🌱 $2,000 Robbed From Gas Station + Parents Protest Class Size Bill

Hey, neighbors. It's Saturday in Queens and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and hot. High: 94 Low: 78.

Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. Police are searching for two suspects accused of robbing $2,000 from a gas station. According to officials, the gas station is located at 156-05 Rockaway Boulevard in Jamaica. The robbery happened at about 8:45 p.m. last Friday, Jul. 15. The suspects entered the store, produced firearms, and went behind the counter to steal around $2,000 from the cash register. Click the link to see the photo of one of the suspects. (1010 WINS)
2. Parents from Districts 25, 26, and 28 protested legislation that would decrease class sizes over the next five years. The legislation, S9460, was passed from the legislature last May and is pending a signature from Gov. Hochul. The protesting parents say that there is "no more space" to spread students out for smaller class sizes. Click the link to see the full statement. (QNS.com)
3. A Hudson Valley man has contracted the first case of polio detected in the United States since 2013. Polio is a viral disease that can affect the neurologic system and cause muscle weakness. The disease is very contagious and can be spread without any symptoms being displayed. Rockland County officials and the New York State Department of Health encouraged people to get their kids vaccinated for the disease. (Hudson Valley Post)

Today in Queens:

• Rain Barrel Giveaway with City Council Member Sandra Ung at Queens Botanical Garden (10:00 AM)
• Yoga at Socrates Sculpture Park (11:00 AM)
• Festival Colombiano at 34th Avenue (11:00 AM)
• Moodymann, Amp Fiddler, Andrés, Rick Wilhite at The Ruins at Knockdown Center (3:00 PM)
• Movie Night: Jurassic Park at Queens Botanical Garden (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Queens Borough President Donovan Richards invites you to Pomonok Houses on Thursday, Jul. 28. The event will be part of the NYCHA Resource Share series and takes place between noon and 3:00 p.m. (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• Ready for a forest bath? Queens, New York invites you out to a guided walk in Alley Pond Park on Jul. 23 at 10:30 a.m. The nature therapy event will help folks slow down and appreciate the world around them. (Queens, New York via Facebook)
• Queens Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Summer Health Screening Event! Check up on your personal wellness at Plaza College Commons on Jul. 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Queens Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.