborhood more beautiful. The civic group, which annually paints over graffiti found on local mailboxes across the community, will use the effort to raise funds for the NYFAC Foundation in Howard Beach, which supports families and children affected by autism. On July 25, WRBA volunteers plan to scatter across the neighborhood Photo courtesy of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association’s graffiti cleanup later this month will also help benefit a local charity. 108th Precinct commander touts major crime decline BY ALINA SURIEL [email protected] @alinangelica Crime in the 108th Precinct has drastically decreased so far in 2015, with reports down by 23 percent for the year overall, police reported during Tuesday’s 108th Precinct Community Council meeting in Sunnyside. “When looking at crime overall, it’s a great trend that we’re seeing right now,” said Capt. John Travaglia, the precinct’s commanding officer, who credited his patrol officers and anticrime teams for their work in keeping the neighborhood TIMES NEWSWEEKLY (USPS 465-940) is published weekly by Schneps NY Media LLC, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. safe. According to Travaglia, there have been fewer incidents this year in nearly all categories versus the same 28-day period from last year. Felony assault is down by 60 percent, with six reported versus last year’s 15. Burglaries are also down by more than half, with 11 incidents recorded by police versus the 25 incidents that occurred last year. Grand larceny down considerably, with 27 reported in the past 28 days versus 47 during this time in 2014. Robbery was the only criminal activity that saw a slight uptick, but according to Travaglia, arrests have been made to deal accordingly with these instances. Travaglia said that traffic issues have also been decreasing. There has been a 3 percent decrease in accidents and reported traffic injuries are down 8 percent. Additionally, there has not been a fatal car accident in the 108th Precinct for the past eight months. In sharp contrast to decreases across the board, bike summonses have gone up sharply in 2015, Travaglia said. Over the last 28 days, 352 tickets were issued to bike riders versus only 3 percent during this time last year. Bike summonses were caused by a variety of infractions ranging from personal safety issues such as not wearing a helmet, to traffic violations incurred by riding through a red light. The increase in traffic safety enforcement among bikers is largely spurred by the Vision Zero initiative undertaken by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office and other city agencies to reduce death and serious injuries on city streets. In recognition of their crime-fighting efforts, the 108th Precinct Anti-Crime Team was honored with the “Cop of the Month” award for their collective efforts in preventing crime and interrupting incidents in progress. The Ridgewood Times donated the plaque presented to the team. to repaint more than 100 vandalized mailboxes. The organization will supply all the paint and tools necessary to get the job done, but local residents can pledge donations for the NYFAC Foundation per repainted mailbox. They may cap their pledges at a certain amount, such as 50 cents per mailbox up to a maximum of $25. “Over the last few years, many of our members have pitched in on efforts to fight graffiti and make our community neater, but this event will be special,” WRBA President Martin Colberg said in a statement. “We expect to reach every corner of Woodhaven while attracting new volunteers who are interested in supporting a deserving charity.” Ed Wendell, a WRBA director, hopes that partnering with the NYFAC Foundation not only gives local volunteers the incentive to participate, but may also convince local vandals to think twice about messing up the volunteers’ hard work later. “It’s a nice way to turn it from a negative to a positive story,” Wendell said. “Hopefully, some of these taggers, when they see this, may make them feel a little bad about the vandalism.” Andrew Baumann, longtime president and CEO of the NYFAC Foundation, expressed gratitude for the WRBA’s efforts. “We are very grateful — and very humbled — that the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association would select us as the beneficiaries of their fundraising efforts,” Baumann said. “The association’s efforts will go a long way toward helping us ‘better the lives of those with autism’ and toward beautifying the community.” Anyone interested in donating to the campaign is encouraged to email the WRBA at info@woodhaven-nyc. org, or visit the WRBA’s next town hall meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Emanuel Church of Christ, located at the corner of 91st Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. Those who wish to volunteer during the cleanup should email the WRBA or call 718-296-3735. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Alina Suriel The anti-crime unit of the 108th Precinct collectively won Cop of the Month for their overall efforts in working together to prevent crime and stop incidents in progress.
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