Author: schnepsrestagent

Several mental health bills to support veterans passed by City Council 

mental

Dec. 26, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Several pieces of legislation geared towards supporting veterans—two of which were introduced by Queens city council members—were passed by the council last week.  The Council put forward the Mental Health Roadmap in April as part of an effort to expand prevention and support services to those in need of mental health resources. It also sought to increase interagency coordination, address the shortage of mental health workers and limit the intersection with the criminal justice system, all while increasing awareness.  The second phase of the plan, unveiled in November, focused on the mental health needs…
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Food or politics? Palestinian and Israeli restaurants in Queens choose both 

Palestinian

Dec. 22, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan You can’t go inside King of Falafel and Shawarma on Broadway in Astoria without first stepping on the face of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel.  Floor stickers with headshots of highly criticized world leaders who some have accused of crimes against humanity greet customers at the front…
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Maspeth’s Knockdown Center celebrates biggest and busiest year in 2023

Maspeth

Dec. 22, 2023 By Anthony Medina Maspeth’s Knockdown Center calls 2023 its biggest and busiest year to date with more than 370,000 attendees across upwards of 215 events overall. The Knockdown Center, which serves as a cross-disciplinary epicenter for performance artists, expanded from its underground roots to incorporating a wide array of mainstream artists at its venue this year. Among the many highlights of this year’s performances are the sold-out shows with comedian and actor Eric Andre for his 40th Birthday Party, British songwriter and producer Jai Paul, and Brooklyn Rockband LCD Soundsystem. Jam-packed performances from Tinashe, Tove Lo, Wu-Tang…
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QNS Weekender: Six things to do in Queens this weekend

weekend

Dec. 21, 2023 By Ethan Marshall As Christmas weekend approaches, people are already in the holiday spirit. This weekend, there will be plenty to do in the days leading up to Christmas, some of which are themed around the holiday.   Friday, Dec. 22   Nacimiento   This ballet performance explores pre-Hispanic rituals and the…
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Lottery opens for ‘affordable apartments’ in Kew Gardens, 1-bedrooms to rent for $3,140

lottery

Dec. 21, 2023 By Christian Murray It’s pitched as an affordable apartment in Queens, yet the rent for a one-bedroom is $3,140 a month. NYC Housing Connect has opened a lottery for 16 “affordable apartments” inside a new 8-story, 51-unit development in Kew Gardens. The building, located at 81-07 Kew Gardens Rd., has been developed by FBL Development, and includes a range of amenities, such as a gym and a rooftop terrace. The units are designated for residents whose income falls within 130% of the area median income (AMI). The range accommodates potential tenants with incomes spanning from $107,658 to…
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Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator, New York Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand Banner (1)

Dec. 20, 2023 by Jill Carvajal Senator Kirsten Gillibrand doesn’t shy away from a big fight. She is chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, and she also serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senate Aging Committee. Senator Gillibrand talks about her professional journey,  her plans to […]

Crunching the Queens crime numbers: felony assaults rising, burglaries declining

felony

Dec. 19, 2023 By Ethan Marshall The number of reported felony assault cases in Queens has increased over the last month when compared to the same period in 2022, according to the latest crime stats released by the NYPD on Monday. Felony assault cases have increased in both northern and southern Queens for the 28-day period from Nov. 20 through Dec. 17, compared to the same 28-day period last year. In northern Queens, felony assault cases over the 28-day period went up 15%, from 167 last year to 192 this year. The numbers also jumped in southern Queens, up 8.4%, from…
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A forgotten name for a Ridgewood community: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

When this photo was taken, the street where these men are pictured was located in a section known as St. James Park.

Dec. 16, 2023 By The Old Timer Ask someone about the location of St. James Park and the answer could be somewhere in the Bronx or in London, England. But we wonder how many of our readers are aware that the name once referred to a section of Ridgewood. Today, much of what once was known as…
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QNS Weekender: Six things to do in Queens this weekend

weekend

Dec. 14, 2023 By Nevine Salameh As the Christmas holiday draws near, the Queens community is brimming with jolly activities to look forward to this weekend. No matter the preference, these events range from Christmas productions and concerts to festive movie screenings and comedy shows, where there is something in store for everyone to have a memorable weekend.   Here is our weekend catalog:   Friday, Dec. 15   The Nutcracker   The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine, a Ukrainian dance group of 55 members, is back in North America to perform its annual production of “The Nutcracker” and is…
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