Category Archives: Middle Village
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
This commercial vehicle has, once again, been illegally parking in a driveway at 61-26 71st Street in Middle Village. A reader e-mailed The Forum about this, saying that the owner of the van has been parking there again and that another of the owner’s commercial vehicles has been parked on the street every night. The Forum previously published a photo of this van back in February, and it didn’t have a license plate back then, either. The homeowner has previously … 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
Queens council members are scoring high on green issues, according to rankings released last week by the New York League of Conservative Voters (NYLCV). Based on their votes on environmental legislation in 2010 and 2011, the glowing report scored each councilperson from 1 to 100. The Queens delegation averaged a 93, trailing only Manhattan representatives who averaged a 95. Representatives from Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx averaged a 92, 88 and 76, respectively. “The current City Council is one … Continue reading
Locals looking to dispose of their electronic waste that can’t go into the normal trash can do so at Forest Park this Sunday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. State Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblyman Mike Miller are hosting the free event in the parking lot around Seuffert Bandshell. They’re encouraging locals to participate in the environmentally responsible, free event. Disposing of electronic and other hazardous waste this way will prevent it from entering into a landfill and … 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
“Something in the water?” is the question asked in the 2012 U.S. Olympics Women’s Basketball Team Media Guide regarding Middle Village-based Christ the King High School. Many are likely wondering the same thing, as the recent news broke last week that two of the school’s graduates will be joining Team USA as they go for the gold at this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Tina Charles and Sue Bird, two Christ the King alumni, were named to the 2012 U.S. … 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
Police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for the rash of bank robberies along Queens Boulevard in February. Sidney Williams, a 43-year-old of Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn, was charged this week with robbery in the third degree and attempted robbery in the third degree. Police believe Williams is responsible for hitting three Chase banks along Queens Boulevard. The attempted robbery was at a Sunnyside branch on Feb. 14 at 47-11 Queens Blvd. where he passed the teller a … 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
The public got a glimpse Tuesday night of the intermediate charter school that could open at Christ the King Regional High School by the 2013 school year. If approved by the Department of Education (DOE), the Middle Village Preparatory Charter School could take 360 students into a intense study program featuring double math and English periods plus three years of Latin. At Tuesday’s public hearing on the proposed school, Michael Michel, president of Christ the King Regional High School (CTK), … 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