June 4, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The five most persistent “super speeders” in Queens racked up a combined 643 school zone speed camera tickets in 2024—an average of one every 14 hours—according to new research from street safety groups Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Families for Safe Streets. One driver received 182 tickets alone last year,… Read more »
June 3, 2025 By Shane O’Brien State Sen. Mike Gianaris presented PS 122 in Astoria with a $450,000 check Saturday afternoon to fund new air conditioning units throughout the school. Gianaris made the announcement at the school’s Centennial Carnival on Saturday, May 31, which saw hundreds of families visit PS 122, located at 21-21 Ditmars… Read more »
May 22, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A collaboration between the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) and the team developing the gigantic East River Energy Storage Project has received a statewide community partnership award acknowledging exceptional efforts to gain support from the local community. The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium… Read more »
May 15, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition has announced a full schedule of free summer programming, including fireworks, concerts, and outdoor movie nights— despite ongoing renovations that have rendered Astoria Park’s iconic Great Lawn inaccessible. Central Astoria, a long-standing nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enriching the Astoria community, will kick… Read more »
May 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien On any given morning, Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria hums with energy—artists welding steel, neighbors walking their dogs, and visitors pausing to admire large-scale artworks taking shape before their eyes. Located at 32-01 Vernon Blvd. along the East River, the 6.25-acre waterfront park is unlike any other green space… Read more »
May 12, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A number of elected officials and community advocates gathered in Astoria Sunday for a street co-naming in honor of former Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer’s late mother, Elizabeth White Marcum. Attorney-General Letitia James, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Council Member Tiffany Cabán and Assembly Members Jessica González-Rojas and… Read more »
May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien An Astoria pastry shop has introduced a “Pope Leo Cookie”, complete with a picture of Pope Leo XIV, in honor of the election of the first-ever American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago was elected Pope Leo XIV at the Papal Conclave on Thursday, becoming the first US-born pope… Read more »
May 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A business owner in Astoria Heights has caused controversy by erecting a permanent fence on a sidewalk running adjacent to his property, blocking access to roughly 50 feet of the sidewalk and removing roughly 10 parking spaces. Anthony Della Vecchia, who operates Michael Della Vecchia & Son General Contractor… Read more »
April 28, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Looking to celebrate Mother’s Day with a little laughter, creativity, and a lot less stress? Astoria comedy club and performing arts space, Q.E.D., is pulling out all the stops to make this Mother’s Day “one to remember” — offering a packed lineup of candle-making workshops, sip-and-paint nights, and a… Read more »
April 25, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The 8th-annual Astoria Spring Retail Crawl returns Friday, April 25, encouraging local residents to support small, independently owned businesses in the neighborhood. The popular retail crawl, founded by Brass Owl owner Nicole Panettieri, features 26 local businesses and runs from Friday, April 25, until Sunday, May 4. This gives… Read more »