“Astoria Character” Neil Herdan is Pitching Whitey Ford Field
Nancy Ruhling’s “Astoria Characters” series in the Huffington Post and collected on her own website, have featured a wide variety of people living in our community—a Tiffany glass curator, a hairdresser, the couple who own the Victory Sweet Shop and Victory Garden Cafe, the principal trombonist for the Astoria...
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Your Phone Can Now Help You Park
If you follow OANA on Facebook, subscribe to our newsletter or check this blog, you will have seen regular postings about some great community events in our neighborhood. But wait–you’ve left in good time and found a great parking spot—but you don’t have any quarters and you’ve left your...
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A New Production from APAC
The crew at APAC (the Astoria Performing Arts Center) is rehearsing the world premiere production of Veil’d, a play by Monet Hurst-Mendoza, and the excitement about their new production is mounting! Veil’d tells the story of Dima, a 16-year old girl with a rare skin condition who gets by...
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A New Home for Academy of American Studies
The city will build a new school in Dutch Kills to house the students at Academy of American Studies, who currently have to share space with Newcomers High School at 28-01 41st Avenue. DNAInfo is reporting that the new 4-story school will be located at 40-11 28th St and...
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Takin’ It To the Streets
It’s time for the Broadway Street Fair! On Sunday October 15th, join your neighbors from 11 am to 6 pm, stroll along Broadway and check out the many vendors and the activities for kids. The event runs the length of Broadway from Crescent St to Steinway St. and is...
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Astoria Sites Take Part in Open House NY Weekend
Every October hundreds of locations around the five boroughs offer behind-the-scenes tours to visitors. It’s called Open House New York Weekend, and this year it’s October 14 and 15. Some Open House New York tours require reservations, but three sites in Astoria are offering free tours for which no...
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Old Astoria Shop Owner Coins New Name for the Neighborhood
Natassa Contini, owner of local business the pet store/café Chateau Le Woof, has a new name for the part of Astoria west of 21st Street, between Astoria Park and Broadway—it’s “Westoria.” DNAInfo reports that Contini started to use the hashtag #Westoria on Chateau Le Woof’s Instagram posts “as a...
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NYC Ferry to Add Three New Boats
Good news for Astoria residents who are enjoying the new ferry service from Halletts Cove—and for those from other neighborhoods who want to ride the ferry out to explore the many attractions our community had to offer. AMNY is reporting that New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is...
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Chappetto Square Joins the Community Parks Initiative
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that Chappetto Square in Astoria will receive city funding and upgrades since it has just been added to the Community Parks Initiative. Founded in 2014, the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) focuses on improving parks in neighborhoods with dense and/or growing populations. Chappetto Square...
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QUEENS FOOD DAY RETURNS
On Saturday October 14, Socrates Sculpture Park is hosting the popular festival Queens Food Day. The day will feature fun activities and demonstrations relating to locally sourced food, gardening, urban farming nutrition and food justice. Co-hosts Queens Action Council (QuAC) will moderate a speaker’s panel featuring community representatives. Lauren...
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Notify NYC App is Live
The launch of the Notify NYC app will be a boon for those with smartphones who want to get notifications about weather emergencies like blizzards, transit problems, and suspensions of alternate side of the street parking rules. In its report, Gothamist gave some examples of the kinds of alerts...
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Cornell Tech Phase 1 Opens
Cornell Tech, a partnership between Cornell University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, opened the first phase of its new Roosevelt Island campus this week. DNAInfo reorts that Cornell Tech’s new 4-story academic center plans to be one of the country’s largest net-zero building, with all of its power being...
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Two N Trains Stations To Close for 8 Months
Bad news for commuters in Astoria who were looking forward to having full train service back after a summer of weekends with no train service—the 36th Avenue and 30th Avenue stations will be shuttered for at least 8 months starting on October 23rd, DNAINfo is reporting. Whereas Summer’s weekend...
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Whitey Ford Field Clean-Up On Sept 17
Please help Friends of Whitey Ford Field during their Volunteer Clean-Up Day on Sunday, September 17 from 10 am to 1 pm. Supplies and tools will be provided. A couple of hours of your time can make a big difference to this local park with a lot of heart!...
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Shore Fest Returns on September 16
On Saturday, September 16th, Astoria Park Alliance is once again hosting the ever-popular community event Shore Fest in the park.. The festivities will take place from 1 to 5 pm, on the Main Lawn adjacent to the Bocce Court off Shore Boulevard. Activities planned for this popular event will...
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50-Unit Condo Building Planned for 27th Avenue
An application has been filed by LIC developer Strategic Capital Metropolitan to develop a seven-story condo building at 3-11 27th Avenue. The application permit specifies 37,940 square feet of residential space, 7,991 square feet of retail and a 12,656-square-foot “community facility”, which will include space for a day care...
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Asthma Awareness Back to School Fair
Mount Sinai Hospital Queens, Council Member Costa Constantinides, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, and Asthma Coalition of Queens are sponsoring an Asthma Awareness Back to School Fair on Thursday September 28 from 5.30 to 7 pm at Variety Boys and Girls Club. Celebrate the new school year with...
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SAFE Disposal Event in Astoria Park, September 9
To help residents dispose of harmful household products safely, DSNY hosts SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) Disposal Events throughout the year in all five boroughs. On Saturday September 9, there will be a SAFE disposal event in the parking lot of Astoria Park, from 10 am to 4...
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Here Comes CitiBike!
The popular bike sharing program CitiBike will cut the ribbon on new docking stations in Astoria, Long Island City, Harlem, Crown Heights and Prospect Heights starting next week, DNAInfo is reporting. A DOT spokesman said that building of the new stations will begin on September 12, starting first in...
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Friends of Whitey Ford Field Get Grant from Costa
Councilman Costa Constantinides has allocated a $5,000 grant through the City Parks Foundation on behalf of the volunteer group Friends of Whitey Ford Field. This allocation is part of the City Council’s Parks Equity Initiative, which supports community programming in smaller neighborhood parks. Friends of Whitey Ford Field Chairperson...
