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Tag: flushing news

Legendary St. Francis Prep basketball coach dies

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Legendary St. Francis Prep Basketball coach Tim Leary, 73, died last week after battling gallbladder cancer.

The New York State Basketball Hall of Fame inductee had an impressive coaching career with a record breaking 646 victories in 43 seasons. Leary retired in February 2016 after the passing of his wife Claudia, who died following a battle with cancer.

Leary coached varsity baseball coach at St. Francis Prep for 10 seasons, winning five borough titles and a city championship. His team won the CHSAA state Class A championship in 1992 and reached the AA final in 1997.

As a player for St. Francis Prep he led the team to the city title, only to lose to a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led Power Memorial team in 1963. He then went on to play baseball and basketball at Manhattan College.

Leary followed up his sports career as an educator, spending 30 years as a teacher and dean in multiple schools in the city.

Upon his retirement from St. Francis Prep in 2016, many gathered at his final game to celebrate his storied career. The school is mourning his loss. Athletic Director Sal Fischetti said he will never be forgotten and his legacy will live on.

“Tim Leary coached 49 years at St. Francis Prep, 43 as the boys varsity basketball coach,” he said. “He had such a profound impact on so many for so many years. Widely considered as one of the best high school coaches in NYC history. Nobody got a team ready to play better than he did. May he rest in peace.”

Leary is survived by four children, seven grandchildren and three brothers.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

Bayside Little League

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Source: Times Ledger

Thalia Spanish Theatre brings ‘Queens of the Night’ to life

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Angelica Acevedo

TimesLedger Newspapers

Ladies and gentlemen, damas y caballeros, if you’d like to experience a play quite unlike any other, look no further than Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, playing in the Thalia Spanish Theatre until Feb. 25.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the show, other than the interactive second act where the play suddenly becomes a drag show, was the use of Spanish and English — or as some call it, Spanglish.

The mix of the two languages, however, wasn’t an intentional aspect of the play. Txemi Parra, the writer of Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, said the bilingual theme happened organically among the cast and crew.

“I wrote it in Spanish and I wrote that some characters spoke Spanglish, but not all,” Parra said. “But some of the actors said ‘this is a good idea,’ and it would be great to open it to more audiences.”

Parra said he drew his inspiration for the production from New York.

“Living here in New York, I’ve learned a lot about the Spanish language,” he said.

The exuberant actors complemented their impeccable comedic timing with a dash of Spanish phrases and cultural references throughout their performances. The music and costumes were so vibrant that viewers could overlook the very serious undertones of the play if they weren’t paying attention.

Most Holy Redeemer

Some of the actors and actresses had never performed in a play before, according to Soledad Lopez, who starred as the main character, Lupe, and is the managing director of the Thalia Spanish Theatre.

“We wanted to do a type of play where they would be able to demonstrate their talents because, realistically, sometimes they just work in clubs, not in a theatre where people come to sit down and watch them,” Lopez said.

The not-so-subtle jabs at the current president of the United States, some of which reference his comments about Mexican immigrants, drew great laughs from the audience as well.

Other subjects of the play — including abusive relationships, the hardships of adopting children when one is transgender and acceptance of who one truly is — gave it an authenticity that kept the audience responsive in the already intimate setting of the Thalia.

The director, William Lopera, stressed that the underlying intention of the play is to raise awareness about the prejudices members of the LGBTQ community still face.

“There is a need to create consciousness and to promote tolerance without making it dramatic,” Lopera said. “This is a fun way to give that information and people will realize how fun and wonderful diversity is.”

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Thalia Spanish Theatre, the executive director of the theatre, Angel Gil Orrios, said that they strive to bring important messages to their audience.

“We’ve always been interested in promoting social justice, in doing things and themes that are really contemporary and important for the community,” Orrios said. “We always wanted to do an LGBTQ musical because we knew that many artists that have worked with us in the past were gay and were very proud of it.”

During the Valentine’s Day performance of Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and his partner went to show their support for the play. At the end of the show, he was invited to the stage where he praised the story and the Thalia.

