Aug. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray An instructor at a Woodside martial arts studio who raped a 12-year-old student last year has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Hector Quinchi, 37, of Woodside, pleaded guilty in July to having sexual intercourse with a preteen student who took lessons from him at Hugo’s Tae Kwon… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that schools can apply to the City to hold classes outside in schoolyards, local parks and closed streets to limit the spread of coronavirus. Schools that don’t have usable outdoor space within their campuses, as well as schools in neighborhoods that were hit… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray Three more Queens bars and restaurants had their liquor licenses suspended over the past weekend — including a Woodside strip joint— as the state continues to crack down on establishments that violate coronavirus regulations. The state’s task force led by the State Police and State Liquor Authority (SLA) conducted… Read more »
Aug. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed $2 billion LaGuardia AirTrain plan Friday and has opened the public comment period. The FAA posted the draft review for the proposed 1.5-mile AirTrain from Willets Point to LaGuardia Airport online and concluded that the… Read more »
Aug. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a serial 7-train window smasher. There have been more than 70 incidents involving broken subway windows since May, according to MTA and NYPD officials. The damage totals more than $300,000, MTA Chairman… Read more »
Aug. 22, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than 150 supporters of the NYPD 108 Precinct marched up Greenpoint Avenue into Sabba Park in Woodside Saturday as part of a pro-police rally. The supporters– who were carrying signs that read “back the blue” and “who are you going to call? 911”–– were greeted by about 100… Read more »
Aug. 21, 2020 Staff Report A well-known Japanese restaurant known for its hibachi cooking has permanently closed its Atlas Park shopping center location. Shiro of Japan, a traditional sushi and hibachi restaurant, announced last week that it has shuttered its 80-40 Cooper Ave restaurant. The owners—Peter Faccibene and Hiro Ishikawa—notified customers on their website last… Read more »
Aug. 21, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Enough is enough, according to a number of Long Island City residents. A group of residents are so fed up with the high levels of anti-social behavior along the Hunters Point waterfront that they are hiring a private security firm to patrol the area. The group says that crowds of… Read more »
Aug. 21, 2020 By Christian Murray The MTA may be forced to reduce service on the 7 train if vandals continue to smash windows, according to reports. On Wednesday, 39 windows were discovered smashed on a 7 train at the Vernon Blvd.–Jackson Avenue station in Long Island City. A crew of MTA workers also found… Read more »
Aug. 20, 2020 By Christian Murray A Long Island City man who raped a woman near Skillman Avenue in Woodside last year was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the Queens District Attorney announced today. Matthew Luna, 27, who pleaded guilty to first-degree rape in January, sexually attacked a 20-year-old woman in the vicinity of… Read more »