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Support Socrates Sculpture Park at Their Annual Benefit Gala
Socrates Sculpture Park is hosting their Annual Benefit Gala on Wednesday, September 27, 2017. The event will be hosted at Mark di Suvero’s waterfront studio in Long Island City, where guests can mingle on the pier or enjoy a boat excursion on the East River. A special limited edition by artist Roxy...
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Astoria Ferry Schedule
The schedule for the new Astoria Ferry Service has been released! You can find it here: https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/route/astoria/ or if you want to download a copy of the schedule, click here. It’s safe to say that there’s much excitement in our community as Astoria gears up for the start of...
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114th Precinct Meeting
There will be a 114th Precinct Summit Meeting this Thursday August 24 at 7 pm. This is a great chance for people in Sector David to meet the officers and air any concerns you may have. Sector David runs from Astoria Park South to Queens Plaza North and from...
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Street Renamed for Betty Jean DiBiaso
A light post at the intersection of Ditmars Blvd and 19th now bears the name of Betty Jean DiBiaso Way that’s a tribute to a young woman who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in June 2015. In a street co-naming ceremony, family, friends and community leaders paid tribute...
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The Muppets Take Astoria
Our neighborhood has been known for its association with the entertainment production world since the studio known today as Kaufman Astoria was opened by Adolph Zukor in 1920 and local fans hovered around the lots in the hopes of catching a glimpse of silent-screen stars like Rudolph Valentino and...
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New Astoria Ferry: Open Hours with NYC Ferry staff
The countdown is on till the start of the NYC Ferry service in Astoria on August 29th. A new route servicing the Rockaways has proved very popular. NYC Ferry staff will hold open office hours about the new ferry service at the Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, on Thursday...
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Register to Get Daffodil Bulbs, Starting August 14
Daffodil Bulb Registration Opens in One Week! Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of New Yorkers for Parks’ Daffodil Project! This is the sixteenth year of the Project, which was founded in 2001 as a living memorial of the events of September 11. To date,...
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Check the Front Seat
The 114th Precinct is warning drivers in Astoria to remember to lock their cars and check for valuables on the front seats and in the glove compartments. Deputy Inspector Peter Fortune says that there have been more than a dozen cases of cars being broken into in the last...
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Hollywood East River
John Turturro, the New York-born actor best known for his roles in The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, and the Transformers movies, will be at Socrates Sculpture Park on Wednesday August 16 to introduce the film “Romance & Cigarettes,” DNAInfo reports. The 2005 movie, which...
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The Floating Hospital’s Astoria Branch
With health care much in the news these days, we wanted to remind Astoria residents that we now have a branch of the Floating Hospital right here In our neighborhood. The Floating Hospital was founded in the 19th century and originally ran ships that frequently New York Harbor and...
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Aviation Job Fair on August 3rd
Job hunting? The Port Authority, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and the Council for Aviation Opportunity are sponsoring an Aviation Job Fair at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, on Thursday August 3rd from 10 am to 2 pm. Meet with companies who are hiring! Bring multiple...
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FINAL MAP OF CITIBIKE ASTORIA LOCATIONS
The final map of Citi Bike locations in Astoria has been released! After a community outreach program, the draft station siting plans were released by NYC DOT in April. Comments received from local stakeholders about proposed locations were reviewed by DOT, and as a result nine stations were relocated...
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National Night Out Against Crime in Astoria Park on August 1
On Tuesday August 1 from 5 to 8 pm, come meet the officers from the NYPD 114th Precinct as they mingle with the neighborhood at the annual National Night Out Against Crime—held in our district once more in Astoria Park on the Great Lawn. Meet the Neighborhood Community Officers...
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Changes to Grand Central Parkway Westbound at Exit 4
On July 31st the DOT is implementing changes on Exit 4 of the Grand Central Parkway, which will now be configured as two lanes. The rightmost lane will be exit only, with the adjacent lane providing the option to exit or to continue on the GCP. Drivers approaching the...
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A Sailor’s Life for You?
As Astoria awaits the launch of the new ferry line from Hallets Point Peninsula to Roosevelt Island, LIC and Manhattan, job seekers in our community should check this NY1 video: NYC Ferry is looking to hire deckhands. Previous maritime experience is not needed, but you should have good communication...
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Astoria Ferry Service Will Begin on August 29
Leaders of local Queens organizations and elected officials, including, amongst others, NYC Councilmen Costa Constantinides and Jimmy Van Bramer, CB1 District Manager Florence Koulouris, Astoria Houses Residents Association President Claudia Coger, and OANA President Richard Khuzami, joined Mayor Bill de Blasio on the waterfront at Hallets Point at a...
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August at the Noguchi Museum
It’s a busy month at the Noguchi Museum! On Friday August 4, it’s Free First Friday. Enjoy free admission and extended summer hours from 10 am to 8 pm. Stroll around the art, take a tour and sip evening drinks in the relaxing ambience of the sculpture garden! (Cash...
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Roosevelt Island Tram Renovations
Do you take the tram from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan? As of Wednesday July 26, there will be only one tram cabin running every 15 minutes as a program of renovations to the RI tram service platforms begins, according to NY 1 News. Thanks to OANA’s own Neil Herdan...
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Greek Movie Night at Socrates Sculpture Park on July 26
Socrates Sculpture Park’s Wednesday Movie Night has a Greek theme on Wednesday July 26, when there will be a screening of the hilarious comedy Chevalier (Greece, 2016, directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari). The event will be an homage to the long history of Greek American culture in our community,...
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NYC Rent Freeze Program is Under the Radar
If you are over the age of 62 and make less than $50,000 per year, you may be able to enroll in SCRIE, the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program, which can freeze seniors’ rent at a third of their income and relieves them from future rent increases. The...
