A beautiful spring morning in Ditmars Park in Astoria turned ugly last Tuesday when 54-year-old Zbigniew Pawlowski reportedly armed his two children with two illegally owned BB guns and set them loose in a busy playground.

He first fired a couple of shots at a nearby tree, then handed the weapons to his 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, according to an account from the Queens district attorney’s office.

The city’s Administrative Code requires permits for air rifles or pistols like BB guns. There were no injuries as a result of this incident, but Pawlowski was arraigned on several charges, including resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child, the New York Times reported.

The story was first written about on the Queens Mamas blog, and Queens Councilman Peter Vallone linked to the story on his Facebook page, asking constituents to speak up if they recognized the man in a blurry cell phone photo.

“It’s unfortunate this incident escalated,” Vallone said of Pawlowski’s arrest and the ensuing court case. “The gun was extremely realistic which makes it illegal, but instead of turning himself in and getting a wrist slap, he resisted arrest.”

The Queens Mamas story, which has since been removed, complained of a delay in response by the police, and an absence of police near the park generally.

“Everyone wants more cops in the neighborhood, it’s my top priority,” Vallone said, and advised voters “to look at candidates’ positions on more cops in the upcoming elections.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

The post Queens man arrested after letting children use BB gun appeared first on Metro.us.

After the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School approximately two months ago, it’s hard to think of a fitting way to honor the memory of the 26 lives lost.

A New Jersey firefighters’ union figured out the perfect way to memorialize the children and teachers lost while also benefiting children in local communities.

The firefighters will build 26 playgrounds in towns that were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The project is titled ‘The Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play.’

Each playground will be named and themed after one of the victims.

The plan is to build 10 playgrounds in New York and New Jersey each. Another six playgrounds will be built in Connecticut.

Construction for the first playground will start in Sea Bright, N.J. and will be named after the special education teacher Ann Marie Murphy.

“The residents of Sea Bright lost so much from Superstorm Sandy that something like a new playground, besides providing a safe place for our children to play, is also a symbol of hope and recovery,” Mayor Dina Long told the Wall Street Journal. “It has a far greater impact that just a nice playground.”

The park dedicated to Murphy might also include a dog run to honor the teacher’s love for dogs.

Other playgrounds will include features that commemorate each victim’s personality. For example, Jack Pinto, who loved the New York Giants, will get a football-themed playground. Catherine Hubbard’s name will be put on a Staten Island playground by the sea and Noah Posner’s playground will be in Rockaway, near his grandfather’s house.

The project will cost $2.1 million and will be spearheaded by New Jersey’s Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association. Construction for the first playground will begin Mach first. To donate to the project, click here.

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant

The post Sandy Hook victims to be honored with playgrounds in Hurricane Sandy towns appeared first on Metro.us.