Dec. 29, 2023 By Anthony Medina Nine businesses that are looking to open licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Ridgewood/Glendale section of Queens will be going before a Community Board 5 committee next week in their quest for approval. The board’s Liquor License and Cannabis Committee will be reviewing the applications during its first meeting of…
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Dec. 27, 2023 By Anthony Medina Council Member Robert Holden delivered 75 coats to former service members who are currently living at a homeless facility in Long Island City to help them keep warm this winter. The coats were delivered by Holden to the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence on Dec. 21. The coats were donated by veteran service organizations such as the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapters 32 and 126, as well as the public. “It’s a small gesture to those who bravely served our country, ensuring they stay warm this winter,” Holden said. Holden joined forces with NYC Veterans…
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Dec. 26, 2023 By Anthony Medina The Shops At Atlas Park proved once again that it is more than just a shopping center by honoring the Ridgewood YMCA and “local hero” volunteer Melvia Harris with a financial contribution this month. The Glendale mall operators awarded Harris a $500 gift card for her work with the Ridgewood branch of the YMCA of Greater New York, which has served the neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Glendale, Rego Park, and Woodhaven since 1963. Harris and the YMCA were recognized for building a stronger community for current and future generations to come. “The holidays are about…
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Dec. 26, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Several pieces of legislation geared towards supporting veterans—two of which were introduced by Queens city council members—were passed by the council last week. The Council put forward the Mental Health Roadmap in April as part of an effort to expand prevention and support services to those in need of mental health resources. It also sought to increase interagency coordination, address the shortage of mental health workers and limit the intersection with the criminal justice system, all while increasing awareness. The second phase of the plan, unveiled in November, focused on the mental health needs…
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Dec. 23, 2023 By The Old Timer On Sept. 26, 1918, the 77th Division — which included many Ridgewood and Glendale soldiers — participated in the Battle of Argonne Forest. They were assigned a front of 7 ½ kilometers, and in 19 days, they managed to move 22 kilometers against five German divisions. One of their units was the famous “Lost Battalion,” which is where Lost Battalion Hall in Rego Park got its name. Elements from the 308th Infantry Regiment and the 306th Machine Gun Battalion, under the command of Charles Whittlesey, were ordered to push ahead in the Argonne…
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Dec. 22, 2023 By Anthony Medina Maspeth’s Knockdown Center calls 2023 its biggest and busiest year to date with more than 370,000 attendees across upwards of 215 events overall. The Knockdown Center, which serves as a cross-disciplinary epicenter for performance artists, expanded from its underground roots to incorporating a wide array of mainstream artists at…
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Dec. 16, 2023 By The Old Timer Ask someone about the location of St. James Park and the answer could be somewhere in the Bronx or in London, England. But we wonder how many of our readers are aware that the name once referred to a section of Ridgewood. Today, much of what once was known as…
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Dec. 15, 2023 By Anthony Medina Queens legislators have taken decisive action to combat the sale of illegal cannabis products this year, and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management reports that it has taken steps to combat the issue in the wake of the pressure. The OCM, which issues licenses as well as…
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Dec. 14, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Alternative transportation options in the form of shared mobility will continue to expand for Queens residents, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). At this month’s borough board meeting on Monday, Dec. 4, the heads of 14 community boards, along with Borough President Donovan Richards, heard from the DOT about the upcoming rollout of its e-scooter program, Citi Bikes and the ongoing car share program. E-Scooters Rollout In the spring of 2024, eastern Queens will be getting e-scooters after a successful pilot program that was launched in the east Bronx in 2021 and has seen…
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Dec. 14, 2023 By Anthony Medina Concerns over proposed zoning laws and the influx of cannabis shops remained the top concerns among members of Community Board 5 at its year-end meeting Wednesday night. The board meeting, held at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, also focused on quality-of-life issues, with board members and the public wanting to address issues such as rats and trash. Members also discussed the return of local civic group meetings. Maryann Lattanzio, a board member, said that rats were running rampant in Maspeth. She said the rat problem has been an issue in Ridgewood…
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