Author: Allie Griffin

Queens Man Indicted on Murder Charges for 1976 Killing of WWI Vet

Nov. 4, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Queens man was indicted on murder charges Wednesday for the 1976 killing of a World War I vet in a decades-old cold case. Martin Motta, 74, of Jamaica, was indicted by a Queens grand jury for the murder of 81-year-old George Clarence Seitz, whose dismembered body was discovered… Read more »

City to Start Vaccinating Children 5 to 11 for COVID-19 Starting Thursday

Nov. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City will be ready to vaccinate children five to 11 years old for COVID-19 at city-run sites starting Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Children as young as five will be able to get a pediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine at city-run sites beginning Nov…. Read more »

Election Results: The Next Queens Council Delegation Takes Shape

Nov. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens voters have chosen their next city council members. The council members-elects, who will serve two-year terms beginning in January, represent the most diverse class the Queens delegation has seen. For the first time in the city’s history, the City Council will be majority women — with the Queens… Read more »

Election Day: The Queens Races to Watch and Where to Vote

Nov. 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin Voters will head to the polls one last day to decide who will be running the city government next year. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, Election Day, following nine days of early voting from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. In total, 36,546 Queens residents… Read more »

2,300 Firefighters Out ‘Sick’ as COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Takes Effect

Nov. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 2,000 firefighters have called in ‘sick’ as the city’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate took effect Monday. More than half of the 2,300 who didn’t show up for work are believed to be unvaccinated, NBC News reported, and are apparently protesting the city’s vaccine mandate for its public workers…. Read more »

State Rejects NRG’s Proposed Power Plant in Astoria

Oct. 27, 2021 By Allie Griffin The state has rejected a controversial proposal put forward by a Houston-based energy company to build a natural gas power plant in Astoria. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation denied permits sought by NRG Energy to revamp its 50-year-old Astoria Generating Station on 20th Avenue by replacing… Read more »

Music Teacher at Astoria Catholic School Fired for Marrying His Longtime Boyfriend

Oct. 26, 2021 By Allie Griffin A beloved music teacher at an Astoria Catholic school was fired from his teaching position earlier this month after the diocese learned he married his longtime boyfriend. Matthew LaBanca was let go from both his teaching position at St. Joseph Catholic Academy and his position as the music director… Read more »