Category Archives: Ridgewood
While Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) has more than five times the amount of money in her campaign war chest than her Republican opponent, civic activist Craig Caruana, the two candidates raised almost the same amount of money over the past two months, according to their most recent filings with the city Campaign Finance Board. Crowley raised $8,665 from March 12 to May 11, the most recent campaign finance filing period, while Caruana landed $8,375 in the race for … Continue reading
A group of eager cyclists showed up to a meeting on Saturday to help put central Queens on the road to bike-ability. Congregating at Maspeth High School for a gathering organized by Community Board 5 and the Department of City Planning, about 30 cyclists armed with markers drew potential bike paths onto maps of central Queens in an effort to help the city determine where bicycle lanes and racks might be placed. They traced paths rode regularly and blazed new … Continue reading
When PS 290 opens for the 2014-2015 school year at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Tonsor Street in Ridgewood, it will do so with a new name: the Geraldine Ferraro school. State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood), who represents the school’s district, said she was a champion of the name from the beginning and that “I could think of no other person more fitting to have a school named in their honor.” Ferraro died in 2011 after a prolonged battle … Continue reading
Prompted by a request from Queens residents last year, city officials are looking into bringing bike lanes to the area covered by Community Board 5 – and they’re asking for input on a plan that some civic leaders say could calm traffic congestion and create the bicycle infrastructure that the borough’s central neighborhoods lack. The Department of City Planning, the city Department of Transportation and CB 5 will host a community meeting on Saturday, May 11, from 11 am to … Continue reading
The man who allegedly smothered his mother’s boyfriend is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court. Derrick Tudor, 27, is accused of suffocating Ridgewood resident Frank Soucie, who went missing over a week ago. Soucie was last seen at the home he shared with long time girlfriend Stephanie Bernie at 1866 Putnam Avenue in Ridgewood on April 22. Authorities say the 60-year-old had left to go gambling at either Empire City or Atlantic City. His girlfriend officially reported him missing … Continue reading
Flanked by legislators, neighborhood leaders and family – including his 96-year-old grandfather – and armed with harsh words for tax increases and fines on small businesses, civic activist Craig Caruana officially launched his campaign for Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley’s (D-Middle Village) seat representing Council District 30 on Monday. “There’s so much going on in the country that, as just one person, you can fall into the trap of thinking there’s nothing you can do about it – but you can,” Caruana, … Continue reading
Valentine’s Day was a real smash this year at the Ridgewood Older Adult’s Center. A party was held at the center with almost two hundred seniors in attendance. Attendees were treated to some great music, lunch, chocolates and a lot of dancing. The Queens borough Democratic Club led by its founder, President Etienne David Adorno organized and sponsored he event held on Saturday, February 16th. Everyone had a great time especially senior citizen, Zach Kuchen, who said “The food was … Continue reading
Egyptian immigrant Ishak Ghali came to the U.S. seven years ago in an attempt to escape the escalating violence in his native land. Relatives and friends said the 26-year-old worked seven days per week, often logging shifts in excess of 12 and 13 hours at the All Friends Convenience Store at 674 Onderdonk Avenue in Ridgewood. He had lived above the bodega, in a third-floor apartment, for about three years. But, in a cruel twist of irony, the violence Ghali … Continue reading
A man was shot and killed by police on Saturday night after pointing what appeared to be a handgun at Brooklyn North narcotics officers following a drug operation. According to police, the incident occurred at about 10:43pm at the intersection of Gates and Seneca Avenues in Ridgewood, Queens when two plain-clothes NYPD narcotics detectives had just arrested a suspect in a buy and bust operation when they were suddenly confronted by a 42-year-old Hispanic male who drew what appeared to … Continue reading
Residents attending the COP 104 meeting last Wednesday night got to hear about one incident that went on in the command as well as learn about the latest crime stats for the past month. Many of the people at the meeting were asking Deputy Inspector Michael Cody about the heavy activity of helicopters that flied over Maspeth on Tuesday. According to both Cody and DNAinfo.com, who first reported on the incident, the reason for the helicopters was due to a … Continue reading
Albert J. Baldeo, a Queens District leader for Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, is facing corruption charges for mail fraud conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to prosecutors. The Democratic district leader is accused of using false donors to add illegal campaign donations to his failed 2010 campaign for the City Council. He supposedly attempted to fraudulently increase the amount of matching funds provided by the city, according to a report in The New York Times. He turned himself in … Continue reading
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced earlier this week that it is removing full-body scanners from both of New York’s airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and moving them to smaller airports. The move comes after there was much controversy over the scanners. According to CBS News, opponents of the scanners say that it is an invasion of privacy because those scanners provide a very detailed image of the body. According to several published reports, TSA said … Continue reading
With Queens Borough President Helen Marshall stepping down next year, there are several contenders currently kicking off their campaigns for the soon to be vacated position. Candidate and State Senator Jose Peralta held a fundraiser on Monday night in Jackson Heights. Queens Democratic Party Chairman and Representative Joseph Crowley attended the fundraiser. Crowley also helped former City Councilwoman Melinda Katz get her campaign off the ground with a fundraiser in Forest Hills. In an interview with the Queens Gazette, Peralta … Continue reading
A 23-year-old Brooklyn man was indicted this week for allegedly taking part in a bias attack in Ridgewood. Joseph Desmond was charged by the Queens District Attorney with second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree assault, second-degree aggravated harassment and second-degree harassment relating to the alleged attack. According to the DA’s office, on September 25 just after 8 p.m., Desmond allegedly walked up to the victim, who was standing at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Fairview Avenue, and called … Continue reading
Amongst the moving cars and store fronts lies a gravely oasis. The Ridgewood pedestrian plaza, located on 71st Avenue between Myrtle Avenue and Stephen Street, now has an offering of chairs and tables for pedestrians to enjoy throughout the day. And in the coming months the space will also host Christmas photos with Santa, farmer and craft markets, and music, said Ted Renz, executive director of the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation and the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District. Cut off … Continue reading