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 »
Jan. 11, 2023 By Michael Dorgan The NYC Economic Development Corp. is pausing its plans to demolish the existing ferry terminal at Hunter Points South Park and is reevaluating its plans to construct a replacement dock 150 feet away in front of the main boardwalk by the Oval. The EDC, which oversees the city’s ferry… Read more »
Jan. 10, 2023 By Bill Parry Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) received crucial federal funding that will bolster programming the institution provides to the youth of western Queens, including those from the underserved communities at the Astoria, Queensbridge and Ravenswood Houses. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez secured $502,250 to provide… Read more »
Jan. 10, 2023 By Christian Murray Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced Tuesday that she has secured $15 million in federal funds that will be going toward several Queens and Bronx community-based organizations. The lawmaker said that the funds will support 15 projects that are offered by non-profits or provided by city agencies — nine of which… Read more »
Jan. 10, 2023 By Bill Parry Brooklyn resident Elisaul Perez on Jan. 10 was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attacking 61-year-old GuiYing Ma as she swept a sidewalk in Corona on the day before Thanksgiving in 2021, fatally striking her twice in the head with a large rock, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Perez, 33,… Read more »