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September 5K Fun Run to Celebrate the Hellgate Bridge Centenary
Save the date for Saturday September 9: there will be a 5K run/walk along the Astoria waterfront. The run begins at 9 am at the Veterans’ Memorial on Shore Boulevard in Astoria Park, out of the park along Shore Blvd up 20th Avenue to 31stStreet, and then turning back and...
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The Wonderful Welling Court Mural Project
Photos courtesy of Richard Khuzami and Clare Doyle
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Durst Secures $1 Billion Loan Package
The Durst Organization has secured a a $1 billion financing package from a group of lenders led by Citi Private Bank. The Real Deal reports that some of the $1 billion may be used for property acquisitions. Durst has recently acquired the $175 million Clocktower development site in Long...
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Funding for Hallets Point Peninsula
The Hallets Point Peninsula is due to get some major upgrades, courtesy of nearly $7.5 million in funding for capital projects, secured by District 22 Council Member Costa Constantinides. Constantinides secured $3 million for improvements at Hallets Cove Playground that will convert the current blacktop into a multi-purpose ball...
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Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting
On Wednesday July 19, Mayor de Blasio is holding a Town Hall meeting at P.S. 70, located at 30-44-43rd St., Astoria. Doors open at 6 p.m. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Doors close at 7:30 p.m. Space is limited so please RSVP, email townhallrsvp@cityhall.nyc.gov or call 212-748-0281. The...
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City Hall Resource Fair
Have you ever wished you could talk to the top officials at City Hall? Now is your chance: on Tuesday July 18 from 9 am to I pm, there will be a City Resource Fair at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens. Meet with top city commissioners...
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City of Water Day at Socrates Sculpture Park
On Saturday July 15, Socrates Sculpture Park is a partner for Waterfront Alliance’s City of Water Day 2017, an annual 5-borough event that is dedicated to fostering awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of our New York City waterfronts and waterways. There will be many fun aquatic activities: a river-themed Bangla...
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A Large Residential Development Planned for 30-80 12th Street
Another large project is planned for Old Astoria in the wake of Durst’s Hallet’s Point development, at 30-80 12th Street, it’s being reported by New York Yimby. With gross area totaling 483,000 square feet, the documents for the project indicate that 711 apartments will consist of 565 market-rate and...
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Weeknight Summer Fun in Astoria Park
Almost time for Central Astoria LDC’s amazing Waterfront Concert and Movies on the Waterfront series in Astoria Park! The Waterfront Concerts will take place on Thursday evenings this summer at 7.30 pm. July 13, Strawberry Fields-The Ultimate Beatles Tribute Band; July 20 New York Bee Gees July 27 STREETFIGHTER!...
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Durst Organization Building at 29-55 Northern Blvd
Would you love to live close to the LIC waterfront and steps away from the N and R subway lines? New York YIMBY reports that the Durst Organization has filed applications for a 63-story, 763-unnit mixed-use building at 29-55 Northern Boulevard. The Handel Architects project will include rental residential units from...
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Astoria Park Pool is Open for Summer
When the temperature rises in the months of July and August, our neighborhood is fortunate to have the Astoria Park pool in which to cool off and swim away the heat of the summer. At the opening of the Astoria park pool, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver said: “We’re...
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Whitey Ford Field Cleanup
On Saturday July 8th from 10 am to 1pm, join the Friends of Whitey Ford Field in a cleanup. The Friends will be picking up garbage, painting bleachers, and helping to beautify one of Astoria’s greatest green and recreation spaces. T-shirts and supplies provided by Partnerships for Parks. All...
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July at the Noguchi Museum
The Noguchi Museum is getting July off to a good start with a Community Day on Sunday July 2nd. Admission is free all day, from 11 am to 6 pm. Families with kids aged from 2 to 11 can participate in Open Studio, a drop-in program that includes gallery...
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Weeknight Summer Fun in Astoria Park
Save the dates for Central Astoria LDC’s amazing Waterfront Concert and Movies on the Waterfront series in Astoria Park! The Waterfront Concerts will take place on Thursday evenings this summer: July 13, 20 and 27 and August 3, 10, 17, all at 7.30, bands TBA. The movies will take...
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New Ferry Service Feeling the Heat as Demand Surges
As warmer weather finally arrived in June, NYC Ferry found itself trying to cope with unexpectedly high demand on its new route to the Rockaways as New Yorkers tried to get to the beach. Would-be commuters took to Twitter to complain that after long waits on line, they were...
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Summer Solstice Party At Socrates Sculpture Park
Hard to believe that we are at the halfway point in the year, but on Wednesday June 21 it’s time to celebrate the longest day of the year at Socrates Sculpture Park from 5 pm to dusk. Performances on stage will include local breakdancers curated by Muta NYC and...
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New York City Department of Small Business Services
OANA will have a speaker from the New York City Department of Small Business Services, whose mission is to help small businesses start, operate and expand in New York City. From pro bono review of legal documents and business planning assistance to training, certification and funding–if you are a...
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NYC Planning’s Flood Zone Resiliency
We have an important presentation by Nilus Klingel from the NYC Department of City Planning: he will be talking about Flood Resiliency Planning and the Flood Resiliency Zoning Text Amendment (initially adopted in 2013 following Hurricane Sandy). City Planning will be adopting a revised text amendment in 2018, and is looking for input from the...
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Lottery for Affordable Apartments Near the Astoria Waterfront
A new building at 26-27 2nd Street, between 26th and 27th Avenues on the Hallets Point Peninsula has 6 units set aside as part of the city’s 421-A program. Four one-bedroom units will rent for $899 a month and two two-bedroom units will rent for $1,001 a month. The...
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Halletts Point Traffic Circulation Changes
At the May OANA meeting, Keith Dumanski from the Durst Organization gave us a valuable update on the traffic circulation changes that will be happening as Phase 2 of the Halletts Point Development project gets under way. The traffic changes will be as follows: (Letters correspond with letters on...
