WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES DECEMBER 9, 2021 21
SBS commish to Ridgewood residents: Buy from local businesses
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The city’s Department of Small
Business Services Commissioner
Jonnel Doris visited Ridgewood’s
annual Small Business Saturday event
on Saturday, Nov. 25, to promote shopping
locally this holiday season.
Small Business Saturday is a national
campaign started by American
Express in 2010, and was celebrated
by the local group Myrtle Avenue
Business Improvement District (BID) to
encourage shoppers to buy from small,
local businesses.
Doris joined Myrtle Avenue BID at
71st Avenue Plaza where there were
activities for kids, gift certifi cate prizes,
live music and more.
Executive Director of Myrtle Avenue
BID Ted Renz gave Doris a walking
tour of the district, showcasing
some local storefronts. Local business
owners were able to chat with Doris
and speak with him about the issues
they are facing.
At the event, Doris stressed the
importance of supporting local businesses,
since the money stays in the
community.
David Sanchez from Ridgewood
Thrift said the past few weeks have
been extremely slow for his business.
“Everyone goes to the malls and the
bigger stores,” Sanchez said. “It’s been
up and down. We get some good weeks
and some bad ones. It’s the times; no
one’s out shopping buying what they
need.”
Trandy Ruzeu, the store manager
from AJ’s Jewelry on Myrtle, echoed
Sanchez.
“Usually, during the holidays it’s super
busy,” Ruzeu said. “Usually, we’re
getting ready for Christmas with clientele,
but I didn’t have a lot of that. I’m
sure some people are not back to work.”
Renz said that he hopes residents
stay close to home this holiday season.
“Myrtle Avenue BID hopes that residents
will shop local and support our
over 340 retail and service establishments
that serve the communities of
greater Ridgewood,” Renz said.
Renz noted that shops along Myrtle
Avenue will have traditional holiday
lights and music throughout the holiday
season. Many stores will also stay
open late during the holiday season.
The Myrtle Avenue BID was established
in 1988 to help enhance the
shopping experience on Myrtle Avenue
from Wyckoff Avenue to Fresh
Pond Road and down side streets in
Ridgewood.
“The BID helps to make Myrtle
Avenue a great place to shop and do
business by keeping the streets clean,
safe, green and lively with programs
and events,” Renz said. “As the voice
of the local merchant and real estate
community, we work to ensure that
the retail mix is meeting shopper
needs and that the Myrtle Avenue is
an ideal place for new and thriving
businesses.”
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
A Fresh Meadows man was indicted
by a Queens grand jury
on murder charges for gunning
down his mother’s companion
in her Pomonok Houses apartment
last month, according to Queens
District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Desean McCain, 22, was arraigned
Wednesday before Queens
Supreme Court Justice Kenneth
Holder on a four-count indictment
charging him with murder, weapons
charges and endangering the
welfare of a child.
According to the indictment,
shortly after 7 p.m. on Nov. 2, McCain
was inside his mother’s apartment
near the intersection of Parsons
Boulevard and Jewel Avenue, along
with her boyfriend Anthony Ragler,
47, of Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn.
After a brief dispute between the
two men, McCain allegedly shot
Ragler, striking him in the head and
chest. Both McCain’s mother and her
9-year-old grandson were present at
the shooting.
EMS transported Ragler to
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Queens, where he was pronounced
dead. McCain turned himself into
authorities at the 107th Precinct in
Fresh Meadows one week later.
“As alleged, this domestic dispute
turned deadly when the defendant,
in possession of an illegal firearm,
fired the weapon multiple times
at the victim,” Katz said. “The
Photo via Getty Images
defendant will now be held accountable
in court.”
Justice Holder ordered the defendant
to return to court on Dec. 16.
If convicted, McCain faces up to 25
years to life in prison.
Pants Pantry owners Nick Sciortino, Sandra Tiburcio, Sal Sciortino
with SBS Commissioner Jonnel Doris and Myrtle Avenue BID Executive
Director Ted Renz Photo courtesy of Myrtle BID
Fresh Meadows man faces life in prison for
shooting death of mother’s boyfriend: DA
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