38 DECEMBER 24, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Top photos taken throughout the year
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
It has been a messy and tragic 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a glimmer of hope and
resiliency, as frontline workers and communities came together to help
others during this unprecedented time in our history.
As we say goodbye to 2020, QNS is taking a month-by-month look at a year
we will never forget, with photos ranging from scenes of the pandemic to
protests throughout the borough and everything in between.
JANUARY: A CELEBRATION AT NEIR’S TAVERN
Mayor Bill de Blasio raises a glass with Neir’s Tavern owner Loycent
Gordon on Jan. 10. The mayor stopped by the historic 190-year-old pub in
Woodhaven and announced a deal keeping it in business. Neir’s, located
at 87-48 78th St., was nearly forced to close its doors to unaffordable rents
and insufficient sales, according to Gordon. The “handshake” agreement
was made possible by the Queens Chamber of Commerce, along with de
Blasio, Councilman Robert Holden and Assemblyman Mike Miller. (Photo
by Dean Moses)
FEBRUARY:
CORONAVIRUS
FEARS EMERGE IN
FLUSHING
A Flushing resident on
Main Street wears a face
mask to protect himself
from the novel coronavirus
that has caused panic
and fear in the community.
The virus, which originated
in Wuhan, China,
led to cancellations of the
festive Chinese Lunar
New Year celebrations. Following the coronavirus outbreak, many businesses
and restaurants in Chinatown, Flushing and Sunset Park suffered.
Despite there being no known cases in the city, restaurants and shops in
Flushing experienced a 40 percent decline in business, according to Peter
Tu, of the Flushing Chinese Business Association. (Photo by Dean Moses)
MARCH: ST. PAT’S FOR ALL PARADE HELD IN WOODSIDE
Before the COVID-19 spread in the second half of the month, a massive
crowd celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early on March 2 in Woodside. The annual
St. Pat’s for All Parade, which touts “inclusiveness” for all, brought out
several city leaders, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Charles Schumer,
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn Maloney, among others on the
city, state and federal levels. (Photo by Dean Moses)
APRIL: A
‘THANK YOU’ TO
HEALTHCARE
WORKERS
When COVID-19 hit
Queens, hospitals across the
borough were overflowing
with patients. In appreciation
of their tireless efforts
to save lives, Jamaica Hospital
staff workers received a
sweet treat from a local restaurant.
At the forefront of the pandemic, healthcare workers were referred
to as heroes, as community organizations and volunteers thanked them
through deliveries of meal donations, cards and letters.
MAY: BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTESTS
Following the death of
George Floyd at the hands
of Minneapolis police officers,
nearly a thousand
Queens protestors gathered
at Diversity Plaza in
Jackson Heights and took
to the streets protesting
“Black Lives Matter,” calling
for an end to injustice. The
protest was organized by
the People’s Power Assemblies.
Queens had joined the
nation in a wave of protests after video footage surfaced of Police Officer
Derek Chauvin allegedly kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, killing
him. (Photo by Angélica Acevedo)
JUNE: BLUE
LIVES MATTER
DEMONSTRATIONS
COUNTER BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTESTS
While people all over the world
were protesting against police
brutality demanding both justice
and police defunding, hundreds
of demonstrators in Middle Village
led a march in support of the
NYPD. The crowd had gathered in
the Juniper Valley Park’s basketball
court located on 80th Street and
Juniper Boulevard North chanting
“Blue Lives Matter.” The exhibition
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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