“I am so proud to represent this theater in my district and I’m so proud that this was brought to Sunnyside,” Van Bramer said. “I fell in love with every single person on this stage for many reasons… All of you inspire me, all of you are so beautiful in every single way. This was a great way to spend Valentine’s Day. Thank you all so much, muchisimas gracias.”

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Source: Times Ledger

Police searching for suspect who ‘manipulated his privates’ in front of a female R train rider

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police wanted to question a man who allegedly committed an act of public lewdness aboard a moving Queens R train Wednesday morning.

The suspect took a seat across from a 20-year-old woman and “manipulated his private parts in front of her,” police said. The man exited the train at Queens Plaza and fled in an unknown direction.

Police described the suspect as a black man who was last seen wearing a blue hooded coat, a black seater, blue jeans and black and white sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

Terrace

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Source: Times Ledger

Police looking for men involved in burglaries at homes in several Queens neighborhoods

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The NYPD was looking for several men who are believed to be involved in nearly a dozen burglaries across a swath of north-central Queens in the past two months.

QUEENS THEATRE

In the first incident, Jan. 28, police said an individual forced open a rear window to get inside a home near 24th Avenue and 97th Street in East Elmhurst around 5:30 p.m. The suspect made off with nearly $5,000 in cash, according to police.

Two nights later, unidentified individuals forced open the front door of a home in the vicinity of 52nd Drive and 74th Street in Maspeth where they removed jewelry belonging to a 27-year-old woman, police said.

The third incident occurred the night of Feb. 2 at a home near 24th Avenue and 99th Street where individuals forced open a rear window on the second floor and removed a 46-year-old woman’s jewelry and nearly $1,000 in cash, police said.

After a six day lull, the burglars went back to work, hitting a home near 97th Street and Northern Boulevard in Corona Feb. 9, but police say they were unsuccessful.

The next night, the burglars returned to Corona where they forced open a second floor window of a home near 101st Street and 32nd Avenue, according to authorities. This time they came away with a 28-year-old woman’s backpack, credit cards and $4,000 in cash, then they hit a second home nearby stealing a 28-year-old-man’s jewelry, a laptop and $8,200 in cash, police said.

Then came a string of break-ins in Maspeth, beginning with a big score Feb. 10.

The individuals gained entry to a residence near Borden and Perry avenues, police said. A 28-year-old woman discovered her front door had been forced open and two suspects had removed jewelry, clothing, her passport and nearly $28,000 in cash, according to the NYPD.

Two nights later, they broke into a home near 69th Street and 52nd Avenue through a basement, but came away empty handed so the suspects moved on to another home belonging to a 59-year-old woman near 52nd Avenue and Calamus Avenue, where they forced open a second floor window, police said. The individuals were forced to flee empty handed when they tripped an audible alarm, according to authorities.

The 10th incident in the burglary spree occurred later that night at a home near 67th Street and 50th Avenue in Woodside, where two suspects forced open a rear window and removed a 62-year-old man’s jewelry and $300 in cash, according to the NYPD.

The men were each wearing dark colored clothing with masks over their faces and each had backpacks, police said.

Anyone with information in asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

Pedestrian killed while crossing LIE: NYPD

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police from the 111th Precinct responded to the scene of a collision involving an SUV and a pedestrian on the Long Island Expressway late Tuesday night.

Theatre By The Bay NY

On the westbound side of the expressway near Springfield Boulevard, officers said they found an unresponsive 35-year-old male in the road with trauma to the head and body. The victim was transported to North Shore University Hospital by EMS responders where he was pronounced dead.

NYPD said a preliminary investigation found that the man had attempted to cross the westbound lane of the LIE at 219th Street when he was struck by a 2017 Toyota Rav4 with a 52-year-old female behind the wheel.

The driver was not injured in the incident and remained at the scene, according to police.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

No. 7 train adds cars, push to make Long Island a state and more in February 1950

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By Greater Astoria Historical Society

TimesLedger Newspapers

In conjunction with the Greater Astoria Historical Society, TimesLedger Newspapers presents noteworthy events in the borough’s history.

