Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What investigators say a Long Island City music academy owner really did

Happening soon: Herbert Holler's Annual 80s Night + 50th Birthday! on the Queens Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday December 20th Patch AM
Saturday December 20th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Queens! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What investigators say a Long Island City music academy owner really did
  • How investigators finally identified the woman found off a Queens highway
  • How a 1986 Queens hate crime still echoes today

Also on today's calendar: A Tree for All Seasons and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Queensfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Queensfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Colder; breezy in the morning, with a high of 39 and low of 35 degrees.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny and windy, temps: high: 48, low: 27.
  • Monday: Breezy in the a.m.; sunshine, with a high of 36 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Music academy owner accused of sex with young girls (abc7ny.com) — Police in Long Island City arrested the owner of a Queens music academy on serious child sex trafficking charges after an undercover investigation. Authorities say the alleged crimes involved arranging paid encounters with underage girls, though they do not believe current academy students were involved, leaving many local families concerned about safety around youth programs.
   

2. Decomposing remains found stuffed in garbage bag near Queens highway ID'd as Christina Purdie, 27 (nydailynews.com) — Police have identified the woman whose body was found in a garbage bag off a Queens highway in August as 27-year-old Brooklyn resident Christina Purdie. Her decomposed remains were discovered near the Jackie Robinson Parkway by a city worker, and investigators had previously released a physical description while working to learn her identity.
   

3. Today in History: Dec. 20, 2025 (baltimoresun.com) — One entry in this historical roundup recalls the 1986 Howard Beach attack in Queens, when three Black men were assaulted and one was killed, a case that deeply shook New York City. The rest of the piece highlights major national and international events that also occurred on December 20 throughout history.
   

4. Immigration Officials Deport Queens 6-Year-Old and Father Who Fled China (nytimes.com) — A Queens father and his 6-year-old son, who lived, studied, and built community ties in the borough, have been deported to China after being separated by immigration officials. Their case sparked protests at a Queens playground and concern among parents at the child’s local public school, highlighting how federal immigration crackdowns are affecting neighborhood families.
   

5. Pope names pro-immigrant pastor bishop of Florida diocese where Trump's Mar-a-Lago is located (texarkanagazette.com) — A Queens parish priest who has long served largely immigrant congregants in Corona has been appointed bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida. His work in Queens and Brooklyn, especially advocating for migrants affected by federal immigration crackdowns, is highlighted as he prepares to lead a diocese that includes Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
   

📸 Around Queens

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Queens

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Queens Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Queens PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Mangia Cibo Culinary Lab Brings a Film‑Ready Culinary Event Space to Queens —Anthony Sciarratta Read on Patch
  • My dog ​​is missing.
    He is sick and needs his medication. If anyone sees him, please call 6466639610 or 9175130781. (Nextdoor Queensboro Hill (Booth&MainSt))
  • UPDATE: ower found.
    Lost dog in Fresh Meadows!! I will keep him safe until I find the owner. (Nextdoor Fresh Meadows (North))

Ok Queens! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Queens