FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Photos by Jenna Bagcal/THE COURIER
Bayside vigil remembers 9/11 victims
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/ @jenna_bagcal
Seventeen years aft er the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, the Bayside
community paid their respects to the
lives lost on that fateful day.
On Tuesday night, residents, elected
offi cials and community leaders
gathered at the Sept. 11 Memorial
Garden located at Horace Harding
Expressway and Bell Boulevard for the
annual event organized by the Bayside
Hills Civic Association.
“Th is year marks the 17th anniversary
of the attacks on the United
States of America, we should never
forget what happened to our country
that morning,” said Bayside Hills
Civic Association President Michael
Feiner.
Th e commemorative event included
prayers and blessings, patriotic
songs and the placement of lit candles
and American fl ags in the memorial
garden.
“For those of us who were old
enough to understand what was
going on during 9/11, when we say
‘never forget’ I think it’s safe to say
most of us will never forget,” said
Assemblyman Ed Braunstein. “But
it’s important to see the young people
here and to let them know about what
happened.”
Expanded LIRR
platforms open in F.H.,
Kew Gdns.
Riders of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in
Forest Hills and Kew Gardens may see less congestion
and fewer delays aft er the two stations
recently opened extended platforms.
According to the announcement made on
Sept. 12 by LIRR President Phillip Eng, the
work began on July 23 and was completed within
seven weeks. Each platform is now 50 percent
longer and able to board six train cars at once
instead of the previous four.
“I hope that this project demonstrates the
new sense of urgency that the LIRR is bringing
to bear on projects that can improve our customers’
commutes,” Eng said in a press release.
“Th is change will have real benefi ts for our riders,
and we accomplished it in less than two
months by identifying a pinch-point where we
incur delays and quickly marshaling our dedicated
and capable workforce to make a fi x.”
Th e extended platforms were built on both the
north and south sides of the tracks at both stations.
Th e railroad extended the platforms by
200 feet to the west by using a steel scaff olding
structure supporting a fi berglass deck.
“At Kew Gardens and Forest Hills, we hope
our trains will be less congested, faster and
more pleasant,” Eng said. “With more doors to
board from, we anticipate more effi cient train
operations at both stations. We’re committed
to improving conditions for all our customers,
and this is a win not only for Queens, but for
customers who ride from Nassau and Suff olk
into Penn Station, who we hope will experience
fewer delays through this area.”
Th e Forest Hills and Kew Gardens stations are
the 51st and 56th busiest of the LIRR’s 124 stations
respectively, according to the press release,
with average weekday ridership at Forest Hills
of 1,967 passengers and 1,778 at Kew Gardens.
Th e Forest Hills station has seen an increase in
traffi c in recent years, likely due to riders attending
concerts at Forest Hills Stadium.
Ryan Kelley
Bandit hits bank in
Pomonok
Detectives are continuing to search for
the bandit who robbed a Pomonok bank on
Wednesday morning.
Law enforcement sources said the robbery
occurred just before 9:50 a.m. on Sept. 12 at the
Amalgamated Bank, located in the Electchester
Shopping Center at 70-23 Parsons Blvd.
Authorities said the bandit walked into the
location, approached a teller and presented
a demand note. No weapons were displayed,
police said.
Seconds later, cops noted, the perpetrator
removed an undetermined amount of cash,
then exited the branch. He was last seen heading
southbound on Parsons Boulevard.
Offi cers from the 107th Precinct responded to
the scene. Th ere were no injuries.
Based on their investigation, police obtained
a description of the suspect: a black man in his
50s who was last seen wearing a black hat and a
hooded white sweatshirt.
Anyone with information about the robbery
or the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime
Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are kept confi
dential.
Robert Pozarycki
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