Alicia Venter
Alicia Venter
Diwali Officially a Public School Holiday
By Alicia Venter | aventer@queensledger.com As of June 10, Diwali is a public school holiday in New York City. A bill passed by the state
Weed Dispensary Planned For Middle Village
By Alicia Venter | aventer@queensledger.com An application is set to be filed for a legal cannabis dispensary at 74-03 Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village, Queens
Queens Home To Two New DOT Initiatives: Street Seats in Jamaica & Protected Bike Lanes on Queens Blvd.
Street Seats Installed on Jamaica Ave. and New Protected Bike Lanes on Queens Blvd. By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Cycling and public safety initiatives by the
Corona Food Bank Cuts Ribbon in Elmhurst
4,200 Square Foot Brick-and-Mortar Food Bank Donated to Non-Profit By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com As food insecurity continues to rise in Queens, the community stepped
Grand Marshals Announced for Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com The grand marshals for the Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade were named on Friday at the American Legion Continental Post
Business Improvement Program Expanded into Astoria
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A new program designed to enhance safety around shops, the Astoria Merchants Business Improvement Program, was launched on Tuesday by
Free Events in NYC Parks For Spring: What’s Happening in May 2023
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com As the days get longer and the weather begins to stay balmy and pleasant, Queens residents will look to the
Downtown Jamaica Jazz Festival Slated for Next Weekend
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Jamaica will be host to a celebration of Jazz culture next weekend (May 19 – May 20), thanks to the
More than a Mile of Water Mains Installed in Maspeth
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com New water mains have been installed in Maspeth, replacing pipes that are over 100 years old. Totaling more than a
Donovan Richards Touts What’s “Being Built in Queens” in 2023 State of the Borough
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Queens Borough President Donovan Richards promoted Queens’ innovation, infrastructure and his office’s strategic funding through the past year in his
Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of Cop in Jamaica
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A man has been indicted for the attempted murder of a police officer in a shooting on Jamaica Avenue on
City Sued For Open Streets Program, Plaintiffs Claim Discrimination Against Elderly & Disabled
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A collection of New Yorkers filed a lawsuit against the city on Monday, expressing concerns that it discriminates against those
‘Paddle for the Cure NYC’ Dragon Boat Team To Kickstart Season
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Paddle for the Cure NYC, the nonprofit dragon boat team of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, is kicking off their season
Grasso Officially Makes Ballot for Queens DA
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Retired Judge George Grasso is officially running for Queens District Attorney along the Democratic line, filing 9,500 signatures to run
“Joy – This Place I Land” Exhibition Opens in JCAL
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com What is joy? This is what Jardley Jean-Louis tries to answer in their newest exhibition, “Joy – This Place I Land,”
Cop Shot on Jamaica Ave, Search Underway for Perp
A 22-year-old rookie cop was shot in the right hip near 161st St. along Jamaica Avenue Wednesday. Police are asking for the public’s help
Ramadan Food Drive feeds 150 families in Astoria
Facing Rising Prices, Astoria Welfare Society Distributes Staples for Holy Month By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com The Astoria Welfare Society partnered with Hydro-Quebec and
Briarwood family demands justice for dog euthanized by ACC
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com On March 12, the Leon family of Briarwood frantically searched for their missing dog Leona. As a 19-year-old animal, they
GJDC’s Justin Rodgers Reimagines Jamaica Avenue
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Justin Rodgers has been a part of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) for 17 years — however, Jamaica has
“Science in a Box” kits delivered to District 29
Sun Works kits given to students from three elementary schools By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com 600 STEM Hydroponic Kits, also known as “science in a box”
Queens Botanical Garden receives historic donation
$8 million provided for outreach and educational programming By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com The Queens Botanical Garden is receiving a historic $8 million donation to fund
Six weekends of 7 line closures into Queensboro Plaza
7 line suspended between 34th St.-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza on select weekends beginning in February By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Seven train line service will
AAFE Hosts Three Kings Day Celebration
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) took advantage of Three Kings Day — a holiday predominately celebrated by children — to provide
Husband charged with hitting wife with SUV, stabbing her
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Stephen Giraldo, 36, has been charged for allegedly hitting his wife with his SUV — with their three children sitting in
End-of-year legislation signed by Hochul
Understand the legislation set to go into effect in 2023 By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com As the year came to a close, Governor Kathy Hochul had
Elmhurst father indicted in death of 3-year-old son
Allegedly killed his son at Pan American Hotel By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com An Elmhurst man has been indicted for murder, endangering the welfare of a
Recycle your Christmas trees at Mulchfest
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com For those who do not know what to do with their Christmas Tree after the holiday season, the New York City
New York bans selling of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com By the end of next year, New Yorkers will be unable to purchase dogs, cats and rabbits in retail pet stores.
