🌱 Rego Park Pharmacist Indicted + It’s Time For Kind Food Drive

Welcome back, Queens! Let's get this Friday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing today in town.

First, today's weather:

Milder with clouds and sun. High: 50 Low: 44.

Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. A Rego Park pharmacist has been indicted in a multi-million dollar Medicaid scam. Bruce Snipas, 68, was indicted in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday for allegedly taking part in a scheme where he processed millions of dollars in bogus Medicaid claims and received $650,000 in kickbacks in return. He was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday morning, and was released on a $150,000 bond. (Ridgewood Post)
2. Seven sites in the Queens Public Library system are collecting canned food to benefit the Food Bank for NYC through Dec. 31 in the library’s fourth annual It’s Time for Kind food drive. Donors are asked not to drop off perishable food items, dry goods, or toiletries. Donated items may be dropped off at any time during regular library business hours and all food collected will be distributed to agencies, organizations, and individuals in Queens. (Queens Chronicle)
3. The “Climate Change Row House,” also known as the Lego House, is on the market for $3.6 million. The 3,487 square-foot property, at 45-12 11th St. in Long Island City, was originally built in 1903, and rebuilt in 2014 by its owner, architect Thomas Paino, to passive-house standards. Paino bought the home with Peter Johnson for $580,000 in 2009, according to property records. (New York Post )
4. A six-story mixed-use building consisting of 92 units will be going up on the corner of Broadway and 29th Street in Astoria. The now-vacant site was previously occupied by a row of one-story storefronts consisting of Sac’s Place restaurant, Joy Dental, and Lanzee Department Store. The owner, listed as George Tsilogiannis, is behind the new development and has filed permits to demolish the site– as well as the adjoining site at 25-21 Broadway, which contains five additional vacant storefronts formerly occupied by Fatima’s Halal Kitchen, The Strand Smokehouse, Start Fresh Express Laundry Center, The Grind NYC, as well as Patel Art and Frame. (Astoria Post)
5. Multiple blood drives are happening this week in Queens after the New York Blood Center announced that blood supplies in New York and New Jersey are at a one- to two-day level, which is well below the ideal five- to seven-day inventory. On Friday, blood drives will take place at the Passerelle Building in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and at Andromeda Advantage in Long Island City. Young Israel of Queens Valley in Flushing will be hosting a drive on Dec. 13, and the following day the 103rd Precinct will host one in Jamaica at 168-02 91 Ave. (Queens Chronicle)

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From my notebook:

• Queens Chamber of Commerce: "Exactly one week ago, we honored ten business heroes who went above and beyond to support their neighborhoods and our small business community. Thanks to QNS for covering our awards ceremony and we're honored to have these businesses in our borough." (Facebook)
• Queens Borough President Donovan Richards: "Looking for a job but face difficulty with the application process? Trans New York is offering an informational Seminar Dec. 16 at 7-8 PM with expert staff and companies and Corporations in LGBTQ Cultural etiquette so everyone can feel welcomed in workplaces." (Facebook)
• Queens, New York: "Update: The First-Ever New York Panettone Festival has been postpone ONE DAY until Dec. 10 at 1 pm. Info: https://bit.ly/3HTVIo1" (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— 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.