22 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 18, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Street co-named after beloved
Woodhaven civic leader Maria Thomson
BY EMMA MILLER
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
Th e intersection of Jamaica Avenue and
Forest Parkway in Woodhaven has been
co-named Maria Th omson Way aft er the
late civic activist and business leader.
Community members and family
members gathered for the naming on
Wednesday morning, Oct. 11.
“Maria Th omson was the embodiment
Photo courtesy of Councilman Eric Ulrich’s offi ce
Bayside forum on Oct. 30 features
Assembly and state Senate candidates
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Come to Bayside Hills later this month
for an informative night in local politics.
Th e Bayside Hills Civic Association is
inviting the public to their annual Meet
the Candidates Night on Tuesday, Oct.
30, at 8 p.m. Th e event will take place at
the Colonial Church of Bayside, located
at 54-02 217th St., and is open to all who
seek more information ahead of the Nov.
6 midterm elections.
Candidates for state Senate District 11
and Assembly Districts 25 and 26 have
been invited to speak at the forum and
refreshments will be served. Participants
are asked to come prepared with questions
for the moderators to ask the candidates.
Invited guests include former
Independent Democratic Conference
member state Senator Tony Avella,
who recently announced his re-election
campaign despite losing the primary
in September. Avella confi rmed that
he would be running on the Independent
and Women’s Equality lines with the support
of local grassroots group Families for
Tony Avella.
Th e senator’s opponent John Liu has
also been invited to the annual event aft er
winning the primary with 53 percent of
the votes. Th e former city comptroller
announced his Senate bid back in July
and gained the support of City Council
Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilman
Rory Lancman.
First-time Senate candidate Vickie
Paladino will be the GOP representative
in the November elections. Paladino
emerged victorious in September against
fellow first-timer Simon Minching,
receiving 57.3 percent of the Republican
votes.
Incumbent Assemblyman Ed
Braunstein and his opponent David
Bressler are also slated to appear at the
candidate forum. Both candidates are
vying for the assembly seat in District 26,
which was won by Braunstein in 2011.
Braunstein and Bressler, who is currently
the regional manager for a national bakery
conglomerate, both ran unopposed in
the September primary.
Th e BHCA has also invited District 25
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, who is running
unopposed in November. Rozic has
represented the Assembly district since
she assumed offi ce in 2013.
For more information on the upcoming
event, visit the BHCA website, baysidehills.
info, or the group’s Facebook page.
You can also email Michael Feiner, president
of the Bayside Hills Civic Association
at baysidehillscivic@gmail.com.
Photo via Google Maps
of community service and was
the staunchest advocate for Woodhaven.
Th ose of us who have been fortunate
enough to work with Maria know that
she has a heart of gold. Maria dedicated
decades of her life to the betterment
of the community — and the borough of
Queens,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich,
who was present at the co-naming.
Th omson served Woodhaven residents
in a variety of ways for more than 40
years. She was the president of the 102nd
Precinct Community Council for fi ve
terms. An avid supporter of the NYPD,
she was also the only person to be named
102nd Precinct Honorary Police Offi cer
of the Month.
Th omson also served as president of the
Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association,
where she prevented a bar where two
murders took place from reopening.
She was the founder of the Woodhaven
Residents’ Security Patrol and a member
of Community Board 9, where she advocated
for better bus routes and stops. As a
board member, Th omson helped restore
the left -turn lane on Jamaica Avenue
for buses and opposed bus stops on the
medians.
As executive director of the Greater
Woodhaven Development Corporation,
she planned various eff orts to boost
business along Jamaica Avenue, including
hosting the Wonderful Woodhaven
Street Festival and the creation of the
Woodhaven Business Improvement
District.
Th omson was also an advocate throughout
the borough. Because of her activism,
the Forest Park Carousel became
a city landmark, Fire Engine Company
294 reopened, Fire Engine Company 293
was saved from closure and the Jamaica
Avenue elevated train was repaired and
repainted.
Th omson died on Jan. 10 of this year
aft er suff ering a stroke. In a statement
on Facebook aft er her death, Ulrich said,
“She was a legend and someone who truly
cared. Maria had a heart of gold and dedicated
decades of her life to the betterment
of her neighborhood and borough.”
“Every time someone walks past Maria
Th omson Way, they will be reminded of
her legacy, which will live on forever,”
said Ulrich.
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