The landmarked exterior of the RKO Keith’s movie theater in Flushing was vandalized. Two sets of bronze doors and their frames were stolen form the site, which had been closed since 1986.

After conducting a survey of the damage, Queens real estate developer Thomas Huang, the owner of the site, agreed that a new gate should be constructed to prevent further abuse (see page 102).…

The City moved to repossess Flushing Town Hall. The leaseholder, Metro Club, Inc., had been in court since 1985 over allegations of neglect.

Each time, the company was given more time to make repairs and each time, little or no work was done….

In February, the FBI made the largest heroin bust ever in the United States at residences in Flushing and College Point.

Three million dollars in cash was found in Corona in the third leg of the sweep. The smugglers had the drugs hidden inside hollowed-out rubber wheels and packed together with real tires.

FBI agents weighed the tires and discovered a six-pound discrepancy that aided the investigation and subsequent arrests, which began 18 months before….

In response to a Tribune article, the New York City Council and the State Legislature declared March 19-25 “Freedom of the Press Week” as an outcry against the firebombing of the Riverdale Press in the Bronx. Their editorial offices were destroyed less than a week after the paper published an editorial denouncing attacks on the controversial book, “The Satanic Verses….”

Two female students at St. John’s University were threatened with disciplinary action for posing naked for Playboy magazine. Scholarship student Irene Tarassuk saw the pictorial as an opportunity. “I don’t think I represented  the college wrong,” she said. “Kids get drunk every day wearing St. John’s sweatshirts. That’s worse for the college.…”

In April, Reverend Al Sharpton led over 100 demonstrators through Howard Beach to publicize that none of the defendants in the controversial trial were serving time in prison.

The three defendants — John Lester, Scott Kern and Jason Ladone — were awaiting their appeals to a higher court….

After deliberating for two days, separate juries returned with guilty verdicts for the three defendants in the murder of rookie police officer Edward Byrne, who was assassinated on Feb. 26, 1988, as he sat in a patrol car protecting the home of a drug witness in South Jamaica. Scott Cobb, 25, who admitted driving the getaway car, was found guilty first. Philip Copeland was given the maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

Astronaut Ellen Baker (Center) her Queens Borough President Mom Claire Shulman(Left) and autograph collector  Lee Katzman (son of Trib Publisher MIchael Schenkler.)

In addition, he was sentenced to five to 15 years for possession of a weapon. Both terms were to be served concurrently. David McClary was convicted in the slaying.

Pappy Mason was found guilty in ordering the murder. Mason was reputed to be the head of the multi-million dollar “Bebos” gang, known for their jewelry….

New York Schools Chancellor Richard Green passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack at the age of 53. He had held his position for just over one year….

The Metropolitan Transit Authority voted to increase fares on trains and buses. In a 10-2 vote, increases were approved to take effect on Jan. 1, 1990. Bus and train fares went from $1 to $1.15….

Over 4,000 Ozone Park locals cheered when fireworks lit up the skies over the 101st Street block party on the Fourth of July.

The cheering was partly for the display of defiance by reputed mob boss John Gotti (see page 57) toward police orders forbidding pyrotechnics at the annual event….

The courts ruled in favor of the City and Flushing Town Hall was returned after its landlords were deemed in violation of an agreement to properly maintain the landmarked building. “It is in this Court’s considered opinion that Metro Club (landlord) significantly departed from a substantial obligation of its tenancy by failing to attend to certain conditions,” said Judge Phyllis Orlikoff  Flug….

Residents of Forest Hills and Forest Hills Gardens held a standing-room only meeting to discuss the problem of “booting.” That is the method employed by the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation to immobilize vehicles they deemed were parked illegally.

Furious drivers told stories of the indignities and severe penalties they suffered at the hands of the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, who claim that their streets are privately owned….

Elizabeth Holtzman was the only no-show candidate at the Tribune TV debate between City Comptroller candidates. In her stead was an empty chair, which was referred to several times by her opponents….

The MTA restarted service of the Flushing No. 7 subway line after four years of construction work. Excluded from the express was the 61st Street Woodside station, which accommodated 2,600 riders from western Queens….

In September, a Boeing 737 leaving for North Carolina crash-landed at LaGuardia Airport. Two women sitting 10 rows from the back of the plane were killed at the spot where the plane split as it plunged into the East River when the pilot aborted the takeoff.

Passenger Eric Trendal told authorities that he had been out bar-hopping with the pilot and co-pilot. DA John Santucci was critical of the USAir 5050 cockpit crew’s refusal to talk with federal investigators or to disclose their whereabouts before the flight until two days after the crash and launched his own probe….

The Tribune exposed racial discrimination in housing policies when a black reporter was told that there was  a waiting list for an apartment in Flushing. A white reporter was immediately offered the same apartment….

The Rolling Stones rocked Shea Stadium in October, to sellout crowds.

The home team Mets finished second in their division, allowing for additional Stones concert dates during what would have been their playoff games had they won….

Ellen Shulman Baker, the Borough President’s daughter, became Queens’ first astronaut on Oct. 18, 1989 as she was aboard a mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. “I’m overwhelmed by the experience,” her mother exclaimed while watching the launch from Cape Canaveral….