4 The Courier sun • may 21, 2015 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com ROCKAWAY NAVAL STUDENT DIES IN TRAIN WRECK BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 A 20-year-old naval midshipman from Rockaway Beach, who was on his way home, was among the eight people killed after an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia last week. Justin Zemser, who was on leave as a cadet at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was on his way home to visit family in Rockaway. The academy confirmed the death of Zemser, who was a sophomore midshipman third class. He was a member of the 17th Company at the academy, an English major and academic honor student. Zemser was also on the Navy Sprint Football Team, the Jewish Midshipman Club, and the Semper Fi Society. “Justin was a talented, highly respected young man with a tremendously bright future. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Zemser family, and our extended USNA family, during this very difficult time,” said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Walter “Ted” Carter. Zemser’s parents released a statement on a Facebook page created in memory of their son, who was valedictorian at Channel View High School and finishing his second year at the academy. “He was a loving son, nephew and cousin, who was very community minded,” the statement said. “This tragedy has shocked us in the worst way and we wish to spend this time grieving with our close family and friends.” According to reports, the Amtrak train, which had left Washington and was heading to New York, derailed around 9:30 p.m. on May 12 in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. More than 200 people were wounded, including the train’s conductor. The National Transportation Safety Board has said the train was traveling at about the speed limit of 70 mph before accelerating as it entered a sharp curve at more than 100 mph, double the speed limit of the curve, before derailing. Brandon Bostian, 32, from Forest Hills, was identified as the engineer at the controls of the train during the accident and according to his LinkedIn profile he has worked for Amtrak since 2006. According to reports, Bostian, who suffered a concussion and head injury that required 14 staples, only recalls heading to the crash area and getting tossed around before coming to. The FBI reportedly assisted the NTSB in its investigation to determine if a mark found on the windshield of the train was made by a projected object. The agency determined it was not a bullet, but the NTSB said it has not ruled out the possibility of another object having struck the windshield. According to published reports, about two trains reported being struck by projected object in the area near the site of the derailment. As of press time the investigation of the derailment is still ongoing and the NTSB has reportedly said it is too early to determine the cause. According to a May 18 post on Twitter, the agency said the probable cause of the accident will be determined at the end of the investigation, which is expected to last up to 12 months. Photo courtesy of the United States Naval Academy Participatory budget results announced for District 31 BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua Councilman Donovan Richards announced the winners of the participatory budget process for District 31. More than 2,000 Rosedale, Laurelton and Springfield Gardens residents voted in this year’s budget process and found out exactly where their tax dollars would be going on Wednesday, May 13. Richards, along with Council Speaker Mark-Viverito, tweaked the process by launching early voting, lowering the voting age to 14 and introducing the first electronic ballots in the history of participatory budgeting in New York City. The most votes went to Springfield Gardens Education Complex (1,614 votes) to provide $525,000 for a sound and projection system to be installed in the auditorium. Lilly Lucas, president of Excelsior Preparatory High school, which is housed inside the complex, said the upgrades are a blessing. Lucas, who graduated in the ’60s from the high school, previously named Springfield Gardens High School, said nothing in the auditorium had been upgraded since she was a student. “I’ll put it to you this way: those curtains that are in the auditorium are the same curtains that I had when I was a student here,” Lucas said. “We have to do a lot of compromising when we have events, which are many since there are four schools here. It’s such a wonderful blessing.” Lucas said the process of participatory budgeting was exciting this year because many children who attend one of the four schools were eligible to vote. The students of I.S. 231 will hone their musical abilities with a new $300,000 music studio after 1,031 residents voted for the project. The last project to be funded with 945 votes was the installation of reading and chess areas in Brookville Park in Rosedale and Springfield Park in Springfield Gardens. “I want to thank everyone involved in making this year such a success, especially the students and faculty of our local schools,” Richards said. “I strongly believe that as we continue to bring this more direct form of democracy to our neighborhoods. It is crucial we engage our youth in the political process and prepare them to be the future leaders our city needs and deserves.” Midshipman Justin Zemser, who was on his way home to visit family in Rockaway Beach, was among the eight people killed after an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia last week. Councilman Donovan Richards
SC05212015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above