Category Archives: Glendale
In a shocking announcement at 10 this morning, Republican City Councilman Eric Ulrich posted a video saying he will challenge Democrat Joe Addabbo for his New York State Senate seat. Just this week, City and State reported that Ulrich, a second-term councilman, was unlikely to run for senate. He is, however, a top choice of Queens GOP officials. The 27-year-old is viewed as a rising star on the Republican horizon. Addabbo and Ulrich will battle for the 15th District, … Continue reading
Almost 70 years passed between the time Anton Dietrich Jr. was wounded during a battle in North Africa and when he received a Purple Heart for his bravery just last week. Dietrich is a 93-year-old WWII Army veteran who lives in Richmond Hill. He fought in Tunisia, landed in Sicily as well as Normandy, and spent 32 months at Walter Reed Medical Center when a mortar shell tore into his legs, arm and back. Dietrich was awarded a host of … Continue reading
As another Queens hospital closes, concern is growing on Community Board 5 that there’s an epidemic lack of beds in the borough. At CB 5’s meeting last week, the chairman of the board’s Health and Human Services Committee introduced a resolution urging local politicians to find a fix. Bob Cermeli, the committee chair, said he’s seen too many bankrupt or shuttered hospitals leading to a systemic crisis of space. “We’re always in constant threat of disasters, man-made, natural, and if … Continue reading
The Queens Public Library is introducing a pilot program that will allow people to rent e-readers from its central branch in Jamaica. The program, which started on April 12, has 50 e-readers available and allows people with a library card and a photo ID to take out the device for free. They can rent it for seven days and have the option of renewing it twice before returning it. The e-readers have books on five different themes: best sellers, romances, … Continue reading
Thanks to an outpouring of donations from total strangers, this little puppy has a second chance at life. Many small donations, ranging from $2 to $200, and coming from all over the world, paid for a desperately needed surgery the poor homeless pup otherwise would not have had. And Linus so excited he can’t wait to say thank you, at a Four Paws Sake fundraiser on Sunday, April 29. Four Paws Sake, a no-kill shelter in Middle Village, thought they’d … Continue reading
In a move that will save tax payers millions of dollars, New York State will remove the four percent sales tax on clothing, footwear and related items that are sold for less than $110 dollars. The sales tax exemption, which started on April 1, applies to all of those goods that are bought in person, online, by telephone or by mail. It’s the second straight year for the program. The qualifying amount for this year’s program has doubled. Last year, … Continue reading
New Yorkers might not have to wait months past the deadline to see their budget this year. Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, announced on Monday, April 9, the early passage of the 2012-2013 New York State Budget. The new NYS budget totals $132.6 billion, which is a reduction of $135 million from last year. According to a statement from the New York State Senate, This budget eliminates a $2 billion … Continue reading
Endorsements in Queens’ Democratic congressional primary for the 6th District began rolling out in earnest this week. Assemblyman Rory Lancman won support from former New York Mayor Ed Koch, two local unions and the Working Families Party. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley snagged the thumbs-up of the Uniformed Firefighters Association as well as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 9. Assemblywoman Grace Meng, meanwhile, added EMILY’s List—a leading nationwide political resource for women—to her already sizable backing from … Continue reading
The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers and Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions (CURES) learned last week that they each won a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2012 Environmental Quality Award. A personal call came in from Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens) to let them know. “These are two extremely deserving groups who do important work on behalf of our community,” Turner said in a statement. “I was proud to have nominated them, and am even prouder that they have been recognized for their … Continue reading
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced the winners of the 22nd Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards. Newtown High School in Elmhurst and the TWA Terminal at JFK International Airport are two of the recipients that will be recognized at an April 25 ceremony at the New York Historical Society. The coveted awards, called the “Preservation Oscars,” are named after dedicated New Yorker Lucy G. Moses. They recognize individual leadership and outstanding preservation work. This work provides jobs, promotes tourism, … Continue reading
Kathy Masi woke up one morning and decided she needed to do something for Earth Day. At Community Board 5’s meeting this month, she stood up—without a plan—and announced that she and the Glendale Civic Association would organize a day for residents to meet each other and clean up their neighborhood. “I figure that once I open my mouth I’m committed,” Masi, who heads the Glendale Civic, said. She was committed, and now she has a growing number of volunteers … Continue reading
The three Democrats lined up to fight for New York’s 6th Congressional District got a glimpse of their Republican challenger if they can make it through their primary. GOP Councilman Dan Halloran won the backing of his party and announced on Monday that he will take on whoever comes out of the Democratic race among Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. Ensconsed by supporters at Bowne Park in Flushing, Halloran came out swinging on national security. … Continue reading
Community Board 5 lauded the 104th Precinct at a meeting last week for leading the city in graffiti arrests. According to a report from the board’s Public Safety Committee, the local precinct covering Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and more has arrested 144 people in connection with graffiti vandalism since the beginning of the year. This isn’t completely new though. The report also referenced the 104th large number of graffiti arrests last year: 436 in total—which was also the most … Continue reading
Community leaders could get their wish and have signs pointing toward local police precincts. Following a call from Community Board 5 in December, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley introduced legislation on March 14 to make the Department of Transportation (DOT) install the signs. The idea was floated as new business at CB 5’s December meeting. While members were talking about bike lanes and traffic signs, they decided to ask local legislators to get signs for the 104th Precinct, which is tucked away … Continue reading
It was a week of emocratic musical chairs for the newly official 6th Congressional District. After the unexpected retirement of Rep. Gary Ackerman, three Democratic challengers—including a local councilwoman—announced they will vie for his seat. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Assemblywoman Grace Meng will fight for the nomination leading up to a June 26 primary. A day before candidates could start petitioning on Tuesday, a judicial panel put final lines in place for congressional redistricting that had been … Continue reading