Congressmembers Carolyn Maloney and Joseph Crowley announced last week that the National Park Service is conducting a three-step process to determine if a 351-year-old house in Astoria, oldest house still being used as a home in New York City, might be eligible for favorable consideration as part of the National Parks System. The house in question is the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead, […]
108th CC Hails Whelan’s Promotion, Thief’s Arrest
The 108th Police Precinct Community Council’s October meeting took place on the last night of the month, Halloween. The streets near the old quarters of Sunnyside Community Services were crowded with roaming youth, leading Diane Ballek, community council president, to call for a fast meeting, “so we can get our cops back out there where they belong.” But the late […]
New Q.W. Housing Not Affordable, Protesters Say
Alarmed and annoyed that some 60 percent of Queens residents may not qualify to move into 5,000 planned affordable housing units to be built on the Hunters Point waterfront, a diverse group of community activists called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to change the rules and modify the criteria so that some of them can become residents of the much-needed housing. […]
Garden School Counselor Elected To NACAC Board
Lisa Sohmer, director of college counseling at the Garden School, Jackson Heights, was elected to the board of directors of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) at the association’s 62nd national conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. NACAC is the largest association of counselors dedicated to the college admission process, with more than 9,200 members worldwide. Sohmer will serve a […]
Crystal Windows Holds 1st Corporate Blood Drive
Crystal Window & Door Systems focused attention on the critical need for Asian American community blood donations through a special press event held in conjunction with its first corporate blood drive on October 23. Crystal hosted the blood drive and press conference at its Flushing headquarters, 31-10 Whitestone Expwy., on behalf of the New York Blood Center, which along with […]
SHAREing & CAREing Plans 12th Anniversary Fundraiser
SHAREing & CAREing, an organization devoted to maintaining and restoring normal quality of life for women who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, will celebrate its 12th anniversary with a benefit and fundraising silent auction at Riccardo’s by the Bridge, Astoria on November 15. Carrying on a longstanding tradition, Joseph Pistilli, president, chief executive officer and chairman of […]
Origins Of Veteran’s Day
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in […]
Cops Seek Wheels For Injured Vet
When Lieutenant Michael Coyle and a team of cops from the 106th Precinct responded to the scene of a recent vehicle fire, they spotted a man on crutches clutching an American flag. Marine Captain Raymond Lopes told the cops his 1978 truck overheated while he was driving from rehabilitation for injuries he suffered while on a second tour of duty […]
Hospital Unit Returns From Iraq Duty
Members of the 344th Combat Support Hospital, stationed at Fort Totten, recently returned from a year-long tour of duty in Iraq. The unit’s 393 members cared for United States, Coalition and Iraqi Forces and detainees at Abu Ghraib and Camp Bucca Prison hospitals. All 393 returned safely, despite mortar and rocket attacks, ambushes and threats from the detainees they were […]
Two Come To Block-Long Blows Over Drugs
On Friday, October 20, in an incident that ranged along Steinway Street from 34th Ave to Broadway, a 26-year-old Hispanic male was charged with assault, criminal possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana after a 32-year-old Hispanic male stated the perpetrator had punched the him in the face and was hiding drugs in a vehicle. The 32- year-old Hispanic […]