A couple of Queens burglars struck again in Ridgewood this month and police are looking for any leads or public assistance.

The first incident, allegedly took place on May 15, at around 12:30 a.m., when one of the individuals approached the 36-year-old male victim in the area of Forest Avenue and Norman Street and asked him what time it was. As the victim began to respond, a second suspect approached him from behind and grabbed him. They removed his wedding ring and watch before fleeing the scene.

The most recent incident that police believe is connected, occurred on June 12, at around 10:25 p.m. According to police, the individuals approached the 29-year-old victim as he walked on Norman Street, punched him in the face and held him to the ground. They removed his wallet – which contained $200 in cash – and his Samsung Galaxy cellphone.

According to police, the suspects are both males, between 20-25 years-old.

Surveillance footage of the suspects is above.

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

A 28-year-old Ridgewood man is facing criminal mischief charges after he allegedly damaged four vehicles in the area of Himrod Street and Onderdonk Avenue.

According to Det. Thomas Bell of the NYPD 104th Precinct, the officers received a 911 call of criminal mischief to a vehicle at around 5:12 a.m. At the scene, they placed 28-year-old David Martinez under arrest for allegedly damaging the vehicle.

A further investigation revealed damage to at least four vehicles in the area.

If you live in the vicinity and your vehicle was damaged, Bell urges you to call 911 or contact the NYPD 104th Precinct directly at (718) 386-3004.

The New York City Parks Department’s Movies Under the Stars series is coming to Ridgewood.

On Thursday, June 30, at 8:30 p.m., bring a chair or blanket to Rosemary’s Playground, 752 Fairview Avenue, to watch Shaun the Sheep. The event is free and open to residents of all ages.

For more information, visit the Parks Department’s event website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2016/06/30/movies-under-the-stars-shaun-the-sheep

The Ridgewood YMCA is hosting their annual tasting event this week, featuring over 20 of the communities top restaurants and over 100 of Ridgewood’s most generous philanthropic donors.

Taste of Ridgewood benefits the YMCA’s annual campaign to ensure that no child or family is ever turned away from life-enhancing YMCA programming because of inability to pay.

Tickets are still available for the upcoming event, which is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 at the Ridgewood YMCA, 69-02 64th Street, Ridgewood.

See some photos from last year’s tasting event:

Organizers trying to create a new community garden in Ridgewood are looking for some help in contacting the owners of their prospective locations. They put out a list at last week’s community board 5 meeting with the specific addresses:

● Corner of Onderdonk. & Willoughby Ave. (Vacant Lot / Department of Education)

● 18­20 Onderdonk Ave. (Greater Ridgewood Historical Society / Onderdonk House)

● 18­96 DeKalb Ave. (No Owner Listed?)

● 21­27 Himrod St. (Department of Education / Grover Cleveland High School)

● 16­47 Hancock St. (Vacant Lot, Ridgewood Nepalese Society)

● 62­41 Forest Ave. (Vacant Lot, Absentee Owner)

● 71­09 Cypress Hills St. (Vacant Lot, Stop&Shop)

● 65­20 60 Pplace. (Vacant Former Church Property)

“Last year we organized a popular community garden project on a vacant lot between Woodward and Woodbine,” the group said in a flier. “We now have an active working group of 40 people, with over 500 followers on Facebook, and our mailing list has over 1000 signatories. This year we are looking for a new lot to garden in, and hope to secure long­term community access.”

See contact information for the group below, if you can help:

Email: ridgewoodcommunitygarden@gmail.com

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/ridgewoodcommunitygarden (or search ‘Ridgewood Community Garden’)

Phone:(423) 963­1077 (Ryan)

 

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez hosted an immigration resource fair in Ridgewood last week. The event, at Grover Cleveland High School, gave local residents a chance to speak with representations from the NY Immigration Coalition about immigration-related issues.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez for putting together this wonderful event for our Ridgewood community” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, who attended the fair. “It is important that our neighborhood receive the most up to date information on all these important issues including immigration.”

 

The NYPD 104th Precinct is hosting a blood drive at their Ridewood police headquarters today. The event is running from noon until 6 p.m. at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue, Ridgewood. See the flier below for more information: