Sign taken down at local “troublesome” club

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Local elected officials are cheering after the sign outside a “troublesome” club came down in Oakland Gardens.

Lavoo, located at 224-13 Union Turnpike, has been the site of a series of issues, including drunken behavior, incidents of violence and other disruptions to quality of life, according to local pols.

Earlier this year, pre-pandemic, a brawl and gunshots broke out in front of the club.

Those incidents spurred Councilman Barry Grodenchik, State Senator John Liu, Assemblyman David Weprin and Congresswoman Grace Meng to act. They attended a series of community meetings with the community board, police precinct and residents, as well as a press conference in early March.

The club’s liquor license renewal application expired in April.

“The business was disruptive and harmful to the neighborhood and to the seniors and families who live here,” Grodenchik said. “Safety and security are always of utmost importance.”

Howie Mandel to host celebration in honor of St. Mary’s Hospital

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Actor, producer and television personality Howie Mandel is hosting “The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids,” a virtual celebration to honor the hospital’s 150th anniversary.

The celebration will take place on Wednesday, November 18th on Looped, a virtual venue that gives fans front row access to their favorite events.

The night will feature musical performances and speeches to help raise funds for the patients at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Earlier this month, State Senator John Liu, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, and other local lawmakers honored St. Mary’s with a citation for its 150th anniversary.

“For New York’s most critically ill and injured children, this is truly a haven unlike any other,” said Mandel. “The ability of St. Mary’s to continue providing innovative therapies and specialized rehabilitation programs depends on support from the community, and we are grateful for everyone who is helping to fund this essential work.”

Kim visits CPC community center’s pre-k program

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Assemblyman Ron Kim and former Assemblywoman Ellen Young visited the Flushing headquarters of the Chinese-American Planning Council last week.

They met with educators and staff of the site, and stayed to observe a session with pre-k students who were practicing social distancing.

After greeting the children and teachers, Kim praised CPC for meeting the challenges of the pandemic and ensuring students continue to receive services.

“The most critical needs of our neighborhoods cannot be perpetually delayed or ignored in the hopes that everything will be back to how it was before,” he said.

“It’s time to rise to the occasion and adapt in whichever ways we must to take care of everyday New Yorkers and our most vulnerable communities.”

Fresh Meadows, Auburndale libraries reopened with limited services

Fresh Meadows Library. Screen shot via Google Maps.
Fresh Meadows Library. Screen shot via Google Maps.

Queens Public Library reopened seven additional branches across the borough on Monday. Those branches are:

  • Arverne Library
  • Auburndale Library
  • Forest Hills Library
  • Fresh Meadows Library
  • Hillcrest Library
  • Langston Hughes Library
  • Sunnyside Library

The reopened branches offer limited “to-go” service six days a week.

With the seven reopenings, QPL now has 22 locations across Queens open to the public for pickups in a designated area of each building.

The branches will also accept returns at their exterior return machines.

The hours for each reopened branch are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (closed between 1 to 2 p.m. for cleaning); 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday; 12 to 7 p.m. on Thursday (closed between 3 to 4 p.m. for cleaning).

All staff and visitors are required to wear a mask and practical physical distancing. Hand sanitizer is available at all open branches.

At this time, there is no on-site public programs, browsing, meeting room availability, seating, public computers or in-person reference service.

In addition, there will be no fines or fees on any library materials checked out this year until January 4, 2021 at the earliest.

Queens College leads CUNY in MWBE vendor hiring

Surinder Virk handles procurement, property and fleet management for the college
Surinder Virk handles procurement, property and fleet management for the college

Queens College was recognized by CUNY for having the highest percentage of minority and women-owned business enterprises hired as vendors across the city university system.

Since the initiative was announced in 2019 by CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, the former president of Queens College, the university’s engagement with MWBEs shot up to 52.7 percent, up from 35.72 in 2018.

In recognition of those efforts, Queens College was awarded the CUNY MWBE Participation Award.

“Our core mission of educating students takes place in the classroom,” said QC President Frank Wu, “and what we do as an institution as a member of the larger community also impacts our students and faculty in the example of set.”

