NYC Sheriff’s office busts Rosedale venue for
violating COVID-19 protocols with maskless romp
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 25-DEC. 31, 2020 25
BY JACOB KAYE
New York City Sheriff deputies
busted a makeshift Rosedale
club that was hosting a party
with more than 160 people in attendance,
leading to the arrest
of four men on Sunday, Dec. 20.
The party, located at the
Event Center 145-12 243rd St.,
met its demise when deputies
spotted multiple groups of people
walking into the location
through a rear alley on Mayda
Road, according to authorities.
Deputies attempted to enter
the venue, which had its main
entry blocked by a metal roll
down gate, around 2:30 a.m.,
only to find two unlicensed
security guards blocking the
door. Once inside, officers saw
more than 160 maskless people
dancing, drinking alcohol and
smoking hookah, according to
authorities.
The two security guards —
Sha-Mel Lamont Jones, 21, and
Jason Hicks, 35 — were arrested
and charged with violating Gov.
Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 executive
order and for being unlicensed
security guards.
The club’s DJ, Andres Cadavid,
28, was arrested and
charged with violating the executive
order, violating emergency
measures and for failing
to protect health and safety, the
sheriff’s office said.
A fourth man, Carl Champagne,
38, was arrested and
charged with criminal possession
of marijuana.
Additionally, the sheriff’s
office charged the owners of
the venue with multiple violations,
including serving alcohol
without a license, not adhering
to fire code and a $15,000 fine
for failing to protect health and
safety.
The Event Center did not
immediately respond to QNS’
request for comment.
Late monsignor to
be honored with
street co-naming
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The City Council on
Thursday, Dec. 17, voted
to approve Councilman
Paul Vallone’s bill to coname
the intersection of
Clintonville Street and
Locke Avenue in Whitestone
after Monsignor
John C. Tosi.
An official ceremony
to reveal “Msgr. John
C. Tosi Way” is slated to
take place in spring 2021
in front of St. Luke’s Roman
Catholic Church, located
at 16-34 Clintonville
St., where Tosi served as
a pastor for 15 years.
“I’m proud to announce
this much-deserved
honor for Monsignor
Tosi, who was
regarded as a local stalwart
and a man of deep
faith,” Vallone said. “I
look forward to joining
together as a community
in the new year to celebrate
his life and legacy
in northeast Queens.”
Tosi was a priest for
more than 45 years and
a monsignor for 23 years
within the Diocese of
Brooklyn and Queens.
He died at the age of 73 on
May 23, after suffering
from a coronary condition
for the past several
years.
“He was a generous,
dedicated, and caring
priest who went out of
his way to help others,”
said Fr. John Costello,
the current pastor of St.
Luke’s. “He loved Jesus,
he loved the Church, he
loved the parish, and he
loved the community –
he was a Queen’s boy who
grew up not too far away
in Flushing. His memory
and his legacy will live
on for many years here at
St. Luke.”
Born in Flushing,
Tosi attended St. Ann’s
School, Msgr. McClancy
H.S., Cathedral College
in Douglaston, and Immaculate
Conception
Seminary in Huntington.
He was ordained in
May 1973 by Bishop Francis
Mugavero at St. James
Pro-Cathedral, in downtown
Brooklyn. Tosi
was named a Monsignor
in 1997, and in January
2005, was named pastor
of St. Luke’s, where he remained
until his death.
Tosi rebuilt St. Luke’s
Church and made many
renovations to the
Queens parish based
on his experiences with
the Diocesan Liturgical
Commission. He was a
member of the Knights of
Columbus in Whitestone
and supported the Veterans
of Foreign Wars
and many other local organizations,
such as the
Whitestone Taxpayers
Association.
He also worked hard
for quality education in
St. Luke’s School, where
students, parents and faculty
were blessed to have
had his guidance and
support over the years.
SAMPLE
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