🌱 Elmhurst Grocery Store Theft + Protest At PS 19 + DOT Plan

Happy Saturday, Queens! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Partial sunshine. High: 47 Low: 32.

Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. The DOT has outlined a number of Queens Projects listed in the city's transportation master plan. On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman released a draft proposal for a “streets master plan” that is aimed at guiding bus, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure over the next five years. By the end of 2026, the Council law commits to 150 miles of additional dedicated bus lanes, 250 miles of protected bike lanes within five years, signal priority for public transit at 4,750 intersections, and thousands of other upgrades for bus stops. (Sunnyside Post)
2. Police are on the lookout for a pair of suspects after they allegedly attacked and robbed a 75-year-old man in a Queens park. On Nov. 28, the victim was approached by a man and a woman in Long Island City’s Queensbridge Park just before 4 p.m. He was pushed down to the ground and had his arms physically restrained from behind by the woman, while the man dug into his pockets, removing his wallet containing a debit card and $20 in cash. The pair fled, heading towards a deli on 40th Avenue, but the victim chased them and confronted the woman as she attempted to use his debit card, which resulted in a physical altercation before both suspects fled. (WPIX 11 New York)
3. Police are asking for the public's help tracking down a suspect who stole $72,000 in cash from a grocery store in Queens. Surveillance video of the theft shows the suspect walking into Sariling Atin Grocery Store on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst nearly two weeks ago, and stealing money from behind the counter while a register was unattended. The suspect then ran outside and removed his mask and sweatshirt to hide the money, before driving away in a dark-colored Nissan SUV. (WABC-TV)
4. Permits have been filed for a seven-story community facility building at 3903 College Point Boulevard in Flushing. Non-profit Queens Housing and Immigrant Center is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 72-foot-tall development is located between 39th Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard and will include 90 supportive housing sleeping accommodations, sponsored by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. (New York YIMBY)
5. Teachers and parents rallied in protest of overcrowded classrooms outside one of the largest public elementary schools in the nation on Thursday. The protest, which was among 200 held this week at schools across New York City by the United Federation of Teachers union, was held outside of PS 19 in Corona, which was also one of the city's previous COVID hot spots. Protestors want the City Council to vote and pass a bill that would change the city's health code to set capacity limits on the number of students taught in city classrooms based on square footage. (WABC-TV)

Today in Queens:

• Virtual Writing Workshop for Adults - Astoria Branch Library (11:00 AM)
• Introduction to Microsoft Word Part One - Astoria Branch Library (12:00 PM)
• Saturday Craft Series - Astoria Branch Library (1:00 PM)
• CreArt and Culture Lab LIC Presents "Classic Music Moving Forward" - Culture Lab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery (7:30 PM)

Queens Patch Notebook

• Queens Museum: "We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Lawrence Weiner, a genre-leading conceptual artist and great contributor of thought to the art world, who passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Weiner presented his 1988 piece “As Far As the Eye Can See” at the Queens Museum, as part of the exhibition “Bringing the World into the World” (June 15-October 12, 2014): (https://qnsmu.se/BringingTheWorldIntoTheWorld).
  His installation was placed prominently on the 45-foot tall exterior wall of the Panorama of the City of New York, overlooking the Museum’s central atrium, echoing the undying human aspiration to see across time and space." (Facebook)
• Queens Botanical Garden: "⏱❄️ Winter Wonder is TOMORROW! Check out tomorrow's schedule for this free event. Schedule is subject to change. 🎟 Tickets: https://qbgwinterwonder2021.ev... The Garden thanks Raymond D. Jasen, QBG Board Chair, for his support." (Facebook)
• Queens Chamber of Commerce: "We honored our business heroes last night, but the work they do is an inspiration to us everyday. From non-profits and government agencies who answered the call to restaurant owners who fed those in need, from frontline workers to laid-off workers, to tech companies who mass produced FDA-approved ventilators in just 30 days and rode out an epic increase in shipping and delivery with transparency and efficiency, every sector in Queens has been touched by these businesses." (Facebook)
• Queens Borough President Donovan Richards: "Councilmember Tiffany Cabán has a nice ring to it. Congratulations to the newest member of the #Queens delegation — can't wait to see all the good that you'll do for District 22 and the borough!" (Facebook)
• Queens Borough President Donovan Richards: "#Omicron has made its way to #Queens, and my office is monitoring the latest developments. While there's still uncertainty around this variant, what is certain is that getting vaccinated — and boosted — remains our best defense against COVID-19. If you're eligible for your booster shot but haven't received it yet, please consider getting yours today. If you're still unsure about getting vaccinated, now is the time to play your part in keeping #Queens safe. Find the closest vaccine provider to you at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder." (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.