The Woodhaven Blog

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is deeply hurting small businesses, residents can still play a meaningful role in supporting local restaurants and food establishments.

The Woodhaven Business Improvement District (BID) has released a helpful guide to Woodhaven restaurants that are open for business – for either takeout or delivery.

So while you’re stuck inside quarantine, consider ordering from these restaurants to support them during this difficult time!

Tomorrow, Senator James Sanders Jr. is a hosting a live, interactive, virtual town hall on Facebook at 12 p.m.

The topic of conversation will be the novel coronavirus outbreak. Senator Sanders will be providing updates, as well as answering constituent questions and addressing their concerns.

To access the live stream, visit facebook.com/jamesssandersjrNY

Call (718)-523-3069 for more information.

New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. will host a free screening of an episode of the new Netflix docuseries, “Who Killed Malcolm X?” this Saturday, March 14.

The episode will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the show’s directors, Rachel Dretzin and Phil Bertelsen, as well as a key figure in the series, Abdur-Rahman Muhammad. 

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance has said that he will re-open the case and into the assassination of Malcolm X, and this weekend’s event at The Black Spectrum Theatre (117-01 Baisley Blvd.) follows recent news from Senator Sanders regarding the criminal justice system.

During his remarks at the 55th Annual Commemoration of Malcolm X on Feb. 24, announced two pieces of legislation he introduced to the state legislature that will promote truth and justice for unsolved civil rights crimes, further preserving the legacy of Malcolm X.

Both of the bills are modeled on current federal law.

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
You Must RSVP to attend. Please call 718-523-3069 or 718-327-7017 and speak to a staffer. Do NOT leave a message.

Queens Distance Runners and the Woodhaven BID are sponsoring are inviting residents to welcome Spring with five and ten mile runs through Forest Park on March 8.

Starting from the Woodhaven Boulevard side, runners will pass by Victory Field Track, heading through the hills of Forest Park Drive.

The course continues to Metropolitan Avenue, making a turnaround back toward Woodhaven Boulevard, completing one 2.5-mile loop of the race.

For more information, and to register for a run, visit bit.ly/woodhavenrun.

A mobile bus providing no-cost mammograms and clinical breast exams is coming to the neighborhood.

Councilman Eric Ulrich is teaming up with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation to bring the bus to Ozone Park on Friday, March 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It has been more than a decade since Ulrich first brought the initiative to his district in 2009. His Ozone Park district office is located at 93-06 101st Avenue.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• Women aged 40-79 with health insurance
• Women aged 50-79 without health insurance
• Currently living in New York City
• No mammogram in the past 12 months

No-pays are required, and deductibles are waived. Uninsured patients are also welcomed.

To schedule an appointment, call the American-Italian Cancer Foundation at 1-877-628-9090.

Comptroller Scott Stringer is hosting a Woodhaven Roundtable tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Woodhaven Manor, located at 96-01 Jamaica Avenue.

The event will be an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns and issues in the neighborhood.

Community board members, local businesses and civic leaders have all been invited to the meeting.

In honor of Black History Month, the Newtown Historical Society is hosting a free jazz concert at Neir’s Tavern this Saturday, February 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event will feature the Carl Bartlett, Jr. Quartet. You can learn more about the quartet here. They’re expected to play original compositions, as well as classics that we all know and love.

The concert has no cover. And you can enjoy brunch at Neir’s from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while enjoying some great tunes.

You won’t want to miss this great, free event this weekend!

W.O.R.K.S. Little League has been a part of the communities of Richmond Hill and Woodhaven since 1958. In 2002, they merged with Ozone Wakefield Little League. They now serve Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens and South Ozone Park.

The league offers T-ball, girls softball, Baseball and Challengers to kids ages 4 to15.

Today, W.O.R.K.S. announced registration dates for the 2020 Spring season, which will take place at 84-01 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven:

Friday, February 7, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Thursday, February 13, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday February 21, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday, February 22, 2pm to 4pm
Friday, February 28, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Make sure to bring proof of your child’s age (passport, birth certificate) and proof of residence (cable bill, rent or maintenance charge receipt, utility bill, etc.). Only cash, check or money order accepted.

A new affordable industrial center has opened in Ozone Park, thanks to funding and support from state agencies.

Last week, the nonprofit industrial developer Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC) marked the site’s opening along with Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and a slew of government officials.

The 85,000-square-foot facility will provide affordable space to more than two dozen local small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses.

The 113-year-old factory site was renovated with $11 million in investments from the state.

The industrial center is spread over three buildings and spans an entire city block. It will be leased to woodworkers, artisans, custom fabricators and other entrepreneurs.

Officials estimate it will provide about 80 jobs at the facility.

Read more about the industrial center in this week’s Leader-Observer.

On Tuesday, Councilman Adrienne Adams hosted a hair donation event where young people donated their locks to a local nonprofit.

Thanks to free haircuts and styling from Aracelis Unisex hair salon, every young person was able to donate hair to Butterflies by Blaq, which provides high-quality wigs to children with medical conditions.

The group was formed in 2012 by Erna Blackman, a former volunteer at American Cancer Society, to assist children coping with hair loss.

At the event, Saaya Kanhoye, 14, donated 14 inches of her hair. Her 9-year-old sister, Shaila, donated 35 inches of hair.

“Hair donors like Shaila and Saaya are important to us because longer hair donations are the building blocks of wig creation,” Blackman said. “Most of the girls that request our services now want longer hair. Although we accept and are grateful for 10 inches, the desired lengths are 12 inches or more.

“We love it when we meet young people who feel the need to give back,” she added. “People helping people makes the world a better place.”