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2017 Independence Celebration in Astoria Park
Once again Central Astoria LDC brings us the amazing Independence Celebration in Astoria Park! On Thursday June 29 at 7.30 pm, join friends and neighbors for a performance by the Queens Symphony Orchestra on the Great Lawn in Astoria Park, followed by the spectacular Grucci Fireworks. Hope to see...
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LIC Arts Stroll on June 17th
The Long Island City Cultural Alliance (LICCA) is hosting an Arts Stroll on Saturday, June 17th. The stroll features guided tours of Socrates Sculpture Park, including the special exhibition Nari Ward: G.O.A.T., again; and a history tour of The Noguchi Museum. The program begins at Socrates Sculpture Park at...
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Mount Sinai Queens Blood Drive
On Thursday June 27 from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm, you can help to save a life by donating blood. New York Blood Center vans will be across the street from Mount Sinai Queens all day. Remember to eat and drink plenty of fluids before you donate. 25-10 30th...
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Astoria Greenmarket Will Not Return This Summer
Sadly, the GrowNYC farmers’ market will not return to Socrates Sculpture Park this summer. DNAInfo is reporting that the closure is due to lack of sales. It would seem to the casual observer that the park is busy every Saturday during the summer months, but GrowNYC says that on...
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Kaufman Arts Festival
On June 24th and 25th, the Kaufman Arts District will host the first Backlot Arts Festival and the Astoria Post reports that there will be film screenings, art exhibits, workshops, performance art, music, and more. Expect to see book crafting at The Astoria Book Shop; a pop-up gallery at...
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June at the Noguchi Museum
The Bang on a Can Music Series returns to the Noguchi Museum on Sunday, June 11, from 3 pm – 4 pm with Innov Gnawa. Innov Gnawa is a young musical collective dedicated to exploring Morocco’s gnawa music tradition in the heart of New York City. Weather permitting, the...
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Cashless Tolling Only at the Triborough/RFK Bridge
As of June 15 2017, currency will no longer be accepted at the Triborough/RFK Bridge as cashless tolling begins. Governor Cuomo’s office is encouraging commuters to get E-ZPass and save on tolls. According to the Governor’s office, cashless tolling will reduce congestion and improve travel time for motorists, and...
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Waterfront Bike Parade Returns
The popular LIC Bike Parade returns on Saturday June 10! The fun begins at Socrates Sculpture Park at 11 am, with bike decorating workshops and parade float-making, giveaways and bike repairs. The parade will leave the main gate of Socrates at 2 pm, proceeding southbound along Vernon Boulevard, ending...
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Official Opening of Nari Ward G.O.A.T., again
On Saturday June 3 from 3 to 7 pm, celebrate Socrates Sculpture Park’s first exhibition devoted to a solo artist, Nari Ward G.O.A.T., again, at the official opening.. There will be a tour of the artworks with the Director of Exhibitions, music and spoken-word performances and a workshop presented...
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Central Astoria LDC’s Astoria Park Carnival
From June 7 to June 11, it’s the return of the highly popular Astoria Park Carnival, brought to the community by Central Astoria LDC. There will be games, rides, food vendors and fun for kids of all ages! The hours are: Wednesday and Thursday June 7 and 8 from...
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Jazz Series at Socrates Sculpture Park
Last year’s popular First Thursdays jazz series returns to Socrates Sculpture Park. From 6.30 to 8 pm on the first Thursday of each month this summer, relax after work to the mellow sounds of jazz in the park at the summer events stage near the East River. This series...
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La La Land in Astoria Park
On Friday June 9 from 8 to 10.30 pm, join the Astoria Park Alliance for APA Presents Movies Under the Stars: La La Land. Thanks to the generous partnership of Benedict Realty Group, there will be free popcorn for all attendees and a blanket giveaway for the first 50....
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International Cultural Fest: A Stunning Success
Central Astoria Local Development Coalition’s International Cultural Fest on April 23rd St was a big hit with the crowds who flocked to Steinway Street to join in the community celebration that presented the cultures of many nations. Amazing performances by the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY, Ballet Los...
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Share your ideas for Charybdis Playground
Astoria Park was one of 5 parks chosen to receive $30 million for major improvements through New York City’s Anchor Parks program. The park’s track and field area is currently in the design stage, and the next step is community feedback for the Charybdis Playground area. Please join NYC...
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“Wildfest” at Socrates Sculpture Park
Born to be wild? Then head on over to Socrates Sculpture Park on Saturday May 20 from 12 noon to 3 pm, for “Wildfest,” a new mini-festival that focuses on earth-based art and activities. There will be a Native American cultural presentation from the First Nations People of the...
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Clean-up on Astoria Cove site
If the faces in the picture of a clean-up at Astoria Cove/9th Street are familiar they should be: NYPD 114th Precinct Sector David Neighborhood Coordinating Officers Joseph Esposito and Keith Matthes are working with the community to clean up a site whose condition has been a cause of local...
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“Trivia for a Cause” to Benefit APA
Do you always seem to know the answers on Jeopardy even when the contestants don’t? If you love quizzes, on May 21 at 7 pm, head over to QED, 27-16 23rd Avenue, for Trivia with a Cause with Trivia NYC. The event will benefit Astoria Park Alliance. There will...
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“Astoria Provisions” to Replace Astor Bake Shop
A new restaurant is rising on the site of the former Astor Bake Shop, which closed in January. According to the Astoria Post, the new project will be a combination coffee shop/bakery/restaurant/gourmet grocery. John Parlatore, who also owns Gastroteca at 33-02 34th Avenue, plans to open sometime in the...
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Ahoy! NYC Ferry Service Launches
The merry month of May brought some extra joy to residents of the Rockaways as the new NYC Ferry service began connecting them to other boroughs. Astoria will welcome the new ferry service in August, and the new boats look amazing, with comfortable seating, wi-fi and a snazzy snack...
