Sunnyside Post

Rite Aid sued by Brooklyn woman over false shoplifting arrest

DailyNews

A Brookyn woman is suing Rite Aid and the city for branding her a shoplifter when a previously purchased item inexplicably activated the pharmacy’s exit gate alarm.

Leah Fishman, 30, said that all her pleas — that store staff or detectives review security cameras, look up payment records or allow her to fetch the old receipt — fell on deaf ears.

“It was awful,” she said of the humiliating arrest one year ago. “It was really, really public and it lasted for hours.”

Fishman, a gilder and painter, recalled making a quick trip to the neighborhood pharmacy a few blocks from her Greenpoint home. She bought some medicine and tried to leave.

But the exit gate beeped and security found in her bag a container of dietary supplements she had purchased a few weeks earlier for about $20, said her lawyer, Jeffrey Rothman.

For the rest, please click here

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 15, 2012. 15 Comments
Posted in General News

Sunnyside lobbyist hires disgraced pol

NYPost

Disgraced ex-Councilman Dennis Gallagher now works with a Queens consultant who’s under attack for trying to strong-arm GOP candidates into hiring him, The Post has learned.

Gallagher, who stepped down in 2008 after pleading guilty to sexual-abuse charges stemming from accusations that he raped a woman in his Middle Village office, is listed on a city government database as an “additional lobbyist” with GSP Consulting, a Sunnyside-based firm run by Jay Golub, a dentist.

Gallagher, a Republican, confirmed that he does consulting work with Golub and that he’s done consulting for Councilman Peter Koo (R-Queens) but said he hasn’t done any work for Republicans in Queens “on a paid basis.”

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 15, 2012. 1 Comment
Posted in General News

No. 7 train riders face years of closures

Photo: Daily News

Expect service delays and closures on the No. 7 train through 2016.

This week when the MTA announced that it was shutting down No. 7 service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square for 11 weekends, it noted that it was part of a four year plan to install a new signaling system and make upgrades to the tunnel that goes below the East River.

The MTA said it needs this 4-year period to make such a radical change since it is relying on a signaling system that is anywhere from 50 to 90 years old. The MTA claims that by installing a new one, the train will be more reliable and easy to maintain. Additionally, the MTA said it needs to make repairs to the tunnel between Vernon Ave. and Times Square.

The MTA said that the tunnel only has two tracks and is so narrow that there is no room for subway workers to step aside when oncoming trains pass by. Therefore, the MTA has to stop service altogether for the work to be done. This problem dates back to around 1900, when the tunnel was constructed as part of the New York City trolley system—before being incorporated as part of the subway in 1915.

The MTA said that this current project began in 2011 and the project should be completed by 2016. Many service changes are going to take place until its completion.

Service diversions, as reported earlier, are scheduled for the weekends of January 21-23, January 28-30, February 4-6, February 11-13, February 18-21, February 25-27, March 3-5, March 10-12, March 17-19, March 24-26 and March 31-April.

The MTA anticipates a number of other weekend closures in October and November. These are likely to take place on the following weekends: Oct. 6-8, Oct 20-22, Oct. 27-29, Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19.

The MTA said that the work schedule will typically take place in the winter and fall to avoid interrupting Mets baseball games and the US Open tennis.

Additionally, a major station rehabilitation project will begin at the Court Square Station in Long Island City. The station will be closed from Jan. 21 through April 2.

MTA NYCT Press Release-Weekend 7 Suspensions Thur April 2

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 14, 2012. 20 Comments
Posted in General News

Weekend service on No. 7 train to face cuts for about 3 months

The No. 7 train’s weekend service between Queensboro Plaza and Manhattan is going to be down for about 3 months.

There will be no service between Times Sq-42 St and Queensboro Plaza for 11 consecutive weekends beginning Saturday, January 21 until Monday, April 2,  a spokesman for the MTA confirmed.

The information was first posted on a New York City subway blog, which also said that the Court Square Station would be closed for 2 months and a half.

Joseph Raskin, a spokesman for the MTA,  wrote in an e-mail that the information was correct, but not complete.

Raskin wrote: “We’re doing a full presentation at [Councilman] Jimmy Van Bramer’s Town Hall meeting tomorrow night – explaining what’s going on and why.”

Van Bramer is holding a town hall meeting Wednesday night at Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th Street) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. to discuss these and many other changes.

(Thanks to Warren G Harris for tip)

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 10, 2012. 23 Comments
Posted in General News

Daily News Profiles Sunnyside’s Dee Thai

Daily News

Queens is the go-to borough for Thai food, and in Sunnyside, Dee Thai restaurant remains a neighborhood favorite.

Combining Bangkok street food and southern Thai cuisine, Dee Thai has come to be known for its curries and noodle dishes.

Try, for example, their green curry served with jasmine rice, or the Pad Cee Ew, flat noodles served with broccoli and egg in a sweet soy sauce.

Popular appetizers are the curry puffs, which are filled wtih chicken, potatoes, onions, and cucumber sauce and the grilled chicken and beef satays.

The chef’s specials include Ka Moo Nam Dang, a large stewed pork leg served in a special Thai herb sauce, which comes with a side of steamed buns with which you can make sandwiches.

