Bowne Street Community Church prioritized for landmark designation

Flickr/Nick Normal

Flickr/Nick Normal

The Landmark Preservation Commission voted to prioritize the Bowne Street Community Church at 143-11 Roosevelt Avenue for landmark designation.

The church was one of three Queens sites to be prioritized on Tuesday, including the Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City and the Lydia Ann Bell House in Bayside.

Councilman Peter Koo, who chairs the council’s landmarks committee, praised the decision.

“For more than a decade, the community has waited for a decision regarding the Bowne Street Community Church,” Koo said in a statement. “Yesterday, we finally took one long-awaited step closer to realizing actual landmark status for one of Flushing’s most historical buildings.”

“With a landmark designation, we will ensure the Bowne Street Community Church will not be lost to future generations,” he added. “I look forward to expressing my support at the upcoming hearing.”

Avella introduces felony pension reform legislation

Convicted former Majority Leader Dean Skelos, right, is set to collect $95,000 in pension. Flickr/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Convicted former Majority Leader Dean Skelos, right, is set to collect $95,000 in pension. Flickr/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

State Senator Tony Avella introduced legislation on Thursday to bar elected officials who were convicted of felonies from collecting pensions accrued during or after the date of their crime.

The bill would still allow those elected officials to collect pensions amassed before the criminal conduct was committed.

“Allowing convicted felons to collect five or six-figure pensions at the expense of the State ruins the very integrity of this legislative body,” Avella said. “My bill, which is part of my ethics reform package, fixes this oversight and, I think, very fairly draws a line in the sand: If you’ve committed a felony, the pension which you have accumulated since you’ve broken the law becomes forfeit.”

The legislation comes as part of an ethics reform package Avella announced earlier in the year. His former colleague, former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, was convicted on federal corruption charges last year. Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was also convicted on corruption charges.

Both will still collect a “hefty” pension, according to Avella’s office, including $95,000 this year for Skelos.

Lulu’s Bakery in Fresh Meadows wins Food Network Show, “Cake Wars”

 

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Charles Tola, owner and head baker of Lulu’s Bakery of Fresh Meadows, won first place on “Cake Wars” last night.

A Fresh Meadows local, and part of the St. Francis of Assisi family, Tola shined on the Food Network TV show.

His unique story begins at the age of 10. Tola, also known as “Charlie”, began working at his uncles’ bakery as a cleaning boy. As time passed, Charlie’s interest & passion for the bakery business flourished. With the help of his uncle, former employers, & most of all, self-motivation, Charlie went on to learn how to bake & decorate cakes professionally specializing in all types of whipped creams, butter creams, and rolled fondant cakes. By the young age of 23, Charlie was absolutely convinced that baking was his ultimate passion and wanted to share it with his community.

 

Here’s Lulu’s Facebook page & website www.lulusbakeryshop.com,

 

 

Pols attend Flushing Lunar New Year parade

Congresswoman Meng, left, joined Assemblywoman Rozic, center and Councilman Koo, right, for the celebration.

Congresswoman Meng, left, joined Assemblywoman Rozic, center and Councilman Koo, right, for the celebration.

Flushing’s elected officials and community members braved the cold Saturday for the annual Lunar New Year parade.

State and local politicians attended the celebration for the Year of the Monkey, including: Congresswoman Grace Meng, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Assemblyman Ron Kim and Councilman Peter Koo.

The Flushing Chinese Business Association, led by its president Liu Tee Shu and executive director Peter Tu, organized the parade.

This year was also the first year students had the day off from school to celebrate the holiday. Public schools observed Lunar New Year on Monday, February 8.

Assemblyman Kim, left, and Lieutenant Governor Hochul, second from the left, were also at the Saturday parade.

Assemblyman Kim, left, and Lieutenant Governor Hochul, second from the left, were also at the Saturday parade.

Elected officials welcome new tech lab at P.S. 46

2016-02-10 Rozic Joins P.S. 46Q for Technology Lab Ribbon Cutting

Councilman Barry Grodenchik, left, joined Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, second from the right in the back row, to unveil the new tech lab.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Councilman Barry Grodenchik celebrated the opening of a new computer technology lab at P.S. 46 in Oakland Gardens.

The new lab will go toward furthering the school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programs and help students develop their presentational and group collaboration skills.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a student performance at the elementary school.

Flushing celebrates Lunar New Year this Saturday

lunar new year parade
On Saturday, February 13, Flushing will hold its annual Lunar New Year parade. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Union Street and 37th Avenue. Always a popular event, the parade is expected to attract 100,000 people.

Want to be one of the nearly 10,000 marchers at the parade? You can march with the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. Meet up in front of their office at 39-01 Main Street, Suite 511 and enjoy some hot coffee and donuts. Then everyone will head off to the parade together. For more info, visit their event site.

There will also be a fireworks display after the parade near the intersection of 39th Avenue and 138th Street.

Beyonce to perform at Citi Field on June 7

Flickr/Mith Huang

Flickr/Mith Huang

Grammy-winning singer Beyonce joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars on stage at Sunday night’s Super Bowl 50 halftime show in Santa Clara, California.

Now she’s taking her talents around the globe. Beyonce announced her new Formation World Tour immediately after the performance. One of her stops will be Citi Field in Flushing, and she’s set to perform on June 7.

This will be her first time playing at the home of the New York Mets.

Tickers go on sale Tuesday, February 16 at 10 a.m. Buy tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

Police looking for a robbery suspect

109th Pct.

109th Pct.

Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a 49-year-old victim last week as she was getting out of her car.

Police say the man approached the victim after midnight as she was getting out of her car in front of 132-05 Avery Avenue. After a struggle inside the car, the suspect punched her in the face several times and took about $2,000 and credit cards from her purse. The suspect then ran toward College Point Blvd.

The victim was treated at Elmhurst Hospital and has been released.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or visiting www.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.com