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N Train Service Weekend Repairs This Summer
IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION news for Astoria residents: “N” subway service will be suspended for several weekends this summer for much needed repairs. DNAInfo’s Jeanmarie Evelly reports that on the weekends of May 20-22, Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30), June 3-5, August 12-14, August 19-21, August 26-28, Labor Day Weekend (September...
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“Old Astoria” Activist Honored by Local Lawmakers
President of the Astoria Houses Residents’ Association and OANA supporter Claudia Coger was among three Astoria women recently honored by local lawmakers. The other honorees were Ann Bruno, Community Board 1 member and President of the 114th Precinct Community Council and Mackenzie Farquer, proprietor of Lockwood Shops and Managing...
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Welling Court Mural Project 2017
The date has been announced for this year’s Welling Court Mural Project: it will be on Saturday June 10. Every year since 2010, artists have created site-specific works on the walls, gates and garage doors of the streets around Welling Court. Watch the artists at work on the day—many...
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Participatory Budgeting
A record number of District 22 residents—over 3,600–voted in the Participatory Budgeting process this year. Local residents were able to select projects that would benefit from $1 million in the budget of our City Council Member, Costa Constantinides. DNAInfo reports that the most voted-for project was a program to...
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New Building at 26-19 2nd Street
According to YIMBY, an application has been filed for a six-story building at 26-19 2nd Street in Astoria. Despite its proximity to the Halletts Point development, this is a separate project, on a lot that is currently empty. 26-19 2nd Street – Photo credit Richard Khuzami
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Astoria Park Alliance Spring Social
Our friends at the Astoria Park Alliance are hosting a Spring Social and Fundraiser on Monday May 8 at 6pm. The venue is Vintage, at 23-14 Ditmars Boulevard, and the event will feature a silent and live auction with some great prizes. Proceeds will help Astoria Park Alliance to...
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Sanitation Garage in Ravenswood to be Replaced
At a lively Town Hall Meeting in LIC on April 27, Mayor de Blasio announced that the DSNY garage at 34-28 21st St, which has been a source of complaints from local residents, will be relocated. $130 million has been allocated in the Mayor’s executive budget to pay for...
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Big News from Durst on Hallets Point Development
The Durst Organization has a couple of important announcements about the Hallets Point Development! First Durst has awarded the operation of the Supermarket in Building one (Already under Construction) to Brooklyn Harvest market. They currently operate in Brooklyn. Services include: Full Service Deli Meat Department Fresh Produce Department Dairy...
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NYC Property Tax Assessments Favor Wealthy Neighborhoods
Lawsuit Alleges that NYC Property Tax Assessments Favor Wealthy Neighborhoods OANA supports equitable property taxes. Our Board members Diane Kontzoglou and Kevin Hernandez were thanked by Tax Equity Now NY for their “civic efforts in propelling this story.” How does New York City decide how much property tax you...
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114th Precinct NCO Safety Summit
On May 25th at 7 pm, 114th Precinct Sector David invites you to join your Neighborhood Coordination Officers at a Safety Summit where you can discuss concerns you may have and contribute ideas on keeping your community safe. Sector David runs from Astoria Park South to Queens Plaza North...
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An “Astoria Character” – Dominque Perrot
In case you missed it, Nancy Ruhling, who contributes the popular “Astoria Characters’ series to the Huffington Post, featured OANA’s own Dominique Perrot, a strong supporter of OANA, back in February. In this profile, Dominique discusses growing up in Astoria, the influence of the library on 14th Street where...
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A Chance to Learn More About Ferries
With the new ferry service from Astoria due to start in August, now is the perfect time to learn more about ferries! The Worldwide Ferry Safety Association will hold a Ferry Safety and Technology conference, MarineLink reports, on May 11 and 12 in downtown Manhattan. You can find out...
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“Forgotten NY” Tour of Old Astoria Village
On Saturday June 17, join legendary tour company Forgotten NY for a tour of old Astoria Village. Hear about the founding of the village by Stephen Halsey as you walk along a route that dates back to the Revolutionary War. Meet at noon at “Astoria’s Flatiron Building,” the former...
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The Evolution Of Bollywood
On Saturday May 6, the Queens Library’s Astoria branch will host the Payalia Dance Company as they present a performance of Bollywood dance, discuss various styles of dance, and invite the audience to join in and learn some of the steps. The event is from 3 to 4 pm...
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New Hotel in Ravenswood
A new hotel is coming to Ravenswood, on a lot at 37-10 24th Street that is currently cleared and awaiting construction. According to documents filed with the Department of Buildings, the new hotel, at 13 stories, would be the tallest edifice in the immediate neighborhood apart from the Ravenswood...
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Local Theater Group’s New Production Likely to be a Hit
The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is rehearsing for their new production, a revival of Raisin, directed by Dev Bondarin. “Raisin” is a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as...
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People’s Climate Rally
On Friday April 28 at 6.30 pm there will be a People’s Climate Rally on the Great Lawn in Astoria Park. Hosted by District 22 Council Member Costa Constantinides and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, Astoria Park Alliance, Senator Michael Gianaris, and the National Resources Defense Council, this event...
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Queensboro Bridge Gets Funds For Repairs
New York City has allocated an rehabilitation of the East River bridges through the end of 2019, bringing the total funding for the project to $936 million. The Queensboro Bridge will get $110 million of the additional funds, making the total funding for the repair work on the bridge...
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Celebrate Earth Day With The Astoria Park Alliance
Join the Astoria Park Alliance on Saturday April 22 for an Earth Day Celebration on Shore Blvd! The day will feature volunteer opportunities and fun and educational programming. The timetable for the day: 9:00 – 1:00 Volunteer Planting, Raking & Gardening 1:00 – 2:30 Shoreline Cleanup: meet at the...
