Queens Ledger - Brooklyn Star News

08/14/2025

Rosa’s Pizza, a beloved neighborhood institution located at 55-26 69th Street, officially reopened its doors on August 8 following a major renovation aimed at refreshing the space while preserving its longtime culinary traditions.

Angela Lobello, whose father Calogero T***a and uncles co-own the pizzeria, spoke about the remodel and what customers can expect from the updated establishment.

Angela explained the reasoning behind the renovation: “My dad and my uncles are workers, and they don’t care too much about the aesthetics and the place itself. They care more about the product. So it’s been a while that they haven’t renovated, and we finally thought, 50 years was a good time to do that and freshen up the place.”

The remodel expands seating and creates a more open, modern vibe while retaining the pizzeria’s classic, old-school charm. “I think it has more seating and more of just like an open feel, a more modern vibe, but keeping in with, like the old school, like aesthetic of the place, and just freshen up and make it look new,” Angela said.

Despite the facelift, she emphasized that the food remains unchanged: “The flavors, the recipes, the pizza is all the same, the working ethic, the love behind the recipes, is all the same. People should come check it out at some point. I think if they haven’t already checked it out, they should come check it out, for sure. And if they’re long time customers, I think they should just keep coming, because it’s going to keep being the same as they know and love.”

Read more at QueensLedger.com

08/14/2025

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined Council Member Vickie Paladino, State Senator John Liu, and community advocates in Bay Terrace on Friday, August 8, to demand the installation of flood warning signage and enhanced storm mitigation measures after heavy flooding submerged parts of the Cross Island Parkway at the end of July.

The gathering took place near 208th Place and the Cross Island Parkway, the site where several cars were trapped underwater during the intense flash flood on July 31. Officials called on the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to promptly place signage alerting drivers to the flood risk during severe weather conditions.

The flooding occurred after a cloudburst dumped over six inches of rain in less than an hour, overwhelming the drainage system. In addition to vehicles stranded in the floodwaters, dozens of nearby businesses reported up to a foot of water flooding their basements.

Borough President Richards emphasized the need for both immediate and long-term solutions. While acknowledging that large-scale flood infrastructure would take time to implement, he said the installation of warning signs are of upmost importance and DOT should act on without delay.

He advocated for a “holistic” flood mitigation strategy, including street signage and measures designed to absorb and reduce excess water.

Read more at QueensLedger.com

08/14/2025

A Queens man visiting Puerto Rico to attend a Bad Bunny concert was fatally shot early Sunday at a nightclub in San Juan’s La Perla neighborhood, authorities said.

Kevin Mares, 25, of East Elmhurst, was an innocent bystander when a fight broke out between two men at Refugio de Hombres Maltratados just before 4:15 a.m., police said. One of the men pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking Mares in the left side of his abdomen, according to local Puerto Rican authorities.

Mares was rushed to Puerto Rico’s largest public hospital, where he died. Two other men from the area were also shot and remained hospitalized, Ruiz said. The suspected shooter has not been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

Mares had traveled to Puerto Rico with his girlfriend, her brother and a friend for the trip. His girlfriend stayed at the hotel that night, while Mares went out with the others, his parents said. They had warned him about venturing out late.

A veterinary technician on Long Island, Mares was studying to become a veterinarian. He was a devoted fan of Bad Bunny and had already seen the Puerto Rican superstar perform multiple times. His family said he had been preparing to propose to his girlfriend of six years this fall.

“Kevin had a bright future ahead, with plans to propose … and he was always creating memories with those closest to him,” his family said in a statement. “Family was at the center of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives.”

Mares’ relatives are raising money to bring his body back to New York for a funeral. They said the process will cost about $23,000. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help cover transportation and funeral expenses at Frederick Funeral Home in Queens.

