Category Archives: Neighborhoods
A man in Ridgewood faces four charges, including first-degree auto stripping, for allegedly running a motorcycle chop shop in the basement of his home. Philip Dietrich, 43, who lives at 60-91 Putnam Ave. in Ridgewood, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday, May 9. He was charged with first-degree auto stripping, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, illegal possession of a vehicle identification number and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was held on $1,000 bail and … Continue reading
The May meeting of the Lindenwood Alliance led to further discussion among residents over the recent proposals by the MTA to modify bus routes in Howard Beach and Lindenwood. Residents remain concerned over the fact that bus routes have been changed to eliminate stops and require transfers when traveling to Rockaway or Broad Channel. Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton was on hand at the meeting and said she would be detailing the community’s concerns in a letter to the … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that to find the breeding ground for future college, NBA, and WNBA stars—and even Olympians—one doesn’t need to look much further than a Middle Village school hidden in an alcove of trees on Metropolitan Avenue. For the last 49 years, Christ the King Regional High School has earned a reputation as an athletic powerhouse, producing a virtual Who’s Who list among basketball players that have played for and won championships at nearly every athletic level available. … Continue reading
A livery cab driver who led a Panamanian family of four on a terrifying ride after picking them up at JFK International Airport has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation. Bhupinder Singh, 38, of 1708 Himrod Street in Ridgewood pleaded guilty to first-degree unlawful imprisonment. Singh’s trouble started on February 21, when he illegally offered arriving passengers at JFK Airport’s International Terminal his services as ground transportation for hire. Port Authority Police Officer Dante Castro-Recio … Continue reading
Residents are up in arms about upcoming service changes proposed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) for routes serving Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach. The agency says it is eyeing other changes as well. MTA officials at the May meeting of Community Board 10 (CB 10) announced that starting on July 1, there will be modifications along the routes of the Q11, Q21 and Q41. In the Lindenwood section, riders traveling to and from the south, namely Broad Channel … Continue reading
The Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) is fed up with the graffiti, deteriorating properties and building violations that members say are plaguing Middle Village and the surrounding neighborhoods. They want an eyesore blitz. At the civic group’s May 3 meeting, members confronted a representative from the Department of Buildings (DOB) about chronic eyesores and asked for tighter enforcement. To kick off the discussion, JPCA’s president, Bob Holden, strode up an aisle of chairs holding a blown-up picture of a house … Continue reading
The 104th Precinct believes it has a handle on the influx of robberies that’s plagued most of the city this year, and 15 newly assigned officers could help curb the trend even more, said the precinct’s commanding officer. So far this year, there have been 95 robberies compared to 68 last year in the precinct, which spans Middle Village, Maspeth, Glendale and Ridgewood. However, on May 7, Capt. Michael Cody told attendees of the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together … Continue reading
Nearly one year after a letter sent to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly from Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Howard Beach) requested more cops for the 106th Precinct, the break finally came. Fifteen new officers were assigned to the 106th Precinct and have taken to the streets over the last three weeks. The offices were all on previous assignment to IMPACT Units and have been on the job an average of three to four years. IMPACT Units are comprised of new officers who … Continue reading
Every year for the past five years, Queens fights for its libraries. Council members, the borough president, Queens Library employees— anyone who can read and wants a place to do it—take to the steps of their libraries and city hall. This year is no different, except there’s more on the line. Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his executive budget last week, and in it he proposed a $26.7 million cut to the Queens Library— a 31 percent reduction from last … Continue reading
Siblings of George Gibbons read tearful statements in court Monday, asking that the man who killed their brother remain in jail as long as possible. Peter Rodriguez, a 37-year-old Brooklyn man, had admitted to driving the car that killed George in a wrong-way collision in Maspeth. On May 7, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half to seven years in prison for negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a crime. George’s five siblings poured out their emotions for the record … Continue reading
Curtis Sliwa, radio personality and founder of the Guardian Angels, paid a visit to a meeting of the Ronald Regan Republican Club last week at Lenny’s Clam Bar in Howard Beach. The legendary Brooklynite entertained the crowds of about 75 die-hard Republicans who listened intently to his message: “Keep your neighborhood strong and rely on the old time family values that close knit communities are made of.” He took questions from the audience, mostly centered on the future of the … Continue reading
Forest Park Carousel will open by Memorial Day weekend thanks to the Department of Parks and Recreation settling on an operator. This week, Parks announced New York Carousel Entertainment won the bid to operate the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Carousel and the long-shuttered Forest Park Carousel. Parks and New York Carousel are now inking the final details of the agreement, but the company was granted a work permit to get the carousels ready for an opening this month, a Parks … Continue reading
The Glendale Civic Association and its Facebook page helped cops collar a man who allegedly tried to break into at least four houses and cars along a few blocks of 78th Street in Glendale at the beginning of the month. On May 1, neighbors on 78th Street between Myrtle and 77th avenues saw something suspicious. An unfamiliar young man was walking up the block, testing handles and knocking on doors. That’s when they called police, said Kathy Masi, who chairs … Continue reading
The Forest Park Civic Association’s inaugural meeting started with politics last week on Wednesday, May 2. The organization is trying to be an umbrella group for civics around Forest Park. It began to find its feet, searched for a core group of supporters and heard from all the candidates running for the area’s congressional seat. “This meeting is more or less to get to know each other, introduce ourselves to each other,” said the 26-year-old leader of the group, Paul … Continue reading
Glendale residents got their second look at a proposed pedestrian plaza, which would give the neighborhood a different look if it goes through. The city Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation hosted a public hearing on Wednesday, May 2 at the Redeemer Lutheran School about the pedestrian plaza in Glendale, which would close off a small slice of 70th Street between Cooper and Myrtle avenues and turn it into … Continue reading