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Hell Gate Bridge Meeting
The next meeting of the Hell Gate Centenary Celebration Group at Riccardos on Thursday April 27th at 6:30 PM. Get updates on the plans for celebrating the Hell Gate’s 100th birthday, as well as the mural created by artists (in conjunction with the New York Anti-Crime Agency) on the...
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LINK NYC Kiosks Seen in Astoria
Some of our sharp-eyed neighbors have spotted new LINK NYC kiosks in our neighborhood. According to amNY, 150 new kiosks have recently installed, mainly in Queens and Brooklyn, and they will be activated soon. The LINK NYC stations offer free phone service, WiFi, and cellphone charging ports and have...
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“Affordable New York” Program Approved
A replacement for New York City’s 421-a program, which gave tax abatement’s to developers who included affordable housing units, has finally been approved by Albany. According to the Queens Chronicle, in Queens Community Boards 1 and 2, the new “Affordable New York” program will apply to developments with 300...
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Demoliton And Closures On 1st Street
Good news on the Halletts Point development: now that an Affordable Housing plan (replacing the old 421-a program) deal has been reached in Albany, Phase 2 of the building is moving ahead. The Durst Organization has informed OANA that several buildings on 1st Street will be demolished and the...
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Healthy Eating Habits Workshop At Mount Sinai Queens
Are you living on TV dinners and Twinkies? Would you like to improve your diet and help protect yourself against Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer? Mount Sinai Queens has you covered with a workshop, Easy Ways to Make Healthy Eating Habits a Habit on...
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“Textured Sights” Event at QCA
On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm, LAB at QCA presents “Textured Sights,” paintings by Shenna Vaughn. During the event, a series of works of art in progress will be shared that consists of paintings depicting social and cultural differences rather than biological with regards to...
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New Location for Ride-Sharing Pick-Ups at LaGuardia
If you ever use ride-sharing app-based services like Lyft, Uber or Gett to pick you up at LaGuardia Airport, you should be aware that it just got a little more complicated. According to the Queens Courier, the Port Authority has announced that there will be a new location for...
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Socrates Sculpture Park Plans for the Summer, and the Future
At our March OANA meeting, we had an exciting presentation from John Hatfield, the Executive Director of Socrates Sculpture Park. Open to the public all year around, this Astoria gem that provides the neighborhood with amazing art as well as community events, free cultural programming and children’s educational workshops,...
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Deal Reached in Albany to renew the 421 a tax abatement
Following are the details in The Real Deal: this could finally allow our major developments such as Hallets Point to proceed. https://therealdeal.com/2017/04/05/lawmakers-reach-deal-over-421a-by-linking-it-to-rent-regulation/. However, the language of the measure has not been created, and it has not been voted on by the Legislature. And, as far as we know at...
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Comment on the Proposed CitiBike Stations in Astoria
Citibike and NYC DOT have announced their initial selections for the placement of 59 Bike Docking Stations in Astoria/LIC north of Queensboro Plaza. They are initiating the process of receiving feedback from the community on these locations, and they welcome ideas on how they may be improved. This process...
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April Programs at the Noguchi Museum
On Wednesday April 5, join the Noguchi Museum for the Poems About Sculpture program, from 7 to 8 pm followed by a reception, with former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, sculptor Murray Dewart who edited the Poems About Sculpture anthology, poet Rachel Hadas, and the Executive Director of the...
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Astoria Cove Site on the Market
According to Crains New York, a partnership headed by Alma has put Astoria Cove, an extensive development project on the East River, up for sale. New York City allowed zoning that would permit the construction of up to 1.7 million square feet of housing on the site, in return...
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Phase 1 of the Astoria Park Renovation will begin in 2018
The New York City Parks Department has given Community Board 1 details on the first phase of the renovation of Astoria Park thanks to the $30 million “Anchor Park funding from the City. The proposal includes a reconstructions of the running track, at the center of which will be...
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Whitey Ford Field, A Great American Diamond
There is a gem on Hallets Peninsula on the waterfront in Astoria. Next to the Durst Organization’s new Hallets Point development is a Great American Diamond, with a view of the Hell Gate: Whitey Ford Field. Named after Astoria Houses Native and Yankees star Whitey Ford, this baseball field...
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DOT: 27th Ave Speed Hump
We are pleased to announce that the NYC Department of Transportation, Queens Borough Commissioner has informed us that they’ve approved installation of a speed hump on 27th Avenue between 8th and 21st Streets. You can read the letter the from Department of Transportation here.
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DOT: 18th Street Speed Hump
We are pleased to announce that the NYC Department of Transportation, Queens Borough Commissioner has informed us that they’ve approved installation of a speed hump on 18th Street between Hoyt Avenue and Astoria Boulevard. You can read the letter from the Department of Transportation here.
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Installing Angle Parking In The Astoria Neighborhood
As per OANA’s request, the Transportation Division of DCP looked into the feasibility of installing angle parking in the Astoria neighborhood. Our analysis focused on the six streets that are identified as potential sites by OANA. We assessed if those streets are good candidates for angle parking implementation and...
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NYC To invest $150 Million in 5 City Parks
Five New York City Parks are about to get upgrades that include new running tracks, hiking trails, baseball and soccer fields. Mayor Bill de Blasio recently unveiled plans to invest $150 million in 5 NYC parks and among those parks slated for improvements is Astoria Park in Queens.
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Cuomo 421a Property Tax Break Proposal
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to revive a property tax break may be essential to building new rental apartments in New York City, but it appears to be something identical to a City Hall plan from 2015 that he has called “unacceptable.” Read more.
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NYC SAFE Disposal Event
Time to get rid of those old car batteries, solvents, out-of-date medication and other items that it’s not safe to dispose of in the household trash. The New York City Department of Sanitation is holding a SAFE Disposal event in the parking lot of Astoria Park: Hoyt Avenue and...
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Aki Development Brings Luxury To Queens
Aki Todic and Brett Harris of Aki Development are both essential members of OANA, and have an impressive history of giving back to the community. Aki Todic has said that “Astoria, Queens, the best neighborhood on the East River”. Read more about Aki Development and how they are...
