For The Record

For The Record

A Teacher at PS 86 in Queens who was stabbed last week by a carjacker near her Jamaica school called on the Department of Education for an increase in security at the city's schools in a written statement Nov. 18.

"If any good is to come of this, I would hope that there is the possibility that this will lead to the Department of Education, Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg re-focusing their attention on the issue of school safety," said Jill E. Brogan, the Reading Teacher who was the victim of the attack.

Ms. Brogan thanked her co-workers, P.S. 86 Principal Karen Zuric and School Nurse Nica Mompremier, who treated her, along with Court Officer Frank Pastore - who apprehended the suspect - and the Police Officers and Detectives at the 107th and 103rd precincts.

She also thanked the UFT for its support.

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference Nov. 16 to urge New Yorkers to participate in the 22nd Annual "Daily News' Readers Care to Feed the Hungry of New York" canned food drive.

"People are going to start celebrating the holiday season soon - although I started celebrating last Tuesday," the Mayor told a packed room, referring to his Nov. 8 victory at the polls. "I applaud the always-generous New Yorkers who give to the needy, and also the civic-minded businesses that realize the government can't always do everything we'd like to on our own."

Last year's City Harvest food drive resulted in 220 tons of canned goods being passed out to 800 agencies. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said people could drop off donations at any firehouse in the city between Nov. 16 and Jan. 6, 2006.

Non-perishable foods can also be dropped off at all city police precincts, the lobby of the Daily News (450 West 33rd Street), and any Modell's Sporting Goods locations in the city.

City Harvest will collect the cans and distribute them. Anyone wishing to donate time or money can visit www.cityharvest.com for more information. This year's food drive is expected to feed approximately 440,000 people.

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New York City Transit announced last week that it will be testing an intercom system at 10 still-to-be-determined subway stops around the city.

The intercoms will connect riders directly with an NYC Transit employee at the agency's 2 Broadway headquarters. Spokesman Charles Seaton said they'll be placed in areas not normally staffed by clerks, like subway platforms and mezzanines.

"This will allow riders to get directions and information about train schedules when they're already in the subway system," he said.

The new intercoms will be much easier to understand than the existing public announcement system, which often garbles messages beyond comprehension. "It's not going to sound like a PA system because it's not the PA system - this is a direct intercom; it will be clearer," said Mr. Seaton. Costs for the pilot program haven't been fleshed out yet, but if all goes as well as expected, NYC Transit plans to expand the program to more stations in the near future.

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An engineer who was beaten at Ground Zero by three Port Authority Police Officers has reimbursed his union $25,000 for funding his lawsuit.

Michael Kenny, a Construction Engineer with the city Department of Design and Construction, won a $295,000 judgment against the Port Authority for injuries he suffered in the attack. He also needed to defend himself against assault charges brought by the three officers. He was acquitted of those charges.

The officers broke Mr. Kenny's collarbone and kicked him to the ground after he and two laborers asked them to put on proper safety gear when they entered the "pit" on April 11, 2002.

Claude Fort, president of Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 of District Council 37, accepted the check from Mr. Kenny.

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While wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers, we want to extend that wish in particular to those employees - cops, firefighters, correction officers, Emergency Medical Service workers and hospital employees - who are working that day, keeping us safe and healthy.