Could Flushing be the best neighborhood of 2015?

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Flushing locals, your neighborhood may become Curbed’s best neighborhood of the year.

The annual competition held by the real estate site has underdog Flushing competing in the final round against Gowanus for 2015’s best neighborhood in the city.

Apparently, Flushing has beaten out neighborhoods such as the Financial District, Brooklyn Navy Yard and the West Village.

Some positives for Flushing includes a development boom while the neighborhood still retains its cultural identity. Personally speaking, with attractions such as Flushing Town Hall and the impeccable cuisine, it’s not hard to see why Flushing may win.

You have until tonight to vote for the best neighborhood, Flushing or Gowanus, right here.

Men robbed at gunpoint inside Corona brothel

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Cred: NY Daily News

Brian Taylor, 40, and Walter Roth, 34, were jumped by three gun-wielding thugs who tied them with duct tape, and stole their cash.

The two men had $500 cash, wallets, iPhones, and a gold bracelet worth $1,200 boosted from them, and then were thrown onto a pile of other men who were robbed and duct taped just as they were.

Roth, the father of two, and Taylor told cops that they were just there to answer a Craigslist ad for a hoverboard.

 

P.S. 244Q receives Blue Ribbon School Designation

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Recently, P.S. 244Q, The Active Learning Elementary School, in Flushing was given a Blue Ribbon School Designation.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. It is meant to celebrate the hard work and effort by the students, teachers, administrative staff, families and communities.

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Council Member Peter Koo visited the school to congratulate Principal Robert Groff and the students. P.S. 244Q was just one of eight New York State schools to receive the honor.

Deadly crash in Flushing: Porsche driver charged with DWI

Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 1.02.10 PMAt 3:30AM Friday morning, a Porsche crashed into the back of a parked school bus, killing a woman in the passenger seat.

According to the NYPD, Kyung Song, 29, of Island Park, was traveling west on Sanford Avenue in Flushing when he crashed into a parked school bus parked outside elementary school P.S. 22.

Song’s female passenger died at the scene after sustaining severe bodily trauma. Song was taken to New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital for treatment and is being charged with a DWI.

 

Police looking for grand larceny suspect

3093-15 114 sqd 11-10-15 PhotoThe NYPD 114th Precinct is looking to identify a woman wanted for grand larceny in Flushing on Nov. 11.

According to police, the woman in the image is accused of entering Chase Bank at 39-01 Main Street and withdrawing $3,250 from a 75-year-old woman’s account. The suspect was reportedly able to withdraw the funds using a withdrawal slip and the victim’s personal information.

The victim lives within the confines of the 114th precinct.

Flushing gas station robbers still on the loose

Authorities are still searching for the two men who robbed a Flushing gas station last month.

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According to police, the men entered the Mobil gas station located at 67-20 Main St. on Nov. 19 armed with a gun and demanded money.

The first suspect, described as a black male,  left on foot. The other suspect, a Hispanic male with tattoos on his left forearm and chest,  drove away in a red Jeep Grand Cherokee with an undetermined amount of cash and the victim’s cellphone.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, or visit their website . All calls and messages are kept confidential.

Cops busted for taking bribes and warning of police raids at Flushing Karaoke bars

Wikimedia Commons/Joi Ito

Wikimedia Commons/Joi Ito

There was a lot more than singing going on at several Karaoke bars in Flushing. Two police officers from the 109th Precinct have been arrested for charges of bribe-taking and more at the karaoke clubs.

Lieutenant Robert Sung, 50, and Detective Yatyu Yam, 37, might end up in prison for a 15-year sentence for taking brides from the clubs’ managers in exchange for dodging drug arrests and giving the clubs warnings that police raids were coming.

The corruption probe, orchestrated by Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, has been going on at the 109th Precinct for about two-and-a-half years, after a witness noticed an exchange regarding under-the-table cash payments between Yam and the manager at Club JJNY, located at 147-38 Northern Blvd in Flushing. Yam also used the app, WeChat, to warn the manager of two Queens clubs about upcoming police raids. Furthermore, he received $2,000 a month from the manager, and even invited him to an August barbecue where the manager delivered one of the $2,000 payments.

Sung instructed an unnamed officer to ignore a deputy inspector’s demand for raids at the clubs, including JJNY. He also told an officer to warn the clubs ahead of state police raids.

Yam was arraigned for second-degree bribe receiving and second-degree receiving rewards for official misconduct on Monday night. He was freed on a $25,000 bail and was suspended by the NYPD. Sung surrendered on Tuesday, with his bail set at $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash.

Winter Solstice Celebration & Tree Lighting in Flushing

wintersolsticeFloraSanta-webOn Sunday, Dec. 6, the Queens Botanical Garden is getting in the holiday spirit with a number of festive activities. During the Winter Solstice Celebration & Tree Lighting, there will be live music, arts and crafts, a tour of the garden’s grounds and an appearance from the big guy, Santa Claus.

Here’s a rundown of the day’s schedule:

  • Garden tour at 1 p.m.
  • Photos with Santa (separate fee) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Botanical crafts (while supplies last) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Join artist Mayen Alcantara on a walk through the Garden as she creates a site-specific art piece at 2 p.m.
  • Live musical performances by The Rough Dozen a cappella group at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Tree lighting ceremony with Santa at 5 p.m.

Dress for the weather and don’t forget your camera for holiday snaps of your family.

SING program expands to Queens high school campuses

SING, a musical program in which students write, cast, rehearse and perform their own musicals, is coming to 20 more high schools, including five in Queens.

Thanks to Taylor Swift, who donated in partnership with the Fund for Public Schools, students from Flushing High School can participate in the public school tradition.

“SING gives our high school students an opportunity to work with their peers, and create and execute a project from start to finish,” said Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “This is a wonderful program for developing passions in the arts and for building school and community spirit. In particular, co-located schools will also be collaborating, bringing new excitement and camaraderie for our high schoolers. The SING students are going to gain skills and experience that they can use in college and throughout their lives.”

Bayside High School, John Bowne High School, Martin Van Buren High School and Thomas A. Edison CTE High School will also have SING.

Students will receive training and support as they build their school’s SING programs.

Wikimedia/official-ly cool