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Block Party for Earth Event
Big Reuse is throwing a block party in celebration of the planet we call home… Earth! Saturday, September 24 at 12 PM – 4 PM Astoria NY 11102 Between 3rd & 4th Streets Learn more at http://www.bigreuse.org/compost Come to their FREE family friendly event to learn and share in...
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US Open Tennis Community Day – Complimentary Grounds Pass
On Thursday, September 8th from 12pm to 6pm, the community is invited to the National Tennis Center for free to see men’s & women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the junior competitions that will be taking place on that day. Don’t miss your chance to see some of the up...
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Queens Library job hunting program
Are you job hunting this summer, or looking to add skills to your resume that might help you with a job search? The Astoria Branch of the Queens Library has you covered with workshops this summer that will help you on your hunt for employment. Preregistration is usually required...
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BQX Connector Project Gets a Streetcar Czar
On July 15 2016, City Hall announced that Adam Giambrone had been appointed to lead Mayor de Blasio’s BQX Connector project. Giambrone spent years working on developing Transit City, a system of suburban streetcars, only to have the project canceled by Mayor Rob Ford shortly after taking office in...
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Astoria Cove Development on Hold Waiting for Tax Abatement Renewal
Another large housing development on hold because of the expiry of 421-a is the Astoria Cove project, which would bring approximately 1,700 apartments, 27% of them affordable housing, to the Hallets peninsula. John Mavroudis, of 2030 Astoria Developers told DNAInfo without the 421-a tax break, the project can’t move...
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Coffeed Comes to Astoria
A new coffee shop is coming to Astoria: the planned location is 26-08 Hoyt Avenue South, between Crescent St and 27th St. But not just any coffee shop: this is a new branch of COFFEED, a company that gives a portion of its profits to local non-profits. A percentage...
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Independence Day Celebration in Astoria Park
The Central Astoria Development Association continued to delight the residents of Astoria with the annual Independence Day fireworks and concert in Astoria Park. Chairs and blankets covered the Great Lawn as neighbors listened to the patriotic music of the Queens Symphony Orchestra and watched the spectacular Gucci fireworks light...
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2017 Queens Art Funding
Applications opened on July 1 for the 2017 Queens Arts Fund (QAF) funding cycle. Queens Council on the arts invites Queens-based individual artists and nonprofit organizations who produce cultural programming in all arts discipline and who meet the eligibility requirements to apply to the 2017 QAF grant program. All...
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New Department of Sanitation Location
The New York City Department of Sanitation is looking for a new location for the Queens West One (QW1) Sanitation garage. DOD officials said that the present garage at 34-28 21st Street, which has housed QW1 for some 80 years, is in such bad condition that it is in...
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East River Bridge Tolls Proposals
Attention drivers! Legislation was introduced in the State Senate in June by State Senator Andrew Lanza of Staten Island that proposes a $5 toll (provided drivers have EZPass) on the Queensboro Bridge. Lanza’s plan would also involve reducing charges on other bridges that are currently tolled, such as the...
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Funding For Charybdis Playground
Astoria Park’s popular Charybdis Playground, which has not been renovated in many years, is to receive $1 million for improvements. Council Member Costa Constanides, when announcing that he had allocated these funds in the budget, said that the extra funds would go to expanding the play area, new play...
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Halletts Point Development Stalled by Albany Stand-Off
Although the construction of Building 1 in the Halletts Point housing development is going ahead, the rest of the project is on hold due to the expiration of the program known as 421-a. Launched during New York City’s fiscal crisis of the 1970s, 421-a encouraged the building of residential...
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Art in Astoria: Summer 2016 Movies, Concerts, and More
2016 Roundup of Summer Arts and Culture in Astoria This summer, Astoria residents and visitors to the neighborhood can enjoy outdoor movies, concerts, art exhibits, and performances almost every day of the week. Mondays: Bring a blanket and a picnic to Astoria Park’s great lawn for family-friendly flicks like...
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Brooklyn Queens Connector Meeting in Astoria
On June 14, the first Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX) community meeting was held at the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Astoria. Residents had many questions about Mayor de Blasio’s street-car proposal, including what would be the best street for such a venture, how much the project would cost, and...
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Welling Court Mural Project
On June 11 the artists who participated in the Welling Court Mural Project chatted to local residents and discussed their art during a day-long event as 2016’s murals officially replaced last year’s. 140 colorful murals now decorate the walls and fences around Welling Court. Garrison Buxton was a guest...
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Western Queens Waterfront Symposium
OANA chair Richard Khuzami took part in a valuable symposium on May 21st about the future of the Western Queens waterfront, an event co-sponsored by the Waterfront Alliance, the Greater Astoria Historical Society, and Green Shores NYC. The panelists also included representatives from Newtown Creek Alliance, Hunters Point Parks...
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Voice Your Opinion On The Brooklyn-Queens Connector
The BQX Connector, a proposed streetcar line between Astoria and Sunset Park, is moving closer to becoming a reality. A newly released City report says that the 17-mile Brooklyn-Queens trolley is a feasible plan. The study finds that existing bridges could be modified to accommodate the streetcars and that...
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Plan The Hell Gate Bridge’s Centennial
How would you throw a party for a bridge? Astoria residents are invited to share their ideas at a planning meeting for a celebration of the Hell Gate Bridge’s 100th Birthday. Here’s an email with more details that landed in our inbox this morning: The Hell Gate Bridge is...
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Astoria’s Parks Need More Officers
When the City recently announced funding for 67 additional Parks Enforcement Personnel (PEP Officers), Queens residents and elected officials cried foul over the fact that only 8 of those PEP officers were being assigned to Parks in Queens. PEP Officers, while not part of the NYPD, have the authority...