Its February 1950 and the No. 7 Train is adding new cars. The maroon cars with wide beige strips above and below windows will help glamorize the Flushing Line. Cooling fans and heat will be governed by thermostats sensitive to car temperature changes, including shifts brought about by an increase or decrease of passengers.

The Springfield Garden Citizens and Taxpayers Association sends a letter to the Public Service Commissioner protesting the closure of Higbie Ave. Station. Nearby Idlewild Airport is expected to be one of the first targets in a nuclear attack. The community, wanting a clear escape from an H-bomb, believes the railroad offers a quick out.

Mile-A-Minute Murphy, 79, dies in his home at 160-12 Union Tpke., Hillcrest. He was the first man to bicycle over 60 mph. The successful test, conducted in 1899 on a special railroad track near Hempstead, makes him a national figure.

Queens Chamber of Commerce President Frank O’Hara of Jackson Heights suggests a subway loop under the Sunnyside Yards that would link the LIRR and three subway lines.

New salaries for baseball players are announced. Jackie Robinson gets $35,000, Phil Rizzuto $40,000, Stan Musial $50,000, Ralph Kiner $65,000 and Joe DiMaggio $100,000. Topping the list is Ted Williams at $125,000. The paper is quick to add that after taxes, Ted took home about $70,000.

Congressman James Delaney of Astoria wants statehood of Long Island. A member of the House Rules Committee investigating admitting Hawaii and Alaska as states, he claims Long Island makes a much better case for statehood, and if you throw in New York City, “there is no comparison. Alaska, with 90,000 citizens, has one-fourth the members of my district.” The proposed state, with 26 members in Congress, would be about the size of California or Illinois. Jamaica is the proposed capital of the state of nine million.

Two decades before, Queens Democratic Leader James Roe also proposes statehood, but is not taken seriously by upstate legislators whose approval is needed.

“They may not like us, but they want our tax money,” he said.

Several upstate legislators disagreed, one going as far as proposing legislation making the city a special district, like Washington DC, thus cutting it off from voting in statewide elections and paying or receiving state tax.

“New York… foists upon us costly social experiments benefiting city dwellers and not us simple-minded country folks,” said upstate Assemblyman Wilson van Duser.

Responded Roe, “if it weren’t for New York and the rest of Long Island, they would not be building $200 million thruways, parks, schools and hospitals.”

In one year, caseloads in the court systems skyrocket: Special session court, up 10 percent; country court, up 17 percent; Ridgewood Felony Court, up 20 percent, and traffic court up 35 percent. Over 90 percent of car theft comes from juvenile delinquency. In Queens, more than three cars are stolen every day. Detectives visited Woodrow Wilson High School in Baisley Park on a stolen car tip. They recover four cars. A 15-year-old Maspeth youth, perp of a half-dozen vicious stick-ups, is apprehended with a stockpile of guns and pistols including a 12-gauge shotgun. “It’s hard to aim a pistol from a moving car,” he smirked.

Alice Benson, age two of Astoria, fights the crime trend and a Venezuelan woman, visiting in the city with her wealthy rancher husband has her $1,000 diamond and emerald clip back. The pin, handed to Alice to ‘play with’ by a stranger on a LIRR train, was later discovered to be no toy. Alice’s mother and father took it to the police.

When the story first hit the papers, Mrs. DeCadenas of Caracas rushed to the clerk’s property office in Jamaica and claimed it, producing it’s twin as evidence. The heiress lost the clip in a cab. Overjoyed, she sat down and wrote out a check for $150. The wide-eyed little girl asked “is it all my own?” When assured by her father it was, she said “I’m going to buy dollies and chewing gum!”

That’s the way it was in February 1950.

For further information, contact the Greater Astoria Historical Society at 718-278-0700 or visit www.astorialic.org.

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Source: Times Ledger

Van Bramer announces he will seek office of borough president when City Council term expires

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Theatre By The Bay NY

When three-quarters of the City Council gets term-limited out of office in 2021, many political leaders will be looking for new opportunities in public service. City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) will be among them and he has already set in motion his plan of action, announcing last week that he will run for Queens Borough President, as current Borough President Melinda Katz is also term-limited and considering a run for mayor.

