4 times • AUGUST 27, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com WWE SuperstarJohn Cena grants BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Maspeth boy’s wish To wrestling fans around the world WWE Superstar John Cena is known for being a 15-time world champion, but outside of the ring he is best known for his work with the Make-AWish Foundation. On Aug. 24 Cena set the record for most celebrity wishes at 500, by making an 8-year-old boy from Maspeth’s dream come true. Last week Cena surprised Rocco Lanzer, who was diagnosed with acute t-cell lymphoblastic leukemia in January, on the set of the “Today” show with tickets to “Monday Night Raw” at the Barclays Center and a championship 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. belt. “He was ecstatic. He was at a loss for words,” said Maria Lanzer, Rocco’s mother. “He was walking on cloud nine and still is. John Cena is his favorite. He enjoys everything about the WWE, but John Cena is his number one favorite.” As part of his wish, Rocco played games with Cena at a party at a Dave & Buster’s restaurant and joined Cena in ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. “Mommy, I can’t believe I met John Cena and I played games with him at Dave & Busters,” Rocco told his mother. Before the Aug. 24 edition of “Raw,” Cena took Rocco backstage to meet several other WWE Superstars, get autographs and snap photos with some of his favorites. “He got to meet a lot of the wrestlers. He got autographs and took pictures,” Lanzer said. “He got to walk down the entrance ramp with John Cena as his music was playing. After the show, John met with us outside of our limo and told Rocco to keep up the good spirits and to write to him. He shook his hand and gave him a hug.” Cena’s motto of “never give up” is more than just a catchphrase; it has become a beacon of hope for children who are going through difficult times. Rocco has seen his share of tough times, receiving chemotherapy regularly three to four times a week, as well as blood transfusions when his blood counts become too low, Lanzer said. “From the beginning I was telling him to never give up and he said, ‘That’s what John Cena says,’ and I told him, “See, if John Cena says it you can’t give up,’” Lanzer recalled. “The motto fits for Rocco’s case. He is going through treatments like a champ.” The Lanzers were very grateful to Cena for helping their child’s wish come true. “Throughout his treatment and all the bumps in the road, it was great to see him smile. It lifted his spirts so much,” Lanzer said. “Meeting his hero and being there last night, seeing the smile on his face makes me and my husband so grateful for everyone who was involved with his wish. We were so happy and crying because he got to meet his idol and his role model.” John Cena wore the loom bracelet Rocco made for him in ring, which added more to Rocco’s happiness that night, Lanzer added. “His smile was from ear to ear all night,” she said. “John Cena has his heart in every wish he grants, which makes it more special. It was a chance of a lifetime and I would love to give a shoutout to Make-AWish and the WWE for granting his wish.” Ridgewood to get 17-story mixed-use building on St. Nicholas Avenue BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Plans for a large scale 17-story mixed-use building in the heart of Ridgewood have been filed with the Department of Buildings (DOB), according to Community Board 5 (CB 5). The mixed retail and residential building will encompass the footprint of the sites at 54-27 Myrtle Ave. and 336 and 350 St. Nicholas Ave. At 17 stories, it will dwarf the surrounding buildings. According to the plans filed earlier this month, there will be two retail spaces within the mixed-use structure, as well as several office spaces. The site will have 129 residential units, according to Meir Babaev, of developer AB Capstone, owner of the properties. “We are not quite certain yet regarding the percentage of units that will or will not be affordable. This will depend on the mayor’s office,” Babaev said. AB Capstone purchased the sites last year and has set aside 87,441 square feet of space for the residential portion of the building; 88,598 square feet for the commercial aspects; and 3,265 square feet for an as-of-yet undefined community facility. This will total a square footage of 179,304 square feet, according to plans. Babaev also confirmed that the site will have “belowgrade attended parking.” For future residents who depend on public transportation, the development site is located a block from the L and M Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues subway station, and is near the B13, B26, B52, B54, Q55 and Q58 buses. Rendering courtesy of AB Capstone The 17-story mixed-use building planned for 350 St. Nicholas Ave. in Ridgewood. Photo courtesy the Lanzer family John Cena and Rocco Lanzer playing games together.
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