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TACKLING 21ST STREET TRAFFIC
The Old Astoria Neighborhood Association has been calling for a comprehensive traffic study in our area since August of 2015. After a recent tragic hit-and-run fatality on 21st Street and 30th road, traffic safety in Astoria is getting more attention. Yesterday, Community Board 1 adopted a resolution (pictured) calling...
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PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING BRINGING IMPROVEMENTS TO ASTORIA PARK
Improvements are coming to Astoria Park as a result of Councilman Costa Constantinides’s 2016 Participatory Budgeting Process. Participatory Budgeting, introduced in 2015 by the New York City council, has been called “grassroots democracy at its best.” It lets local residents decide how their tax dollars are spent, by proposing...
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RESIDENTS DISCUSS IDEAS FOR ASTORIA HEALTH PLAYGROUND
Astoria residents and members and officers of the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association gathered last week to share their ideas for renovating the Astoria Health Playground, on 14th Street and 31st Drive. The workshop, sponsored by the NYC Parks Department was part of the City’s Community Parks Initiative, which has...
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NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FOR WELLING COURT
A new luxury apartment building is coming to Astoria’s Welling Court. The 7-story project, at 11-07 Welling Court, will feature apartments with glass balconies and stunning views of the East River. The site will be just steps away from the new Astoria ferry landing and is surrounded by the...
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AMC SERIES FILMING IN OLD ASTORIA
Local photographer Scott Young captured some shots of a television shoot in Old Astoria yesterday. Filming is underway on 18th Street for Feed the Beast, a new series premiering next month on AMC. The show is about two longtime friends who decide to open an upscale Greek restaurant in...
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Astoria Grapples with Traffic Safety
Traffic safety has been a longtime concern for Astoria Residents. In August 2015, the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association passed the following resolution in reference to traffic flow and pedestrian/bicycle safety on roads surrounding Astoria Park.
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OANA investigates parking options
At our March meeting, OANA President Richard Khuzami asked the group to look into the feasibility of residential parking permits for our neighborhood. Other cities in the U.S. and around the world have successfully used residential parking permits and Khuzami believes now is a good time to look into...
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Astoria Ferry Service Launching June 2017
The City announced today that new Citywide Ferry Service will begin in June 2017. For the price of just one subway ride, riders can travel from Astoria to East 34th street in approximately 22 minutes and from Astoria to Wall Street in about 40 minutes. The boats will carry
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RUMORS AND OPINIONS ABOUT NEW FERRY SERVICE
There’s no official word yet from the City, but rumors are swirling that the Economic Development Corporation has picked an operator for the new East River Ferry. Crain’s New York was the first to break the news that Hornblower Cruises will get the contract to run the new ferries...
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HELLGATE BRIDGE TURNING 100
This year marks the one hundredth birthday of one of Astoria’s most photographed structure: the Hell Gate Bridge. It was built to connect rail lines in New York with New England and later served as the model for Australia’s famous Sydney Harbor Bridge. To mark the anniversary, several local...
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NEW IDEAS FOR RIKERS ISLAND
As the campaign to close the correctional facility on Rikers Island picks up steam, some people are turning their attention to future possibilities for the island. Rikers features 413 acres of waterfront land. Because the only way to access the island is over the bridge from Queens, any development...
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STREETCAR FROM ASTORIA TO BROOKLYN PROPOSED
Have you heard about the BQX Connector? It’s a proposed streetcar line running from along the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront from Astoria to Sunset Park. When Mayor DiBlasio announced the project a few weeks ago he said that a ride from Astoria to Williamsburg would take about 27 minutes and cost...
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NEW APARTMENT BUILDING PLANNED NEAR ASTORIA HOUSES
Details are scarce, but the Astoria Post reports that another new building is on its way to the Astoria Waterfront. Plans for the site, near Hallet’s Cove and Astoria Houses, call for a seven story building with sixty five residential units. It will also have ground floor retail space,...
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Hallets Point Project Breaks Ground, But Future Is In Doubt
Mayor Bill diBlasio, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and other officials were on hand for the groundbreaking of the Halletts Point mega development on the Astoria Peninsula. Plans for Halletts Point call for seven buildings (which will include 483 affordable apartments), a supermarket and other retail, space for a new public...
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FEBRUARY OANA MEETING: UPDATES ON ASTORIA PARK
Councilman Costa Constantinides stopped by last night’s meeting of the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association with some updates on what’s happening in Astoria Park. First, some bad news: the transformation of Astoria Pool’s old diving pool into a new performance space will take longer than initially expected. It turns out...
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OANA RESOLUTION ON SAFETY & SECURITY
On October 13th, the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association Adopted the following resolution on safety and security in Hallets Point.” October 13, 2015 Resolution: Historically Hallets Peninsula has always had the most violent crime in the 114th Precinct. Just recently, there were shooting within the Astoria Houses, gunplay on 2nd...
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OANA HONORS CREATOR OF BUGSY’S DOG RUN
During its October meeting, the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association had the pleasure of honoring George “Tex” Cruikshank. In 1994 he created “Bugsy’s” dog run next to Astoria Park, and has maintained it since. Over the years, no one has been a more devoted advocate for the Dogs in our...
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Astoria Park Amphitheater
The long-awaited Astoria Park Amphitheater will include hundreds of seats, a new entrance and a tribute to the diving pool it is replacing, according to the Parks Department. The design plan was finalized in April.
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National Night Out Against Crime
National Night Out is an annual summer event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watches in which precincts organize anti-crime rallies with the participation of local business and civic organizations. National Night Out has proven to be an effective and enjoyable police/community partnership. It is held on the...
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Push For Astoria Safety After Death
After the tragic early-morning hit-and-run that left 21-year-old Astoria resident Betty Jean Dibiasio dead on Ditmars Boulevard and 19th Street on June 27, area leaders look to create permanent measures to stop the longtime issue of speeding in Western Astoria. Shortly after Dibiasio’s death, in which police said 24-year-old...
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