Queens Ledger - Brooklyn Star News

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...

06/23/2025

ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP is coming to Forest Hills!

ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA), the largest ENT, Allergy, and Audiology practice in the U.S., is excited to announce the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art clinical location at 108-18 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills, Queens.

The ENT and Allergy Team is inviting local community members, dignitaries, and representatives from the Queens Chamber of Commerce to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 26th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at their new practice, located at 108-18 Queens Blvd, 6th Floor, Forest Hills, NY 11375.

ENTA has been a leading provider of specialized medical services for over 25 years, with more than 450 clinicians across 65 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The new facility in Forest Hills is part of the organization’s ongoing effort to offer the highest level of care in an environment that prioritizes patient comfort and convenience.

For those interested in attending or arranging an interview with Dr. Alleva or any of the Forest Hills physicians, contact Senior Marketing Manager, Steve Borzoni, at [email protected].

Views: 0ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA), the largest ENT, Allergy, and Audiology practice in the U.S., is excited to announce the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art clinical location in Forest Hills, New York. The...

05/15/2025

Zellnor Myrie still rides the subway—not as a campaign prop, but because it’s how he’s always gotten around. One recent evening, as he waited on a platform, a fellow rider recognized him. There were no cameras, no staffers, just a brief exchange and a quiet thank-you. “That’s the kind of interaction that keeps me grounded,” Myrie says. Now a State Senator and one of New York City’s leading mayoral candidates, Myrie is running on a promise to rebuild a city that feels increasingly out of reach for working families. His campaign is rooted in the everyday experiences of New Yorkers — shaped by the same commutes, rent hikes, and after-school pickups — and driven by bold, progressive solutions to make the city more affordable, more just, and more livable for all.

Born and raised in a rent-regulated apartment in Brooklyn to Costa Rican immigrant parents, Myrie is hoping to ride a wave of progressive momentum from Albany to City Hall. The 37-year-old state senator, a Fordham graduate and product of New York City’s public schools and after-school programs, says his lived experience gives him a clear-eyed perspective on the city’s most urgent crisis: affordability.

“I’m living the struggle,” Myrie told the Queens Ledger during a recent roundtable interview. “I have student loans like everyone else. I take the train. I know what it’s like to watch friends leave this city because they can’t afford to stay.”

05/15/2025

New York will become the largest state in the nation to impose sweeping, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphone use in K-12 schools under a new policy announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, marking a landmark move aimed at improving student mental health and reducing classroom distractions.

The statewide mandate, secured as part of the recently passed Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, requires all public, charter, and BOCES schools to restrict unsanctioned use of internet-enabled personal devices during the entire school day, including lunch and study hall periods. The policy goes into effect for the 2025-2026 academic year and is backed by a $13.5 million allocation to help schools implement storage solutions for student devices.

“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day.” Governor Hochul said. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.”

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04/22/2025

Developing financial literacy and empowerment from a young age sets the foundation for a lifetime of smart financial decisions.

That’s why Maspeth Federal Savings hosts a series of financial literacy seminars at local NYC and Long Island schools designed to educate youngsters in the community.

Their team shares insights about budgeting and credit with students from kindergarten to college. For younger kids, they bring a special guest - Sam The Savings Squirrel to interact with a fun story and remind them to save money.

For older students, they have interactive seminars about credit and debt, talking about budgeting, loans and the importance of setting financial goals.

The Maspeth Federal Savings Financial Literacy team has visited Queens College, Archbishop Molloy High School, Martin Luther School, St. Stan’s Academy of Maspeth, and many more notable educational institutions in Queens.

To request a free seminar at your Queens or Long Island school, contact [email protected].

04/10/2025

By the time you read this, June 14th will be just over two months away—which means Woodhaven’s 190th Anniversary Celebration and Parade at Victory Field is right around the corner!

You can register your group or organization to participate in the parade by emailing [email protected]. Groups from Woodhaven or neighboring communities around Forest Park are welcome to march around the track and celebrate both Woodhaven’s 190th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of Victory Field.

Back in the early 1920s, the large plot of land at Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue was described in the Leader-Observer as “a dump heap and an eyesore.” But in 1925, Queens Parks Commissioner Albert C. Benninger unveiled plans to transform the space into a state-of-the-art athletic facility, complete with a four-lane quarter-mile track, six baseball diamonds, basketball and handball courts—all for a cost of $100,000 (roughly $1.8 million today).