“I’ve got as Queens a resume as you will find anywhere,” Van Bramer said. “I’ve never lived anywhere else and I want to continue to serve the borough I’ve always called home.”

He was born at old St. John’s Hospital on Queens Boulevard, raised in Astoria and attended PS 70 and William Cullen Bryant High School. After graduating from St. John’s University, Van Bramer became a community organizer and went to work as a reporter for Lesbian and Gay New York, which is now Gay City News, where he brought attention to the AIDS epidemic, bias and hate crimes.

Van Bramer went on to serve as Chief External Affairs Officer of Queens Library for a decade and also served as the president of Queens Council on the Arts. These experiences served him well at the City Council, where he was appointed chairman of the Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committee in 2010, a position Van Bramer is still holding now in his third and final term representing Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of Astoria.

“I’m just someone who has a passion for the diversity and people of every neighborhood in Queens,” Van Bramer said. “The feedback I have gotten since announcing has been enthusiastic and supportive, because we’ve done an awful lot of good in my district and people across the borough have noticed. They also saw our Queens Values march across the Queensboro Bridge to Trump Tower just weeks after the election.”

Thousands joined him at Queensboro Plaza to rally against President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration and civil liberties, and the march solidified his standing as one of the borough’s leaders of the resistance movement.

“I want to keep bringing progressive change to the borough,” Van Bramer said. “Together, we can ensure that every neighborhood enjoys the things that make our city so great — world-class schools, libraries, parks and housing that the middle class and those struggling to make it can afford. A place where every person, regardless of where they came from, what they look like, how they worship and who they love is welcome and included.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

Crowley hosts Black History Month event in East Elmhurst

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) hosted his 19th annual Black History Month celebration at Bruno’s on the Boulevard in East Elmhurst Tuesday night.

The event provides an opportunity to discuss legislative priorities for the African-American community, with Senate Minority Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appearing as the guest of honor.

“Black History Month allows us to celebrate the vibrant African-American communities in New York and across the country,” Crowley said. “It was a privilege to be joined by Senator Stewart-Cousins, whose historic accomplishments are a model for all Americans. Importantly, Black History Month allows us to visualize a future beyond the Trump administration’s agenda of bigotry and fear and come together for progress.”

Stewart-Cousins is the first woman in New York State history to lead a legislative conference in Albany.

“Black history is American history, and wonderful events like this honor the legacy, culture, sacrifice, and achievements of black pioneers, who have worked so hard to achieve so much.”

During the event, Crowley presented Stewart-Cousins with a portrait of the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, one of the borough’s most iconic monuments and a symbol of community. Past guests of honor include President Bill Clinton, U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder and civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

Terrace On The Park

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Long Island City Partnership launches effort to lure New York’s life-sciences campus to booming neighborhood

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The unprecedented growth of Long Island City could include a multimillion-dollar life-sciences campus and the neighborhood’s development organization is aiming to make that happen.

The Long Island City Partnership issued a formal request for ideas earlier this month seeking consultants to produce a strategic plan for developing a feasibility study that would help lure New York’s Life Sciences Cluster to the fastest-growing neighborhood in the nation.

“We want people to have the best information about why Long Island City is the best place to invest in creating a life-sciences cluster in New York,” LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin said. “The more information and strategy we can offer potential investors the better. It’s an enormous sector of the economy and we think it definitely belongs here in Long Island City, which is fertile ground for such a cluster.”

When the city’s Economic Development Corporation issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for creating an applied life sciences hub last month, Long Island City was specifically referenced as a possible location. The neighborhood’s extensive residential development, planned office development and its nexus with a home-grown tech industry make it the perfect candidate for the hub, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said would spur an estimated 16,000 new, good-paying jobs.

