May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The Parks Department has removed a fountain in Court Square Park as part of planned renovation work, just one week after hundreds of local residents signed a petition calling for its preservation. The fountain was removed on Thursday as part of a planned $4 million development first outlined in 2019…. Read more »
May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A Sunnyside pastor is set to release a new book exploring the intersection between queer identity and the Christian faith, offering a “lifeline to millions of people” who have been told to choose between their sexuality and their religion. Rev. Brandan Robertson, pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in Queens, is set… Read more »
May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien An Astoria pastry shop has introduced a “Pope Leo Cookie”, complete with a picture of Pope Leo XIV, in honor of the election of the first-ever American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago was elected Pope Leo XIV at the Papal Conclave on Thursday, becoming the first US-born pope… Read more »
May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The Long Island City Partnership (LICP) has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a traffic and pedestrian safety study along the Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue corridors. The Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue area, which LICP describes as a “gateway” to Long Island City, is one of the… Read more »
May 7, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Sunnyside Gardens residents say their block has been left in near-total darkness for more than two weeks after the Department of Transportation (DOT) removed several streetlights from 44th Street. According to residents on the block between Skillman Avenue and Barnett Avenue, the DOT removed at least three streetlights around… Read more »
May 6, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Hundreds of Long Island City residents have signed an online petition calling on elected officials and city agencies to halt the planned demolition of the fountain in Court Square Park. The half-acre park, located directly in front of the ornate Long Island City courthouse at 25-10 Court Square, is… Read more »
May 5, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather ideas and gauge interest in the potential redevelopment of the 672,000-square-foot Department of Education building at 44-36 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City—a property that has long been a focal point in… Read more »
May 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Council Member Julie Won has announced the return of movies in the park in Council District 26, with six free family-friendly movie events set to take place across Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside throughout May and June. The free Movies Under the Stars series will return with a… Read more »
May 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A business owner in Astoria Heights has caused controversy by erecting a permanent fence on a sidewalk running adjacent to his property, blocking access to roughly 50 feet of the sidewalk and removing roughly 10 parking spaces. Anthony Della Vecchia, who operates Michael Della Vecchia & Son General Contractor… Read more »
May 1, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC) will host a community volunteering event at Gantry Plaza State Park this Saturday as part of a state-wide volunteer initiative for I Love My Park Day, which encourages people to help out at their local state parks. HPPC, in partnership with New York State Parks,… Read more »