A Flushing lawmaker recently introduced legislation calling for a “Transit Bill of Rights” designed to protect straphangers and clarify the responsibility of New York state officials to provide timely, accessible, safe and clean mass transit service. State Assemblymember Grace Meng last month introduced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Rider’s Bill of Rights to the state Assembly, to require the MTA […]
Cuomo Signs Extension Of Jobless Benefits
Legislation extending federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits through 2011 has been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, it was announced by the bill’s supporter, state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D–Howard Beach). The extension was to have expired by early spring, Addabbo said. If that had happened, Addabbo explained, beneficiaries who were unemployed would have received 80 weeks of benefits. But […]
Dromm Initiative Sparks Elmhurst Restaurant Week
Councilmember Daniel Dromm has sponsored a new initiative that aims to stimulate commercial activity and jumpstart the economy in Elmhurst by showcasing the multicultural neighborhood as a place where many of the city’s best and most eclectic restaurants have a home. The initiative, called Eat Elmhurst, began April 3 and continued through April 9 and featured Elmhurst’s first-ever restaurant week, […]
Bell Toll Commemorates 150th Anniversary Of Civil War
At noon April 12, the bell at Maple Grove Cemetery began tolling to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. The war began April 12, 1861 when Fort Sumter was fired upon. It ended in April, 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia.
Addabbo Bill Would Use Schools To Teach ‘Hate’ Crime Prevention
Responding to last month’s gang-related murder in Woodhaven, which is also being investigated by the NYPD as a possible hate crime, state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D–Howard Beach) is co-sponsoring a bill to raise awareness of hate crimes by requiring a course to be given on the issue in all public schools. The proposed law calls for the Board of […]
Trees Return To MacDonald Park
MacDonald Park in Forest Hills was reborn on April 9, with the planting of 79 new trees. More than 500 volunteers lined up to participate in what was part of the fourth annual “One Thing That’s Green” event sponsored by the MillionTreesNYC initiative, the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and JetBlue Airlines. The park, which had been completely treeless for […]
Queens Pols, Increase Safety At Koch-QB Bridge Exit
Lawmakers representing neighborhoods surrounding the [Ed Koch] Queensboro Bridge are calling for a comprehensive study to review safety of bridge exit ramps after a second crash left a woman dead and severed the arm of a second driver. A 40-year-old mother of two became the second person killed in two weeks in horrific crashes at the bridge exit ramp at […]
Peralta Announces $50K For Library Materials
On April 8, state Senator Jose Peralta announced that he has procured a $50,000 state Legislative Grant for library materials for Queens Library. He made the announcement at the East Elmhurst branch along with Queens Library Chief Executive Officer Thomas W. Galante. Eighth and fifth grade students from nearby P.S. 199 joined them. “Deep budget cuts have forced the Queens […]
Lexington Students Take First Place At National Science Fair
Students from The Lexington School for the Deaf in Jackson Heights recently took first place in the High School Team Division at the prestigious 2011 Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Science Fair for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. Sergio Carrillo of Staten Island, Shyiann Baksh of Ozone Park and Gabriel Carino of The Bronx, won for their project: Lactase Pills: Rate of Dissolving […]
Vallone Returns To Alma Mater For Career Day
Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. returned to his alma mater St. John’s Preparatory H.S. in Astoria on April 7, where he took questions from three classes during their annual career day. Vallone, who graduated in 1979, also had the chance to catch up with his former English teacher, Vice Principal Maureen Flood, who presented him with the English award during […]