Category Archives: Maspeth
Police in the 104th Precinct are warning residents about a robbery pattern near the boarder of Middle Village and Rego Park. Captain Michael Cody, commanding officer of the 104th, said that this month near 80th Street and 60th Road in Middle Village, two robberies took place at around 5:30 p.m. The first was on April 5 and the second was just a week later. Speaking at the COP 104 meeting on Thursday, April 19, Cody said police believe a group … Continue reading
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
On March 27, Sparky the dog earned a new name and found a new life. The 8-pound Yorkshire Terrier–Maltese mix is a survivor. He escaped a three-alarm fire in his house and is looking for a new home to match his new name—he used to be called Pee Wee. In the meantime, he’s thanking the firefighters who saved him. Sparky was in a house at 65-55 Maurice Ave. in Maspeth when the blaze broke out around 8 p.m. on March … 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
Police responded last week to anti-semitic graffiti found in Forest Hills on Friday, April 13 at the Grand Central service road by 64th Avenue and 64th Road. Someone had spray-painted a swastika and large racial slurs across the base of the overpass there. The images were reported at around 10 a.m. on April 13, when they were investigated and removed by the 112th Precinct. “I am utterly disgusted and angered at such expressions of hate and bigotry especially during the … 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
The 104th Precinct has been combating a high number of burglaries, it told residents at a local civic meeting on Monday, April 2. Capt. John Travaglia, executive officer of the 104th Precinct, announced at the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) meeting, that there have been six burglaries in their patrol area in the last month. Four of them were residential burglaries and the other two were commercial. Travaglia said that there is a possible connection between two of … Continue reading
Another swastika in Maspeth was uncovered last week on the door of a business on Grand Avenue in Maspeth—almost a month to the day since police investigated racist graffiti scrawled across a church in the same neighborhood. Police responded on Wednesday, March 28 to a call about 69-38 Grand Avenue where neighbors found the racist symbol in blue spray paint. Capt. Michael Cody, commanding officer of the 104th Precinct, said his officers don’t believe it’s connected to the last incident, … Continue reading
Ten students riding in a special education bus were taken to Elmhurst Hospital for observation Wednesday morning after a crash in Maspeth. Department of Education (DOE) officials said the bus was making a right turn when a car cut in front and hit the bus. The crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. on a service road of the Queens Midtown Expressway near 68th Street. An FDNY spokesman said 12 people—including the 10 students—were injured in the crash. Parents were notified, … 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