Nov. 17, 2024 By Robert Pozarycki The Fire Department (FDNY) has set up a specialized task force to battle and prevent NYC wildfires, scores of which have broken out across the five boroughs this month due to the Big Apple’s ongoing drought. New York City has not seen substantial rainfall since September, and the…
Jul. 24, 2024 By Ethan Marshall Queens community members and leaders gathered at Alley Pond Park in Oakland Gardens to celebrate the completion of four new pickleball courts in the athletic fields on Friday, July 19. The completion of this $28,000 project provides a dedicated space for one of the fastest growing sports in…
Jun. 26, 2024 By Athena Dawson Queens College and NYC Parks are collaborating for a borough-wide cultural initiative that will be running through October. The partnership will host a launch event on Thursday, June 27, and aims to promote cultural vibrancy in Queens through free performances and workshops focused on music, dance and visual arts….
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May. 9, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan For those who want to spend Mother’s Day, and the days leading up to it, outside with the community, there are several notable events to choose from. From free block parties and storytime reading to paid yoga classes and picnics in the garden, there is something for everyone. Here…
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Feb. 5, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan A Queens filmmaker is gearing up to release his second Indiana Jones short film adaptation after his first one was a huge hit online among fans of the franchise. John Galligan, a Forest Hills resident, released Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Queens Giant in 2020, just three years after buying his first camera, to pay homage to the film saga. The short film centers around the tallest and oldest tree in the city, known as the Queens Giant in Alley Pond Park. Since its release, the film garnered over 250,000 views on…
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Jan. 18, 2024 By Aidan Pellegrino The city of Queens has plenty of things to do over the winter, and this weekend is no exception. Whether it’s at a park, show or it’s just a great place to eat and relax, there is always something for everyone. Friday, Jan. 19 Alley Pond Park Forest Restoration Come volunteer at Alley Pond Park to help rebuild and restore the local ecosystem and learn about the importance of topics such as environmental conservation and species diversity. (Adventure Course Parking Lot, Union Turnpike, Oakland Gardens. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Admission: Free) Jr. Knicks…
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Jan. 9, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan The same year that William Nieter began teaching at St. John’s University in 1976, a group of environmentally minded community members opened the original Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard. Almost five decades later, with the surrounding park and its center unrecognizable from the early days, the idea to…
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Dec. 22, 2023 By Bill Parry
Three motorists were carjacked, and two others robbed during a terrifying crime spree in northeast Queens last week, according to police.
Dec. 4, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan After 17 years and a $28 million investment, Alley Pond Park cut the ribbon on its brand new environmental center in Douglaston on Monday, Dec. 4. The grand opening at the new building on Northern Boulevard drew more than a dozen elected officials, as well as NYC Parks Department employees and local residents. After a three-song performance from the chorus group at Marie Curie Middle School and a slew of remarks from those who cherish the nature preserve, officials cut a piece of biodegradable green tape with mini scissors to officially mark the completion…
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Nov. 28, 2023 By Bill Parry An MS-13 gang leader from Queens was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, Nov. 28, in Brooklyn federal court for racketeering charges, including the murder of a 16-year-old victim in Bayside’s Alley Pond Park in 2017. Melvi Amador-Rios, 32, of Briarwood, was convicted on 17 of 18 counts by a federal jury in August following a three-week trial and sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rachel Kovner to life in prison for murder in-aid-of racketeering. Amador-Rios was also sentenced to 80 years in prison for four Hobbs Act robberies, 40 years in prison for…
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