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 »
March 16, 2020 By Christian Murray The police are looking for two suspects who slashed a man’s face outside a Northern Boulevard nightclub last week. The two men allegedly approached the 29-year-old victim outside La Boom, located at 56-15 Northern Blvd., on March 9 and slashed him two times with an unknown object as part… Read more »
March 15, 2020 By Christian Murray Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that public schools will be shut Monday and will not reopen until April 20 at the earliest. The announcement was made during a City Hall press conference Sunday afternoon where he also said the Queens Borough President election will no longer take place… Read more »
March 13, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The fifth annual Queens Marathon has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The 26.2 mile run around Flushing Meadows Corona Park was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 26 but has been put back until Nov. 15, although this date is subject to change, organizers Queens Distance Runners… Read more »
March 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin An Italian American restaurant that has fed Astoria diners for eight years will close its doors. Gastroteca Astoria, at 33-02 34th Ave., is closing after a lengthy dispute with the City’s Department of Consumer Affairs over sidewalk seating, according to a statement released by the restaurant on Instagram. “We… Read more »
March 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Catholic schools will close next week, amid rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the city. All Catholic academies and parish schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn — which covers both Queens and Brooklyn — will close during the week of March 16 to March 20, the Diocese announced… Read more »
March 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin The party-backed candidate in the Queens Borough president race, Council Member Donovan Richards, is calling on the city to postpone the March 24 special election. Richards said the election should be postponed as voting itself poses a risk to voters and poll workers amid the coronavirus crisis in the… Read more »