Read more QueensLedger.com

08/14/2025

A recent cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Central Harlem has raised alarm in New York City as the Department of Health reports 81 infections, including 24 hospitalizations and three deaths, over the past two weeks. The outbreak has prompted plans to increase enforcement, penalties, and reporting requirements for building water systems suspected to be sources of infection.

Dr. Andrew Fleming, chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at a local hospital, spoke extensively about the disease, emphasizing the need for awareness and preventive measures amid the ongoing outbreak.

“As an infectious disease doctor, I see all sorts of patients with a variety of infections, including Legionnaires’ disease,” said Fleming. “It’s a subspecialty, I completed my training about three or four years ago, and I’ve been the hospital epidemiologist here for the last year and a half or so, and that involves investigating, outbreaks and performing preventive measures to reduce infections in the hospital.”

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella, which naturally inhabits water sources including rivers, lakes, and coastal seawater. The bacteria also thrive in man-made water systems. “We all are exposed to Legionella bacteria in small amounts all the time,” Fleming explained. However, only certain species typically cause human infection.

“The disease usually occurs when the Legionella bacteria in a water source become aerosolized — turned into a v***r — that people inadvertently breathe in,” he said. This aerosolization can happen through cooling towers, air conditioning systems, and water fountains.

Legionella bacteria can cause two types of illness: the more serious Legionnaires’ disease, which results in pneumonia, and a milder, self-limiting flu-like illness called Pontiac fever.

Read more at QueensLedger.com

08/07/2025

Ben Guttmann has been named the new Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC), marking a generational leadership change at one of the borough’s most vital economic organizations. Guttmann succeeds longtime director Seth Bornstein, who stepped down after over four decades with QEDC, including 16 years as executive director.

“The world would be better off if it were more like Queens,” Guttmann declared in a message announcing his appointment. “Queens is the truest version of the American Dream. This is where you can be from anywhere and become anything.”

A Queens native who grew up in Long Island, Guttmann returns to lead an organization he’s long been connected to—first as a supporter, then as a board member, and now as its executive director.

“When I had my agency, we, years ago, we did some pro bono work with QEDC,” he said. “I’ve known Seth and the team for a long time. I’ve actually been a board member for about seven years.”

Guttmann co-founded the marketing agency Digital Natives Group, which he ran for a decade before selling it several years ago. “We had some really great clients, from the NFL to I Love New York to Grand Central,” he said. “It was a really fun journey.”

He has since worked as a consultant, written a book, and returned to his alma mater, Baruch College, as a marketing professor. That marketing expertise, Guttmann said, is already shaping his vision at QEDC.

“Part of my background is in marketing, right? So I ran a marketing agency for over a decade, and I teach marketing at Baruch,” he said. “I thought it was really important to help tell our story with a little bit more clarity.”

The story he wants to tell is one of a thriving, pluralistic borough. “Our mission is to make Queens thrive,” Guttmann wrote in his announcement. “But our real goal is to be the unfair advantage for why Queens thrives.”

Read more at QueensLedger.com

08/07/2025

As federal lawmakers and local communities react to the sweeping Medicaid cuts signed into law through President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Queens Congresswoman Grace Meng has emerged as one of the loudest voices warning of the potential fallout. Speaking from her district — one of the most diverse and densely populated in the country — Meng painted a sobering picture of what’s at stake: deep reductions to Medicaid that could destabilize hospitals, shutter nursing homes, and force working families into financial crisis just to access basic care.

While the White House touts the bill’s tax breaks, Meng and her colleagues say the real story is about what’s being taken away — from seniors, low-income residents, and even middle-class families who rely on Medicaid-supported services to survive. Across Queens and the city at large, the concern is growing: this isn’t just a policy shift — it’s a direct threat to healthcare as millions of New Yorkers know it.

“A lot of these cuts are going towards Medicaid,” said Meng, who has represented parts of Queens in Congress since 2013. “I think people have misconceptions about Medicaid. They think it’s just like, you know, the federal government giving people a check, but it’s actually money that’s going to our hospitals. It’s money that goes to our community health centers, and everyone benefits from better health care.”

