For more than three years, the Woodhaven Residents Block Association (WRBA) has fought to make the carousel at Forest Park operational again. These efforts have finally paid off with the announcement of the city Department of Parks and Recreation’s announcement that a concessionaire to operate the carousel has been found. New York Carousel Entertainment LLC will operate both the Forest […]
Maloney Meets With Occupy Astoria LIC
On April 21, a group of 15 members of Occupy Astoria LIC (OALIC) met with Congressmember Carolyn Maloney at her Queens district office. Formed in late 2011, in the aftermath of the forcible shut down of the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, the organization currently has 129 members according to its Facebook page. OALIC’s General […]
Maspeth Community, Crowley Seek ‘Justice For George’
On May 7, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley joined family and friends of the late George Gibbons for the sentencing of Peter Rodriguez, a longtime criminal that took the life of the well-respected community member in a fatal hit-and-run accident last October. The death of Gibbons, a native Maspeth resident, sparked outrage from family and community members, many of whom joined Crowley […]
Lights, Camera, Action!
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced on May 9 that the National Park Service (NPS) has given final approval to Kaufman Astoria Studio’s designs and plans to open a new outdoor movie studio lot next to their soundstages in Astoria, Queens. Last week, Schumer called on the National Park Service to immediately give final sign-off on a plan, which had […]
UCCA Notes Changes In State, Congressional Representation
In a changing of the guard due to redistricting, Congressmember Joe Crowley and state Senator Jose Peralta said hello, while Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and state Senator Michael Gianaris said goodbye to the United Community Civic Association at the May 3 UCCA meeting held at Augustana Lutheran Church hall in Astoria Heights. Next year, Crowley will represent the new 14th Congressional […]
Partner In Preserving Queens
Since 2006, American Express has partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help save many landmarks across the country from demolition and renewed them with a program known as Partners in Preservation. In the seven years of the partnership’s existence, historic buildings in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, and Saint Paul/Minneapolis. Each year the partnership chooses […]
A Mother’s Love Is Priceless
Even though the numbers declined slightly in 2012 compared to last year, the fact remains, according to numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that hiring the equivalent professionals to do what one mother, even if she also works outside the home, does in the course of a year, adds up to $60,182. Some of Mom’s duties are hard to […]
Letters to the Editor
I Remember Mama To The Editor: Mother’s Day will soon be upon us and I find myself reflecting about my mother, as I know a lot of us are doing as well. I have found myself thinking about my youth, growing up in Queens Village in the 50s and 60s. We lived in a corner house on 213th Street with […]
Historic Brinckerhoff Cemetery Awaits Final Fate
For more than a decade, the Brinckerhoff Cemetery has awaited a decision by the city Landmark Preservation Commission. And now, it seems, the cemetery’s final fate is at hand. Located on 182nd Street between 69th and 73rd Avenues in Fresh Meadows, the property, overgrown with grass, ivy and trees was the burial ground for more than 70 members of the […]
Tickets, Fines, Scholarships Topics At Astoria Civic Meeting
At the May 1 meeting of the Astoria Civic Association at Riccardo’s by the Bridge former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. presiding, Department of Transportation Queens Commissioner Maura McCarthy, during a slide show presentation informed viewers that Queens has 789 bridge structures and 28,000 miles of streets. She highlighted “That’s Why It’s 30,” a campaign to explain why the […]