04/10/2025

Lowery bar hosted a watch party for the Men’s college basketball game between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars. Inside the Sunnyside bar at 43-02 42rd Ave the front was packed with a group of people watching and cheering for their team to win.

Loud conversation took place as people discussed the game with one person even saying that they didn’t care which team won. “Gotta a really good group of fun people hanging out, good energy, good food and a good vibe” Anne Muldoon, the owner of the bar said.

From ordering food from the bar such as nachos to drinks like beer to the loud cheering it was clear that the night was about community.

04/10/2025

The Real Estate Investor’s Seminar hosted by Capri Jet Realty Corp. on March 27th brought together a diverse group of aspiring and experienced investors for an evening of practical insights and expert advice. Held at Ocean Prime in Maspeth, the event provided attendees with essential tools and strategies to help them navigate today’s real estate market.

In an effort to empower investors with the knowledge necessary for making informed decisions, the event covered a range of crucial topics including property financing, inspections, legal considerations, market trends, and investment strategies. Expert speakers took the stage to provide a comprehensive look at real estate investment and offer actionable advice.

Robert Napolitano, Associate Real Estate Broker at Capri Jet Realty, spoke with enthusiasm about the event’s purpose.

04/10/2025

Ronen Nahom, a longtime West Village resident with a varied career spanning entertainment, finance, and construction, has launched his bid to become New York City’s next mayor, espousing a vision for the city that includes beefing up policing, cracking down on protests, and repealing congestion pricing.

Nahom, XX, is helming a largely grassroots campaign to challenge Curtis Sliwa, a Republican mainstay, in the GOP’s mayoral primary in June.

What inspired the Manhattanite to run for mayor? “It’s years in the making,” said Nahom at a recent roundtable. “It’s a puzzle of a lot of things that I did in my life, that I went through.”

04/10/2025

A rally was held on April 2 to protest the proposed installation of a lithium-ion battery storage system in Middle Village, located at 64-30 69th Place, directly across from PS/IS 128. The proposed project, which has sparked community outrage, would position the large-scale energy storage system in a residential area already home to a daycare center, an animal hospital, and a children’s play center—raising serious concerns about safety and the well-being of the community.

The rally, organized by Council Member Robert Holden, drew a crowd of concerned residents, political figures, and local parents who voiced their fears about the safety and environmental impact of the facility in such a densely populated area. Holden emphasized the potential dangers posed by the facility, particularly for the nearby schools.

“We go around here, and we see who are the most affected, the children that go here, the parents of the children, the homeowners who live close to this facility,” Holden said. “We’re not going to take this lying down, we have to fight back. They are always shoving these kind of places at us, but this is now very, very dangerous.”

03/27/2025

On March 22, hundreds of Queens residents came together to celebrate community, diversity, and love with the unveiling of a new sculpture at Macdougal Park in Forest Hills. The sculpture — a blue, red, and white (the borough’s flag colors) statue in the same typewriter font used during the I ❤ NY campaign that says “Queens, The World’s Borough” — is based on the borough’s tagline. Queens houses people from all over the world; in fact, there are more than 130 languages spoken in the borough alone.

The celebration kicked off with speeches from Larry Ng, who designed the sculpture, and various Queens officials, such as the borough president Donovan Richards, Jr. and District Attorney Melinda Katz. Representatives from Northwell Health and Queens Rising were in attendance as well, who helped organize the event. Even Mrs. Mets, the mascot of the New York Mets attended, bringing smiles to patrons and children alike.

All speeches given had a common theme: their love for their borough.

03/27/2025

The future of the Forest Hills Stadium summer concert series is uncertain after the NYPD revoked its sound amplification permits, citing safety concerns linked to a dispute over road access.

Over the weekend, the NYPD Legal Bureau notified the stadium’s operators that permits could not be issued because the Forest Hills Garden Corporation (FHGC) had blocked access to the private roads surrounding the venue. The NYPD stated that without the ability to close these streets, it could not ensure public safety at the 13,000-capacity open-air venue.

The decision has sparked backlash from local businesses and workers who depend on the stadium’s concerts for revenue. In response, Forest Hills Stadium pushed back, insisting on social media that its 2025 concert schedule remains on track.