Read more at QueensLedger.com

08/07/2025

Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation has acquired The Shops at Atlas Park, an open-air shopping center in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, New York, as part of a larger $750 million strategy to invest in and revitalize top-tier retail properties across the United States.

The private real estate firm, led by developer Ben Ashkenazy, purchased the 374,000-square-foot lifestyle center from California-based Macerich Co. and a partner. While the sale price was not disclosed, analysts at Evercore ISI previously estimated the property would sell for about $70 million. Macerich originally acquired the property in a foreclosure sale for $54 million in 2011.

Situated on 12 acres at the intersection of Cooper Avenue and 80th Street, The Shops at Atlas Park offers more than 1,400 parking spaces and is easily accessible from nearby thoroughfares including Woodhaven Boulevard, Metropolitan Avenue, and the Jackie Robinson Parkway. It is also served by public transit, making it a convenient destination for local shoppers.

The center is currently 97% leased and features a mix of national and regional tenants including TJMaxx, Foot Locker, HomeGoods, Regal Cinemas, New York Sports Club, and Corndogs by Mr. Cow. Its tenant mix and high occupancy make it one of the few open-air lifestyle centers in the borough, offering a distinct alternative to enclosed malls.

The acquisition was financed by ACORE Capital, which was selected after more than 15 lenders submitted competitive bids for the deal. The strong interest in financing underscores continued investor appetite for well-located retail assets with stable cash flow.

Read more at QueensLedger.com

07/31/2025

What was once a neglected, graffiti-covered underpass beneath the Long Island Rail Road in Elmhurst is undergoing a colorful transformation, led by over 20 local teens determined to breathe life and hope into their neighborhood.

As part of City Mission NYC’s “City Positive Youth” summer program, the young artists—many of whom attend nearby high schools like Newtown and Aviation—are reclaiming the bridge at Whitney Avenue and Broadway with a vibrant mural that spans both sides of the underpass. Designed by local muralist and Elmhurst native Helen Xue, the piece is a striking blend of emotional resilience and cultural celebration.

“This is what we do with the local kids,” said Lester Lin, founder of City Mission NYC. “These are all like local high school kids and together they work on mental resilience, along with how that impacts, like, community engagement. So if you’re having trauma at home, you’re probably not going to care about the neighborhood.”

One side of the mural focuses on emotional healing—filled with bold emojis, a journal and mirror, and symbols of self-reflection and personal growth. “There’s a wall that is all about emotional awareness, there’s like chains, there’s self reflection,” Lin explained. “And on this side, it’s all about how the neighborhood comes together through food.”

The other side, titled A Taste of Elmhurst, showcases a colorful spread of local dishes, celebrating the area’s renowned culinary diversity. “Every piece of food on that wall can be found along these streets,” said Xue, who designed the mural. “It’s a high traffic area where people can pass through, take a moment to pause in their day and have it brighten up.”

Read more at QueensLedger.com

07/31/2025

With the Manhattan skyline glowing across the river, the Queens Boro Dance Festival turned Gantry Plaza State Park into a lively celebration of culture, rhythm, and community on July 26.

Now in its 11th season, the annual summer festival tours outdoor spaces across Queens, spotlighting only Queens-based dance companies. Saturday’s performance brought together six of the 21 groups participating in this year’s borough-wide tour, each one representing a different cultural corner of Queens.

“We’re very proud to be a platform that really tries to represent a cross section of the world’s borough, because we all know that we are the biggest and the best borough,” a representative announced to the crowd as the show began. “We’re so proud to be able to connect with our communities throughout the borough through dance.”

The lineup opened with Las Machas, a high-energy Bolivian Caporales piece performed by San Simon Sucre New York, a nonprofit based in Forest Hills. Dancers in vibrant costumes stepped and spun to the rhythm of “Ciudad Blanca” in a performance honoring Bolivia’s Sucre region.

