FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 30, 2021 • YEAR IN REVIEW • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
year in review
Queens’ top stories from November 2021
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
As 2021 comes to an end, QNS has
compiled a list of the biggest stories,
events and people of Queens that grabbed
our attention this year.
Here’s a look back at the top stories for
the month of November.
Forest Hills and Rego Park
residents reject demolition of
Tower Diner & Trylon Theatre
During the Community Board 6
Land Use Committee hearing held in
November, Forest Hills and Rego Park
residents were opposed to the demolition
of the Tower Diner and Ohr Natan
Synagogue to make way for a mixed-use
development on Queens Boulevard.
Th e applicant, RJ Capital Holdings
under Trylon LLC, presented a redevelopment
plan to erect a 15-story building
on the triangular block of the Trylon
Th eater that houses the synagogue at
98-81 Queens Blvd. and Tower Diner at
98-85 Queens Blvd.
Th e developer is seeking to construct a
153,000-square-foot development, which
includes 144 total units with 44 of those
units as aff ordable housing under the
city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing
Program, 136,000 square feet for residential
space, and 17,400 square feet for commercial
space, with 45 parking spaces,
including bicycle parking on site.
Schumer’s rally for Queens
City Council candidate called
off due to protester’s threat
In the race to represent Council District
32, the last Republican-held seat in
Queens, Democratic candidate Felicia
Singh canceled her rally in Belle Harbor
aft er a protester allegedly made threats on
the Rockaway Boardwalk.
Senate Majority Leader Charles
Schumer, who endorsed Singh’s campaign,
had left Belle Harbor before the
rally aft er his security team deemed it
unsafe. Singh had posted on Twitter that
“one of the protesters was heard saying
he wished he had a gun and that all
Democrats should be shot.”
According to Singh, they were met
with aggressive and hostile supporters of
her Republican opponent, Joann Ariola,
who was seeking to replace term-limited
Councilman Eric Ulrich to represent
the district.
Ariola’s campaign dismissed the
alleged confrontation saying, “We have
no knowledge that any such thing happened,
but it has nothing to do with our
campaign in any case we certainly do
not condone threats of violence from
anyone, in any party.”
Five arrested after riots erupt
in Middle Village following
Kyle Rittenhouse verdict
Police offi cers arrested fi ve individuals
in Middle Village following the verdict
of the high-profi le Kyle Rittenhouse
trial in November that sparked riots in
the neighborhood.
A jury found Rittenhouse not guilty
of homicide, attempted homicide and
other charges relating to the 2020 shootings
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. According
to police, about 40 to 50 people were
gathered in Crowley Park in Elmhurst
going from town to town wreaking
havoc.
Law enforcement had observed
a group of people marching through
Middle Village, screaming and throwing
garbage cans into the path of police
vehicles to prevent offi cers from following
them. Th e group also ran up to several
houses to remove American fl ags,
break mailboxes and damaged multiple
parked cars.
BOE releases unoffi cial election
results for races in Queens
New Yorkers went out to cast their
votes during the consequential general
election in November, which included
voting for who will become the next
mayor of New York City, as well as other
citywide races for comptroller and public
advocate.
In District 19, three candidates —
Democratic candidate and former
Councilman Tony Avella, Republican candidate
Vicki Paladino and Conservative
candidate John-Alexander Sakelos —
looked to replace term-limited incumbent
Councilman Paul Vallone.
In District 32, three candidates —
Democratic candidate Felicia Singh,
Republican candidate Joann Ariola and
Community First candidate Kenichi
Wilson — also battled it out to represent
the southern Queens area.
Queens residents also voted for borough
president, having to choose
between Democratic incumbent
Donovan Richards and Republican candidate
Th omas Zmich.
Off -duty cop busted in Ozone
Park for selling steroids in
under cover sting: DA
An off -duty cop out of the 84th Precinct
in Brooklyn, was arraigned at Queens
County Criminal Court in November for
selling steroids from the parking lot of the
Coliseum Gym in Woodhaven.
Police offi cer Maurice Lemelin, 33, a
Queens resident, was charged with possessing
and selling a controlled substance
aft er he allegedly sold anabolic steroids to
an undercover detective in a sting operation
in October and November, according
to Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz.
Lemelin is scheduled to return to court
on Jan. 27, 2022. If convicted, he faces up
to seven years in prison.
Regal opens new 4DX Theater
at Tangram in Flushing
Regal welcomed movie-lovers back to
its new state-of-the-art 4DX theater at
Tangram in Flushing for the fi rst time
in 35 years.
Downtown Flushing has been without
a movie theater following the closure of
the historic RKO Keith Th eater. Regal
Tangram, located at 133-36 37th Ave.,
is the fi rst movie
theater to open
in Flushing since
then and became
the borough’s fi rst
4DX movie theater
.Th
e theater has
seven screens,
a 4DX auditorium
with groundbreaking
cinema
technology,
and a full-service
bar and signature
concession stand
favorites along
with a kitchen
serving hot food.
Oldest gay bar in Queens to
remain in Jackson Heights
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held
in November at Queens’ oldest gay bar,
Friends Tavern, that will remain a cornerstone
in the Jackson Heights community
aft er the owner purchased the
building in which it has operated for
more than three decades.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz had
connected the owner, Eddie Valentin and
Aff ordable housing lottery
launches for Gotham
Point dual-tower project
in Long Island City
Plans were unveiled for the dual-tower
residential project, Gotham Point,
located in the Hunters Point South
neighborhood of Long Island City.
Th e development, announced two
years ago, consists of two towers that
will include 1,132 total residences with
75% of units priced at aff ordable rates,
senior housing, shared amenities, community
facility and retail space.
Gotham Point’s South Tower, or
Parcel G, will be 33 stories tall and is
estimated to be completed this year
between Second Street and Newtown
Creek. Th e North Tower, of Parcel F,
will stand at 57 stories and is expected
to be completed in 2022.
his business partner Casimiro Villa, with
the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
Th at led to an introduction to representatives
from TD Bank and a mortgage.
For three decades, Friends Tavern has
been a refuge for the LGBTQ community,
not only from the U.S. but from many
countries around the world. According
to Valentin, they’re looking forward to
the next 30 years of creating friendships
and giving love back to the community.
Photo courtesy of Queens Chamber of Commerce
Friend’s Tavern will remain a cornerstone of the Jackson Heights gay community after the owners
purchased the Roosevelt Avenue building it has operated in for more than three decades.
Photo courtesy of Tangram
Regal’s new 4DX theater at Tangram in Flushing will open its doors for
the fi rst time on Friday, Nov. 12.
Photo courtesy of VUW studio
A rendering of the Gotham Point Hero
Building.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
