Martin Smoak, Community Activist, Dies
Martin H. Smoak, a resident and fixture of Astoria for the past 52 years, died Saturday, February 17. Smoak was a loving father, a devoted grandfather, community activist, member of various community organizations and a very close “friend” of Santa. He was the unofficial mayor of Astoria and was seen every day walking down Broadway doing his errands. This walk […]
114th Pct. Police Blotter
Tuesday, February 27: + A 32-year-old Hispanic male broke a front window and entered 22-66 21st St. He was found in possession of a screwdriver and flashlight and another person’s wallet and was charged with burglary, criminal possession of stolen property and possession of burglar’s tools. + A 26-year-old black male was charged with criminal trespass after he acted obnoxiously […]
Holocaust Diplomats Honored
Ambassadors to the United Nations from China, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the Netherlands gathered February 28 at the Kupferberg Holocaust Center at Queensborough Community College in Bayside for a program dedicated to honoring those diplomats who helped Jews escape Europe from the Nazi onslaught. The ceremony was highlighted by the opening of an inhabitation titled Diplomats of Mercy. “It is […]
On the brief side…
Bill Blocks Fees For Paying Bills Online Credit card companies will be prohibited from charging a fee to customers who pay their bills online or by phone under a bill introduced by Congressmember Gary Ackerman (D- Bayside). “Credit card holders are being overridden with transfer fees, membership fees, finance fees, overthe limit fees, cash advance fees, stop-payment order fees, interchange […]
Gianaris Blasts Con Ed Again
According to Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, Con Edison admitted that the utility spent $581,000 on a publicity campaign to repair its image in Western Queens after last summer’s nineday power blackout in that area. Meanwhile, Gianaris said that the giant utility was simultaneously denying local merchants’ claims for losses suffered during the power failure which exceeded the $7,000 maximum Con Ed […]
Spitzer, Weiner Search For More Homeland Security $
As Governor Eliot Spitzer made his first visit to Washington to lobby for homeland security funds, Congressmember Anthony Weiner called for mandated public disclosure of all anti-terror spending by cities and states. Weiner (D- Queens/Brooklyn) also said he plans to introduce legislation requiring the federal government to reimburse New York City for the funds the municipal government is paying out […]
Borough-Wide Blotter
104 Precinct Bogus Check Bust Police arrested a 26-year-old Ridgewood man on February 26, after he stole and forged two checks and deposited them in his own bank account. Police said between January 25 and February 5, George Zelaya stole a check from the mailbox of a co-worker, erased the name on the check and inserted his own name, made […]
Jackson Heights Gets Traffic Signal
State Senator George Onorato (D) has announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of 21st Avenue and 81st Street in Jackson Heights. In a letter to the senator, DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Maura McCarthy said that the work to install the new signal should be completed […]