Jan. 18, 2022 By Christian Murray The Queens Botanical Garden has named an Astoria resident and Community Board 1 member as its new executive director. Evie Hantzopoulos, who will start Jan. 24, will take over from Susan Lacerte, who retired in September after a 27-year tenure in the position. Hantzopoulos’ appointment comes at a time when… Read more »
Jan. 14, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for the establishment of a new office Thursday to centrally manage the city’s overall response to COVID-19. Richards proposed creating the “NYC Office of COVID Recovery” tasked with streamlining and improving the city’s COVID-19-related services. He said the office was needed to cut… Read more »
Jan. 14, 2022 By Sarah Kerson In 2017, two Woodside residents came together with one goal in mind: to clean up a historic site on 51st Street across from the Woodside Houses that had become an eyesore. “It was so overgrown,” said Elizabeth O’Connor, who with her then-neighbor Samantha Yeung organized efforts to create a… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Allie Griffin Approximately 200 men detained at the Rikers Island jail facility have organized a hunger strike —claiming that it is in response to being denied basic services and being forced to live in inhumane conditions. The men started the hunger strike to protest what they say is an unacceptable level… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Michael Dorgan The MTA has been sent more than $6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday. The bailout, a near $6.2 billion lump sum, is the largest one-time payment ever awarded by the Federal Transit Administration, an agency within the U.S. Dept…. Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 Op-Ed By Diana Limongi As a parent of two children and a childcare advocate, I know all too well that families all over Queens and across New York State are having difficulty finding affordable, quality child care in their communities. This was already an issue before COVID; New York lost more than 9,500… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Allie Griffin New York City Restaurant Week returns next Tuesday with deals at local eateries across the city including more than 20 in Queens. More than 400 restaurants throughout the five boroughs are participating in Restaurant Week which runs from Jan. 18 to Feb. 13. The local businesses are offering a… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Christian Murray The NYPD 108 Precinct is calling on residents to sign up to be part of its volunteer auxiliary program. The auxiliary unit, which consists of an all-volunteer group, helps the police force in maintaining order at parades, festivals and street fairs—as well as assists in patrolling subway entrances, parks… Read more »
Jan. 11, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Republican Council Members Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino as well as Democrat Council Member Robert Holden have signed onto a lawsuit with leaders of the New York state Republican Party arguing that the new law is unconstitutional. The suit, filed Monday in Staten Island Supreme Court, asks a judge… Read more »
Jan. 11, 2022 By Christian Murray Two hydro-electric companies that will be delivering clean energy to a substation in Astoria in 2025 have come together to donate $1.25 million to the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens. Hydro-Quebec and Transmission Developers Inc., which are developing a clean energy transmission line from the Canada-US border… Read more »