The Flushing Blog

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.

Additional trash bin pickups has come to northeast Queens.

Last week, Councilman Paul Vallone announced that he secured $71,000 through the City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund garbage pickups in communities in his district, including Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and Whitestone.

The funding comes in response to significant cuts to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY)’s operating budget, which has left garbage bins filled with trash throughout the city.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” Vallone said in a statement. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting and doing business in northeast Queens.”

Within Queens Community District 7, there will be an additional garbage pickup on Sundays.

In Community District 11, there will be pickups on one additional weekday for 30 weeks.

The increased service began on August 23.

The Health Department is conducting yet another round of aerial larviciding treatment to parts of eastern Queens to reduce mosquito activity and reduce the risk of West Nile virus.

It’s at least the third round of mosquito spray being applied to the area.

The aerial larviciding will take place on Thursday, August 20 between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.

In case of bad weather, the application will be delayed for Monday, August 24.

The department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard or Anvil. The risks of the pesticides for mosquito control are low to people and pets.

Some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash.

To stay safe during spraying, residents are advised to stay indoors whenever possible. Air conditioners can remain on.

That area that will be sprayed is bordered by 188^th Street, Grand Central Parkway, 164^th Street, Hillside Avenue, and 181^st Street to the West; Long Island Expressway to the North; Nassau-Queens County Boundary to the East; and Union Turnpike, Grand Central Parkway, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue to the South.

That includes parts of Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Jamaica Hills, Little Neck and Oakland Gardens.

Queens DA Melinda Katz and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Friday that Guang Jin of Flushing has been charged with grand larceny, identity theft and other crimes for using a fake ID to buy and lease several luxury cars.

One of the victims was actually Jin’s terminally-ill uncle.

“We are coming after con artists and crooks who run scams to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” Katz said. “This defendant is accused of stealing his dying uncle’s identity and going on a shopping spree for luxury automobiles.

“Others were also allegedly victimized when the defendant used forged documents to acquired cars in their names,” she added. “This kind of thievery is inexcusable.”

Jin was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on two separate complaints charging with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft and other crimes.

He will return to court on September 28.

If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.