From Long Island City, Umami Playground Dance Inc. followed with ###XS, a playful piece exploring how tight clothing affects movement. Blending street styles like popping and breaking with contemporary technique, the ensemble brought humor and spontaneity to the waterfront stage.

Read more at QueensLedger.com

07/25/2025

Student organizers, transportation advocates, and local elected officials gathered on July 16 beneath the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) bridge at 63rd Drive and Austin Street in Rego Park to call on Mayor Eric Adams and city leaders to support the QueensLink project, a proposed subway expansion that would reactivate a long-abandoned rail line in Queens.

The event highlighted the delivery of a petition bearing nearly 1,500 student signatures to a representative from the Mayor’s office, urging the city to fund and prioritize reactivating the Rockaway Beach Branch rail corridor for transit use rather than converting it exclusively into parkland.

The rally coincided with the release of the student-led QueensLink Report, which lays out the urgent need for expanded transit options in Queens and outlines the potential benefits the project could bring to the borough.

Before the rally began, two supporters in the crowd joked with each other, “I’m a little late—I would’ve been here faster if only there was a train that would’ve gotten me here quicker,” a nod to the very project they were here to support.

The QueensLink proposal calls for converting the 3.5-mile stretch of the unused Rockaway Beach Branch, which has been dormant for over 60 years, into a modern subway corridor that would extend the M train south from Rego Park through underserved neighborhoods, eventually reaching the Rockaways.

Advocates say this would create a vital north-south connection, easing some of the longest and most burdensome commutes in New York City.

07/25/2025

New York City’s mayoral brawl has another boxer.

Joseph Hernandez, a hyper-educated scientist and prolific investor, is running for mayor as an independent on a centrist platform that includes hiring more police officers, raising salaries for teachers, and integrating artificial intelligence into the fabric of the city.

Though Hernandez’s campaign started only a month ago, it’s already gained a surprising amount of traction: his team aimed for 4,000 petitions and ended up with over 15,000, plus endorsements from industry associations for bodegas, small businesses, and supermarkets.

Hernandez, a late entrant to a field of buzzy names — Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams, Curtis Sliwa, and Zohran Mamdani — is still a long shot. But he likes it that way, at least for now: “I was born an underdog,” he told the Ledger.

In Hernandez’s case, that’s no hyperbole. Born in Camagüey, the third-largest city in Cuba, much of his family fled in 1959 when Fidel Castro came to power. Yet his dad, a businessman, stayed, a decision that proved fateful when he ran afoul of the regime and fell into an encephalitis-induced coma for six months while in prison.

The family joined a mass exodus to the U.S. in 1980, but had to start from scratch. His father recovered enough to wash dishes, while his mother cleaned homes. Only a few decades later, however, their son would be a successful biotech financier with five degrees — and in contention for NYC’s top job.

“[My parents] taught us to work hard, to have faith, to get educated, and to love our adopted country,” recalled Hernandez. “That, they said, would change the course of my life. And they were right.”

07/03/2025

If you’ve ever dreamed of belting out your favorite hits in front of a cheering crowd—or just a few supportive friends with cocktails in hand— Ocean Prime in Maspeth, Queens (the old Peggy Dempseys) has your Friday night plans covered.

Every Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Ocean Prime transforms from a sleek seafood hotspot into a late-night karaoke lounge where anyone with the guts (and a little liquid courage) can take the mic and let loose. Whether you’re a Beyoncé-in-the-shower type or a seasoned karaoke king, this weekly event welcomes all voices, vibes, and vibes-only performances.

Ocean Prime is located at 64-14 Flushing Ave in Maspeth, Queens!

If you’ve ever dreamed of belting out your favorite hits in front of a cheering crowd—or just a few supportive friends with cocktails in hand—Ocean Prime in Maspeth, Queens has your Friday night plans covered. Every Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Ocean Prime transforms from a sleek seafood hot...