The life sciences and biotechnology industry includes a wide array of disciplines focused on developing cures, treatments and technologies. Its companies work to develop new vaccines and pharmaceuticals, build advanced prosthetic devices, and design software that make diagnostics more accurate and with a 16 percent growth in jobs since 2009, the life sciences sector is among the fastest growing in the city

“We offer a strong labor pool and we have LaGuardia Community College as a partner for training people for many levels of jobs such as lab techs, accounting departments, maintenance staff and payroll and other support services,” Lusskin said. “Plus, with the expansion of NYC Ferry and the opening of the 2nd Avenue subway, LIC offers true accessibility to the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island and 1st Avenue and York Avenue, where the majority of the city’s premier academic medical institutions are located.”

In addition, the city has the world’s largest concentration of academic institutions with nine major academic medical centers, including Weill Cornell Medical College and The Rockfeller University located on the Upper East Side.

When the EDC released its Request for Expression of Interest last month, a large city-owned building at 44-36 44th Drive was listed as a possible location for the hub, but Lusskin is looking at the bigger picture.

QUEENS THEATRE

“The city said that site might be made available for use, but LIC has so much going for it it’s not the only place in Long Island City where you could do something great in,” she said.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Espinal gets nod from Democrats to run in special election to fill Moya’s Assembly seat

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

As expected, lifelong Corona resident Ari Espinal will run as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the April 24 special election to fill former state Assemblyman Francisco Moya’s seat that became vacant after he was elected to the City Council in November.

While the Queens GOP has yet to name a Republican opponent, the Queens Democratic Party, the Working Families Party, and the Women’s Equality Party endorsed Espinal, who has served as a district leader for four years.

“She is a dedicated community leader and activist who has worked throughout her career to serve others,” U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), the chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, said. “Ari will be a fierce advocate for Queens families and I look forward to working with her.”

Espinal most recently served for seven years on Moya’s staff while he was in the Assembly. Her campaign was bolstered by Moya’s strong endorsement last month.

“I have lived in Central Queens my entire life and I am ready to deliver for our community,” Espinal said. “Our local and state leaders are our first line of defense against the bigotry and hate coming out of Washington, and I will protect our progressive values and support plans and initiatives that are good for all New Yorkers.”

The Working Families Party also endorsed Jackson Heights resident Jessica Ramos in her primary challenge against state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst), a member of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference, which shares power with the Republicans, allowing them to maintain a majority in the Senate.

“The Working Families Party champions working people over the city’s wealthiest — and I’m honored to have their endorsement,” Ramos said. “I’m running for office because we need a progressive Democrat in the state Senate who will support Queens’ working families — not a Trump Democrat who gives power to the Republicans. I’m fighting for a real living wage, affordable healthcare, rent laws that support families not landlords, and a subway system that actually works. We’ve had a Republican state Senate for far too long — and working families suffer the brunt of the GOP’s backward priorities. I’m proud to join with the Working Families Party as we make clear we will not stop until the state Senate turns blue.”

Theatre By The Bay NY

President Stuart Applebaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union announced the union’s endorsement of Peralta in his bid for another term, saying “he has championed key legislation that impacts not just RWDSU members, but all workers in New York state.” He then criticized Ramos, and other candidates who are challenging IDC members in the primaries. Applebaum supports Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to reunite Senate Democrats and part of the proposal provides that members of both conferences would not challenge incumbent state senators.

“Several good people are nonetheless running primaries,” he said. “However, we believe it is a sign of bad faith for them to be challenging the incumbents at this point. Instead, they should be supporting the unity plan, as we do.”

When she was weighing her challenge against Peralta in December, Ramos — the former City Hall adviser and district leader — addressed that issue.

“The problem with the IDC is even if they come back, you don’t know if they’ll stay — we’ve seen this play out before in 2014,” she said.

Peralta was thrilled to receive the RWSDU endorsement, calling the union the backbone of our economy.

“My progressive ideals will always go hand-in-hand with working families and my legislative record speaks for itself, from pushing to pass the Paid Family Leave program to increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour,” Peralta said. ““I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with RWDSU to push for a progressive agenda that reinvests in our workers and improves the lives of working families in my district and across this great state.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger