Wash for Autism a Success

The parking lot of Queens County Savings Bank in Lindenwood was transformed into a car wash on Sunday as more than 130 volunteers--sponges and buckets in hand--turned out for the 5th Annual Charity Car Wash for Autism.

The sun shone brightly as 152 cars lined up for a good scrubbing. Andrew Bauman, President and CEO of New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC), was quick to credit the community for their outpouring of support once again. “Every year it just gets better. The weather was on our side and the cars just kept coming.” Bauman said only 87 cars were washed last year.

Nearly $7,000 in proceeds raised for the day will go to help create a learning library room with games and computers at NYFAC’s new home. A deal to secure the new headquarters for the organization in Howard Beach and has been approved by the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The location will not be disclosed until arrangements are final.

Members of the Explorers from the 106th Precinct and School Safety, families and kids from NYFAC, police officers, firemen and NYFAC friends and family members were among volunteers who stayed all day and washed cars.

As part of the event, the American Classic Car Club hosted a car show across the street in the parking lot of the Howard Plaza Shopping Center with 55 classic, sports and luxury cars on display. At the conclusion of the show, awards were presented for the best cars in each of three categories.

Bauman offered thanks to the event sponsors whom he said really make the event possible. Tuscany Deli, LaVilla Restaurant, Queens County Savings Bank and Nick the Balloonatic were among those credited for making the event a success.

NYFAC is a not- for-profit community based organization started 12 years ago by a group of parents with children affected by a little-known neurological disorder known as Autism. Now, some 12 years later, autism affects 1 in 110 children. The agency began as a support group for each other and has now been transformed into full service group serving not only children and
young adults with autism, but with any developmental disability.

Homicide Victim Found in Lindenwood

POLICE BELIEVE MURDER IS DRUG RELATED

By Patricia Adams

On Friday, March 27, 2009 Police Officers Nolie and Fierro assigned to 106 Sector ABC, responded to a radio for an unconscious male in front of 133-24 78 St.

Upon arrival at the scene the officers were approached by Mr. Kester Papist, who left his residence on the same street at about 8 a.m., and discovered the body of a naked black male, approximately 40 years of age, lying face up with a gunshot wound to the head.

The victim was lying between a parked car and a fence. EMS personnel arrived and pronounced the time of death shortly after 8 a.m. A report from the Medical Examiners office later determined the time of death to be somewhere around 7 a.m.

A crime scene was established and a canvass for shell casings and firearms was conducted with no weapons recovered. Police obtained witness information, conducted a canvass for surveillance cameras and recorded all license plates near the scene.The deceased victim was not identified at the time of the incident.

The Crime Scene Unit collected forensic evidence and assisted the Medical Examiner with the removal of the body. An ongoing investigation was in progress to identify the deceased and establish the circumstances of the shooting.

Less than four days later, police believe they have made a connection in the shooting to yet another bullet-riddled body found dumped in Brooklyn. They have raided a Long Island condo owned by former New York Jets defensive star Jonathan Vilma, according to published reports in the Daily News.

Law officials are searching for clues in the double homicide they believe to be a pair of drug related murders. They also said there is no evidence that Vilma is in any way connected with the homicides. According to authorities, Vilma may have allowed a friend or relative to use the condo which the football star vacated in November of 2007.

Police did a canvass for witnesses in the area of the condo, asking other residents if they had heard anything strange like a gunshot or a bang.

On Friday, police found the body of Sekou Sakor, 31, dumped in the Paerdegat Basin of Brooklyn. Sakor’s body was disposed of in the same manner as the unidentified man found in the Lindenwood section. Both men were naked and shot execution style. Detectives believe both shootings were connected to a robbery in the Bronx in which Sakor was robbed at gunpoint of a suitcase full of cocaine.