🌱 Robert Rodriguez Sentenced + Ferry Suspensions + Officer Shot

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Fog with rain and drizzle. High: 44 Low: 37.

Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. A Queens man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for shooting the mother of his child in the eye on her front lawn, killing her in 2017. Last month, 36-year-old Robert Rodriguez admitted to killing 21-year-old Luz Cuza in the overnight hours of Sept. 17, 2017, in Cuza's front lawn on 147th Street in Cambria Heights. "This violent tragedy leaves three children without their mother," according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. (NBC New York)
2. In recent months, faulty NYC ferry docks have routinely triggered suspensions of the pricey boat service. Within the past six months, pier closures occurred on 47 days or more than every four days across its network of 25 stops. A Queens dock saw the most closures, with reports claiming the Astoria landing was shut down 10 times due to electrical outages — all of them in January. (AMNY)
3. Two men were arrested on Tuesday night after an off-duty NYPD officer was shot while driving on Beach Channel Drive and Beach 62nd Street in the Arverne neighborhood. The 22-year-old officer was stopped at a light just after 10 p.m. when a man tapped on his window with a gun. The officer stepped out of his personal vehicle and had several shots fired at him, with one striking him in the shoulder. The officer returned fire but did not hit either of the suspects, who then fled on foot. (NBC New York)

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Today in Queens:

• Healing Learning Circle For Women (In Bengali), At Glen Oaks Branch Library (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• On Feb. 20 from 1:00-4:00 pm, please join the Queens Museum for a Lunar New Year celebration, with the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC). (Facebook)
• Queens will never forget Jason Rivera or Wilbert Mora, who were laid to rest yesterday. (Facebook)
• Looking to grow or develop your business YouTube Channel? Join Queens Chamber of Commerce today for a complimentary workshop and learn how to create compelling video content that promotes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.