Jan. 13, 2023 By Michael Dorgan A Maspeth woman was found fatally shot in the head inside her own home earlier this week — and police on Friday said they are now treating the case as a homicide. The victim, Alexa Ruiz, 23, was discovered dead inside her 59-49 56th Drive apartment Wednesday at around… Read more »
Jan. 13, 2023 By Bill Parry An alleged serial rapist from Jackson Heights was arrested during the morning of Friday, Jan. 6, near Gorman Playground, one block from his home on 85th Street. Andres Portilla, 28, was taken into custody just after 6:30 a.m. by members of the NYPD Detective Bureau’s Special Victims Unit at the northeast… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2023 By Michael Dorgan Several lifelong friends have come together and have opened a new pizzeria in Astoria. The eatery, called Bros Pizza, opened at 32-20 34th Ave. on Dec. 16 and offers a wide range of New York-style pies as well as wings and pasta dishes. The pizzeria is owned by Ariful… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2023 By Bill Parry Police from the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst are searching for two men who broke into a house of worship and made off with a donation box during the early morning of Saturday, Jan. 7. The suspects jumped over a fence and entered the grounds of the Wat Buddha Thai Thavornvanaram Temple located at 76-16… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2023 By Bill Parry Two men were sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for forcing three underage girls into the sex industry in February 2021, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Alan Velvett, 29, of Roscoe Street in Jamaica, and Lawrence Winslow, 28, of Coldale, Pa., each pleaded guilty to three… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2023 By Christian Murray The Parks Dept. has started work on a $6 million overhaul of Bland Playground, a gritty park located in downtown Flushing that residents say is in desperate need of an upgrade. The playground, located at Prince Street and 40th Road, will be closed until January 2024 as the entire… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2023 By Christian Murray Cheese of the World, which has been located in Forest Hills for more than 65 years, is closing. Nellie Chiu, the owner of the 71-48 Austin St. store, made the announcement on Instagram Wednesday. She said the store, which sells more than 250 cheeses as well as cured meats… Read more »
Jan.12, 2023 By Christian Murray Ample Hills Creamery, the popular ice cream purveyor, has shut down all 12 of its stores—including its two in Queens. The creamery, known for churning out innovative and story-themed ice creams, initially said that it was closing the stores on a temporary basis—between Dec. 19 and Dec. 25—due to a… Read more »
This article was originally published by The CITY on Jan. 11, 2023 By Jose Martinez The MTA and City Hall are shifting into gear on ways to better connect bicycles and other green forms of transportation to the subways, buses and bridges. MTA officials on Wednesday unveiled “Extending Transit’s Reach,” the report from a yearlong… Read more »
Jan. 11, 2023 By Carlotta Mohamed Queens Botanical Garden Executive Director Evie Hantzopoulos on Tuesday, Jan. 10, announced an $8 million donation from the Joan N. and Norman Bluestone Foundation, a charitable organization headquartered in Jamaica, that will help support the garden’s educational programs and activities. Hantzopoulos was joined by members of the QBG board of trustees, elected officials… Read more »