March 16, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens judge dismissed nearly 700 open prostitution cases at the request of District Attorney Melinda Katz Tuesday morning. Queens Acting Supreme Court Justice Toko Serita granted Katz’s request to vacate the open warrants and dismiss the cases pertaining to people who have been charged with loitering for the… Read more »
March 16, 2021 By Christina Santucci The public will get an opportunity next week to weigh in on a developer’s proposal to build a 1-million-square-foot complex – with 1,400 apartments – on the Halletts Point peninsula in Astoria. The Department of City Planning is holding a virtual public scoping meeting, where attendees can make comments… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city is launching a new community-based pilot program to prevent gun violence in five precincts across the city–including the Queens precinct where a 37-year-old woman was killed Friday by a stray bullet. The program, called the Advance Peace Model, will start in July and pair at-risk youth with… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An ice cream store on Vernon Boulevard is set to close after a near five-year run. Something Sweet, best known for its home-made ice cream and zany flavors, is closing its 49-10 Vernon Blvd. store at the end of the month, according to a store manager. The company has… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An expansive new Chinese restaurant specializing in hand-pulled noodles has opened in Long Island City, following months of delays due to the pandemic. Noodle Craft, located at 10-39 47th Rd. in Hunters Point, had its grand opening on March 4 and their menu consists of a wide range of… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined the growing chorus of New York officials calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step down — following allegations that the governor harassed several women. Richards, in a joint statement issued with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, said Saturday that Cuomo should resign. The… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a turning vehicle on Queens Boulevard on Friday. Jaipaul Persaud, 55, died Sunday two days after being hit by a driver of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, as he tried to cross at the intersection of Queens Boulevard and 84th Drive at… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci St. Patrick’s Day is this week and the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District has partnered with a neighborhood group to highlight what local bars and restaurants will be offering on the big day. The promotion includes a series of videos, in which Sunnyside resident Ty Sullivan interviews the owners… Read more »
March 14, 2021 By Christina Santucci The family of a woman shot and killed in Astoria Friday night has received a massive outpouring of support with more than $23,000 raised for them in less than a day A GoFundMe page was launched by the family of Gudelia Vallinas, 37, who was tragically killed by a… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The owners of an Afghan restaurant in Astoria plan to open a similar venue in Long Island City this summer. The restaurant, which will be called Sami’s Kebab House, is slated to open at 47-38 Vernon Blvd. in August–where the now-shuttered Four Winters ice cream store was located. The… Read more »