March 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Organizers of the Queens World Film Festival have announced the event will go ahead this week and will be live-streamed over the Internet. The event – which kicks off Thursday, March 19 – will screen over 200 films from 32 nations after receiving submissions from almost 800 moviemakers across… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Board of Correction is calling on New York City to release prisoners deemed at high risk from the COVID-19 virus. The board says that it should reduce the prison population by identifying and potentially releasing people over the age of 50; those with underlying health… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Western Queens residents are coming together with acts of kindness to help those most in need get through the coronavirus pandemic. In Astoria, a young family has taken the positives from a vacation cancellation by setting up a local volunteer group to help the sick, elderly and vulnerable throughout… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The City has put plans in place to help small businesses ride out the crisis–but many local business groups say the programs do not go far enough. The New York City Department of Business Services is now providing zero interest loans to help small business stay afloat and is… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City of Department of Consumer Affairs is clamping down further on price gouging. The agency announced this morning that it is illegal for retailers to sell any personal or household good needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at an inflated price. The rule covers items… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin The mayor has asked New Yorkers to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of coronavirus — except to move their cars for alternate street side parking. Despite declaring a state of emergency, Mayor Bill de Blasio has kept alternate street side parking in effect. At… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A popular ice-cream chain with locations in Astoria and throughout Brooklyn has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ample Hills Creamery, which was established in 2011 and quickly grew to have more than a dozen stores, filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday after experiencing financial difficulties. The company’s decision to seek… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Christian Murray Stop & Shop, a supermarket chain with several locations throughout Queens and hundreds across the North East, announced today that it is adjusting its hours to accommodate senior citizens. The grocery chain will provide senior citizens with a designated 1 ½ hour period each day– starting Thursday– exclusively for… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York, New Jersey and Connecticut businesses will shutter as part of a tri-state effort to stem the spread of coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. The number of positive cases of COVID-19 jumped to 950 across New York state, with 463 cases in New York City and 7… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Public Library (QPL) announced last night that it is shutting down all its local branches–effective immediately–until further notice, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision came after the New York Public Library — which includes libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx — announced Friday it was shutting… Read more »