Recent projects and services around campus that use MWBE vendors include the campus Wi-Fi network installation, maintenance of HVAC systems, office and custodial supplies, and promotional items.

Flushing’s Finest virtual guide takes to the neighborhood’s best places

Image courtesy of Queens Together
Image courtesy of Queens Together

Queens Together, a restaurant advocacy group formed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has launched a new digital food guide along with Queens foodie and author Joe DiStefano.

Called “Flushing’s Finest,” the guide takes viewers to the 20 best attractions in downtown Flushing, from restaurants to historic institutions.

Some of the places explored are Joe’s Steam Rice Roll, Maxi’s Noodle, Tianjin Dumpling House and the Old Quaker Meeting House.

Flushing’s Finest will be available online on Friday at 10 a.m. starting at $20.

The proceeds will go toward Queens Together’s mission of supporting local restaurants and combating food insecurity.

Read more about the digital guide in this week’s Queens Examiner.

Kim begins new roles as adjunct professor at two schools

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Assemblyman Ron Kim is taking on a new role: educator.

Kim began a gig as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School, where he will teach a seminar on FinTech with Cornell Professor Robert Hockett.

He will also be an adjunct at Riverdale Country Day School, his alma mater, where he will teach community activism to high school students.

Kim has previously lectured on new economic models at educational institutions like University of Tokyo, and as a guest lecturer at NYU, Columbia, Queens College and Boston University.

MetroCard mobile van coming to Fresh Meadows

Screen shot via Google Maps
Screen shot via Google Maps

An MTA Mobile Sales Van is coming to Fresh Meadows for two days this September, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced.

The mobile van will be in the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, located at Horace Harding Expressway and 188th Street, on Monday, September 14, and Monday, September 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Services that are offered include applying for the Reduced Fare program, purchasing and refilling MetroCards, exchanging damaged reduced-fare MetroCards, and reporting a lost or stolen reduced-fare MetroCard.

Seniors or people with disabilities applying for the Reduced Fare program should bring proof of age documents, birth certificate, driver’s license, Medicare card or valid state ID or passport.

“It is oftentimes difficult for residents to access MTA services,” Rozic said. “That is why I am bringing the MetroCard Mobile Van to the neighborhood to make it more convenient for commuters to talk with a trained representative about their concerns or questions.”

More funding coming to Flushing food pantries

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Tzu Chi Foundation executive director Freeman Su

With so many New Yorkers continuing to suffer from food insecurity and hunger, food pantries are in desperate need of more funding and support.

Last week, Councilman Peter Koo announced the passage of a resolution in the City Council providing $65,880 in new funding for food pantries throughout Flushing.

The allocation will go to La Jornada, the Tzu Chi Foundation, South Asian Council for Social Services, Flushing Jewish Community Council and CCNS-St. Michael’s Church.

The funding will be used to purchase supplies for operational support.

“Thousands of New Yorkers are in need of emergency food assistance due to the pandemic, and this funding will help make sure those who are struggling through tough times will continue to have access to food,” Koo said.

“Food pantries in Flushing have lines around the block every day, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure the safe operation of those important public service centers.”

Queens College has another year as a “Best College” from Princeton Review

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For the 29th consecutive year, Queens College has been named one Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges.”

Since the guide was first published in 1992, Queens College has been a mainstay on the list. The school was also ranked a 2021 Best Regional College for the Northeast.

Queens College was noted for its high-quality academics, affordability and diversity.

The results are formed from student surveys from across the country on dozens of topics about their schools.

“It comes at no surprise that Queens College has been recognized in every edition of the Princeton Review “Best Colleges” guide for our academic excellence, affordability and accessibility to students,” said QC President Frank H. Wu, “and I am already well-acquainted with its extraordinary diversity, with students having greeted me in 17 languages as I took office in July.

“For over 83 years, we have provided an unparalleled combination of equal access and opportunity for ambitious students – many of modest means – to advance toward successful and rewarding futures,” he added.