Questions Rage Over Fire



A four-alarm fire at 84-09 37th Ave., Jackson Heights was called in on February 13 at 9:53 a.m., at 9:56 a.m. 39 additional units with 168 more firefighters arrived at the scene. More than 200 firefighters, four of which sustained minor injuries, brought the inferno under control by 1:31 p.m. Investigators this week are trying to determine what caused the […]

Musty Sign Leads To Adventure In Urban Archaeology



Every so often, an old sign is removed to reveal a hidden, lost treasure from days of old––the equivalent of an urban archaeological dig. At the corner of Steinway Street and 28th Avenue is a great example of the uncovering of such a treasure. At 28-01 Steinway St., below the sign that the owners of Gyro Uno are redoing, passersby […]

On the brief side…



Hevesi Gives Keynote Address At Energy Conference Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi recently addressed a distinguished panel of experts on renewable energy assembled to discuss “feed-in tariff” legislation and its potential to revolutionize production and delivery of electricity in New York state. The Forest Hills lawmaker, chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Renewable Energy and a member of the parent Energy Committee, […]

Maloney Acts To Stop ‘Look Alike’ Census Mailing



Responding to what she described as “a wave of look-alike direct mailings” from private organizations that could be mistaken as mailings from the federal Census Bureau, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan) has filed legislation that would prohibit using such wording and design by private mailers. “There are too many reports from too many places to ignore the fact that direct-mail fundraisers […]

Census Participation Is Vital For Queens



Queens exceeded two million in population for the first time in the 2000 U.S. Census. Beginning March 1, the 2010 Census count will start when questionnaires are mailed to homes. “It’s so important,” Borough President Helen Marshall said. “Ten years ago, our borough was dramatically undercounted.” According to the U.S. Census, the population in Queens as of April 1, 2000 […]

LaGCC Raises Money For Scholarships & Textbooks



The LaGuardia C.C. (LaGCC) Foundation launched “Spring Into Action”, a multi-faceted fundraising campaign focused on providing $3,500 scholarships to new and returning students. Now until May 31, the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Textbook Challenge will match dollar-for-dollar all gifts made to the Textbook Challenge fund up to $110,000. Donations can be made online at www.laguardia.edu/springintoaction. A printable pledge […]

Stamatiades, Lewandowski Honored By QCP



Each year Queens Centers for Progress (QCP, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Queens) chooses individuals displaying exemplary dedication to making a difference in the community and honors them as Chefs of the Year at QCP’s annual Evening of Fine Food reception. This year, George L. Stamatiades, vice president of Thomas M. Quinn and Sons Funeral Home in Astoria, and Queens […]

Vallone Bill Again Seeks Safety From Cell Towers



Continuing his fight against the placement of cellphone towers in residential neighborhoods, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. has proposed legislation requiring homeowners with cell towers on their buildings to notify the cell company when the Department of Buildings schedules an inspection. The bill would apply only to buildings six stories or more in height and is aimed at protecting DOB […]

Bleak Future For Borough Outlined At Budget Hearings



No one sounded happy during the public hearing held at Queens Borough Hall on February 9 concerning Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Fiscal Year 2011 preliminary capital and expense plan. The meeting was scheduled subsequent to Bloomberg’s January 28 press release announcing a four-year financial proposal that would close a $4.9 billion deficit. The plan would not involve tax increases and would […]

Bucket Brigades, Man-Powered Pumps Fought Fires



Modern technology is eliminating the need for street fireboxes in the case of an emergency. Since the invention of cellphones and the Internet, it has become much easier and faster to alert the fire department to a fire, as well as to provide up-to-date news about that fire until it is brought under control. As a result, Mayor Michael Bloomberg […]