First-of-its-kind Pediatric Ophthalmology Center opens at Jamaica Hospital
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Jamaica Hospital Medical Center unveiled its pediatric ophthalmology center on Thursday, Dec. 8, a state-of-the-art facility unlike any others in Queens.
Woodside local stars in ‘The Nutcracker’
“Dancing as much as I can for as long as I can” By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Giulia Faria began dancing at age 3. Twenty years
Jackson Heights man indicted on narcotics, weapons charges
Search of defendant’s home found cocaine, handgun and ammunition By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A Jackson Heights man has been indicted on charges of criminal
LIC Partnership looks to expand
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com As Long Island City expands, the Long Island City Partnership President Laura Rothrock has her hands full. Beginning in September, Rothrock
Dog Parade Held in Kew Gardens
First parade a huge success for the community By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Forest Park Barking Lot and We are Kew Gardens wished the community
‘Friends of Smokey Park’ brings community together for its first cleanup
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Phil Rizzuto “Smokey” Park sits in the middle of Richmond Hill, and long- time residents Aleena and Bill Knight have
2022 Election Profile: Andrew Hevesi runs for re-election in District 28
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com After 17 years in the New York State Assembly, Andrew Hevesi is vying to score his ninth victory in District 28.
Electeds introduce bill to make Diwali a public school holiday
Legislation has been introduced to the New York State Assembly for Diwali to become a public school holiday. This designation would constitute for school to
Man charged for manslaughter after death on tracks at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station
A man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 48-year-old shoved on the subway tracks on Oct. 17 at the Jackson
Former Student Charged for Bomb Threat at St. Francis Prep
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A 16-year-old former student has been charged with making a terroristic threat to bomb St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows.
Astoria resident hosts ‘Ruth Sent Us’ Charity Benefit
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Astoria resident and professional artist Mara Jill Herman is doing more than creating work for pleasure and enjoyment. With her numerous
Ozone Park RBA calls for change after 4 shot in London Planetree Park
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com Four men were shot near London Planetree Park on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The park is located between 88 and 89th Streets
Queens man indicted in fatal stabbing of FDNY EMS worker in Astoria
By Alicia Venter aventer@queensledger.com A man has been indicted for the fatal stabbing of FDNY EMS worker Alison Russo-Elling on Sept. 29, who was
Volleyball at St. John’s Preparatory: How the sport is helping students
Growing in popularity, coverage and viewership across the United States, volleyball is quickly solidifying its position as a top competitive sport in the country. As
LAIKA:Life in Stop Motion
MoMI welcomes LAIKA for new stop-motion exhibit The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) has begun its latest exhibition, “LAIKA: Life in Stop Motion,” which
Put Away Your Phones and Enjoy Your Summer Vacation
I was driving down the street and when I stopped at the stop sign, three young kids (probably teenagers) were sitting at the curb. It
Two shot near Astoria Blvd. N and 35th St.
A shooting in the vicinity of Astoria Boulevard North and 35th Street left a 24-year-old male in critical condition and a 36- led to two
Glass art exhibit in Maple Grove Cemetery
One might not expect an art exhibit to be found inside a cemetery. Naomi Rabinowitz, however, thinks she has found a superb location to display
Richmond Hill drama group to perform “The Spongebob Musical”
“When the smallest of us are underestimated in the wake of a catastrophe, a town learns that it is the size of one’s heart
Queens College student athlete receives All-American honors
Queens College freshman Marc Cisco has made his mark in the college’s history during his first year with the Knights, earning All-American honors in baseball.
Brother-Duo to Lead St. John’s Lacrosse
As a first-year head coach of the St. John’s lacrosse team, Justin Turri has quite a job ahead of him. Following a season that generated
Newtown Creek Alliance demands action to open creek
‘Public Land for Public Use’ Hidden behind a chain link fence and construction sites in Long Island City, the beginning of Newtown Creek is easily
Adams announces Ferry Forward Plan
Providing Service to an Astoria Transportation Desert Mayor Eric Adams has announced his “NYC Ferry Forward Plan,” an attempt to make the city ferry system
Toy drive for Eid al-Adha
In partnership with the Muslim Entrepreneur Association, New York State Senate candidate Japneet Singh traveled throughout Queens to distribute toy bags to kids for Eid
WinC x King Manor at Rufus King Park
The Women in Comics Collective, or WinC, partnered with the King Manor Museum in Jamaica to host a free outdoor comic book festival on Saturday,
Ditmars Starbucks worker claims illegal firing
Starbucks worker Austin Locke has been a leading voice for the unionization of the Starbucks at 31st Street and Ditmars Boulevard. He has worked there