For the rest, please click here

FROM THE SUNNYSIDE POST (note: Dee Thai advertises with the Sunnyside Post)

The following clip was taken by the Sunnyside Post at the Taste of Sunnyside in October. It features the manager Kanruthai Makmuang (aka Oh).

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 08, 2012. 18 Comments
Posted in General News

What’s your favorite Sunnyside pizzeria?

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By Sunnyside Post on Jan 06, 2012. 57 Comments
Posted in General News

Popular Sunnysider–goes to police alleging anti-Irish abuse

Paul Byrom (source: Broadway). Byrom sang at the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce Street lighting on Skillman Ave. in December.

 Herald.ie

TENOR Paul Byrom (26) (who lives in Sunnyside)has been forced to go to the US police after he and girlfriend Dominique Coulter (26) were the targets of anti-Irish abuse.

The Herald can reveal how the well-known Dublin performer, who scored a number one hit in the World Billboard Charts last month, was left horrified by the wave of negative comments aimed at him and his partner.

Paul and Dominique, whose dad is renowned composer Phil Coulter, moved to New York in December 2010 after he landed a massive solo record deal following on from his four-year stint with classical group Celtic Thunder.

“It’s been going on for a couple of months now and the messages have been really nasty. When I came here originally, I was getting loads of fan mail and always always try to reply to them individually. But I was getting these really nasty letters being sent to my PO box in America from this one guy in particular, as well as his sister. They seem to have some sort of vendetta against myself and Dominique,” he said.

For the rest please click here

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 05, 2012. 19 Comments
Posted in General News

Van Bramer to get rid of the trash

Sunnyside trash can

Many trash cans in Sunnyside and Woodside are filled beyond capacity, leading to an unsightly mess of litter blowing down neighborhood streets.

To help combat the problem, the Dept. of Sanitation and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s office announced last week that a total of 24 additional trash baskets will be placed in the following corridors:

• 43^rd Ave, between 43^rd and 51^st Streets
• 39^th Ave. between 48^th and 55^th streets
• 51^st Ave. between 2^nd and 5^th Street in Long Island City.

These streets will also be subject to additional street cleaning.

“These trash baskets and additional street sweeping routes will continue the quality of life improvement that I have fought for,” he said.

The location of the trash cans were determined based on constituent requests, according to a spokesman for Van Bramer’s office.

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 03, 2012. 32 Comments
Posted in General News

Sunnyside/Woodside Korean restaurant reviewed by Daily News

Daily News

Sik Gaek is a seafood lover’s paradise.

Nestled next to an auto repair shop on a quiet stretch of Roosevelt Ave. on the Woodside-Sunnyside border, the cozy restaurant isn’t the typical Korean barbecue joint.

While it does offer a menu of marinated meats, diners in the know head to Sik Gaek for its impressive seafood dishes.

The eatery has gained fame for fresh san-nakji, octopus that’s served raw — and sometimes still squirming — with chojang, a hot chili sauce.

For less adventurous eaters, the restaurant (they also have a branch at another 7 line stop, Flushing) has plenty of other options, including overflowing hot pots, stir-fries and soups.

For the rest of the Daily News report, click here.

See the following video on the restaurant provided by a reader.

For further coverage, see the following

(NOTE: The coverage begins 3 minutes into the video, with the octopus being eaten 5 minutes in)

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 02, 2012. 16 Comments
Posted in General News

7-Eleven to open mid-January

The manager of the Mobile station on Queens Blvd. and 44^th Street is revamping the gas station’s convenience store, by converting its “On the Run” operation to a 7-Eleven franchise.

The On the Run store is a Mobile-sponsored venture that is largely based in Missouri. The brand name in Sunnyside and the Northeast is limited. Presently, the store is slowly being emptied out, while the manager converts it into a 7-Eleven by the middle of January.  7 Elevens are best known for hotdogs, soda, coffee and slurpees.

7-Eleven, as a corporation, has been seeking growth across the US by generating business from, among other items, gas stations with convenience-stores or kiosks.

Under the terms of these deals, store owners operate their business as normal—with the help of 7 Eleven- and pay an ongoing franchise fee.

By Sunnyside Post on Jan 02, 2012. 17 Comments
Posted in General News

Community chips in to help victims of Woodside fire

Woodside fire

Twenty-five victims of a fatal fire that occurred in Woodside in November received about 3,000 donated items from the community.

The donations included diapers, food, cleaning products, clothing and toys. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer organized the campaign drive.

A 2-alarm blaze destroyed a 2-story house at 45-38 61st Street on Nov. 18 and significantly damaged the adjacent homes. The fire claimed the life of one victim, injured four others and forced a total of 25 people from three homes.

At this point, it is unknown whether the houses contained illegal dwelling units, although the NYFD is reviewing the matter. Van Bramer said that with 25 people in 3 houses, it’s too early to come to a conclusion as to whether the home owners/landlords were violating any regulations.

However, he did note that the Building Dept was cracking down on illegal housing units, which was a good thing.  However, Van Bramer said his immediate focus has been on the humanitarian side of the tragedy.

“In the wake of this tragic event, it is heartwarming to see the community’s response to support their neighbors. During this holiday season, these donations will give a little hope back to the families who lost so much in the fire,” Van Bramer said.

By Sunnyside Post on Dec 30, 2011. 2 Comments
Posted in General News