Apr. 3, 2024 By Anthony Medina A coalition of legal and licensed cannabis dispensary owners have come together to urge New York State officials to take swift legislative action against unlicensed weed shops. The dispensary owners have joined forces and penned a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly…
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Apr. 2, 2024 By Anthony Medina An ‘Operation Smokeout’ campaign spearheaded by Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar has brought multiple rallies across the city to advocate for passage of the “SMOKEOUT Act,” ahead of the bill’s anticipated success this month. Rajkumar, who represents District 38 in the New York State Assembly, introduced the SMOKEOUT Act early this…
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Apr. 2, 2024 By Anthony Medina A local deli in Middle Village is raising funds for the family of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller by selling “The NYPD” sandwich, made in honor of the fallen cop who died in the line of duty. Mario’s Meat Market and Gourmet Deli, located at 75-55 Metropolitan Ave, is donating…
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Mar. 26, 2024 By Ethan Marshall The New York Lottery announced on Tuesday that two Queens businesses each sold a third-prize-winning ticket for the Powerball drawing on Monday, Mar. 25. JM Deli and Grocery Corp. at 73-01 88th St. in Glendale and Kai Smart Family Store Inc. at 199-11 32nd Ave. in Flushing both sold…
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Mar. 25, 2024 By Bill Parry A Glendale man, along with several corporations linked to him, were criminally charged with trademark counterfeiting and money laundering stemming from the trafficking of bogus custom automobile accessories for luxury brand vehicles, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Sunday. Fei Wu, 39, of…
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Mar. 25, 2024 By Anthony Medina The Cannabis Place, a legal adult-use cannabis dispensary, officially opened its doors at 74-03 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village on Saturday, March 16, after years of preparation and a slew of challenges. Osbert Orduña, the chief executive officer and founder of The Cannabis Place, joined with family, friends, and key…
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Mar. 22, 2024 By Anthony Medina Concerns are mounting among neighbors, parishioners and Community Board 5 leadership due to a neighbor’s neglectful habit of leaving piles of trash behind their building, adjacent to the Ridgewood Presbyterian Church, since last year. Neighbors say the sudden appearance of party lights and loud music erupting from the site…
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Mar. 20, 2024 By Anthony Medina A dueling rally was held in Maspeth Saturday outside a synagogue turned migrant shelter where about 50 opponents and 20 supporters stood their ground on opposite sides of Grand Avenue. The Maspeth Jewish Center, located at 66-64 Grand Ave., which began operating as a 15-bed temporary housing facility for migrant men earlier this month, sparked controversy among some residents both in-person and through social media. Demonstrators at Saturday’s protest made their voices heard through chants and signage that clearly stated their stance on the migrant shelter and the crisis as a whole. Protesters against…
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Mar. 18, 2024 By Anthony Medina A group of residents who have formed Ridgewood Rides — an advocacy group of bicyclists that calls for safe streets — have launched a petition demanding safer access for cyclists and pedestrians to the Ridgewood Reservoir. The Ridgewood Reservoir, located within Highland Park, is situated on the border of Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods, including Bushwick and Cypress Hills. The group has garnered approximately 800 signatures in its quest to make access to the 1.18 miles of park space safe to enjoy the neighborhood’s greenery. Advocates of the petition are calling for protected bike lanes and…
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Mar. 18, 2024 By Bill Parry Two days after Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced she had brought charges against a Flushing man for scamming more than $600,000 from seniors across the country, her office hosted a presentation at the Ridgewood Older Adult Center on Mar. 12 to coach participants on how they can avoid being victims of similar schemes. “Education is key to preventing fraudulent activity, particularly among the senior population,” Katz said. “To this end, my office has been actively engaging with senior centers across the borough, providing insights on the warning signs of common scams.” Fei Liang,…
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