🌱 Missing Queens Teen + Steel Rods Fall At Construction Site + Theft

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Tuesday started off right, with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with clouds and sun. High: 41 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories today in Queens:

1. Police are looking for a 15-year-old girl who has been missing since Thursday. Melina Barrios was last seen on Feb. 2 at around 7:00 a.m. when she was leaving her home at 115th Street in College Point. According to authorities, Barrios is described as having dark-colored hair with blond highlights and was last seen wearing black and white pants, a black jacket, and blue sneakers. (Patch)
2. On Monday, five people were injured after steel rods fell at a Queens Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) worksite. The accident occurred at the construction site at 46-01 37th Avenue in Long Island City when a stack of rebar (steel rods used in concrete construction) came loose and tipped over onto the contracted workers, according to a DEP spokesman. All five workers were transported to Elmhurst Hospital; one victim is in critical condition. (AMNY)
3. Last month, a Facebook Marketplace transaction went wrong in Astoria, according to the NYPD. On Jan. 27, a 24-year-old was robbed at knifepoint between Newtown Road and 41st Street during an arranged meetup through Facebook Marketplace. The victim was intending to sell his car, however, the robber fled with the vehicle. The victim was not injured, according to authorities. Anybody with information is asked to contact NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). (Patch)

Today in Queens:

• Fitness Walk, At Fort Totten Park (9:00 AM)
• Latin Party, At Music Box (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Attention, Queens! This is the final full week to get your community board applications in before the Feb. 16 deadline. If you're looking for a way to make a difference in your neighborhood, submit your application here. (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• According to a new Bumper.com study, New York ranked No. 49 in the nation for driver fatality rates at 8.58 percent. Could our automated red light and speed cameras be the reason for this comparatively low rate? See how our state stacks up against the rest of the country in the report. (Bumper.com)
• Are you in the market for a new job? Plenty of local employers are hiring in the Queens area! Browse new jobs, including customer service, sales, and truck driving positions, at the link. (Queens Patch)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with your next update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.