The Woodhaven Blog

The Woodhaven Business Improvement District (BID) partnered with Commissioner of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Lorelei Salas, along with her team, as well as the NYC Department of Small Business Services to bring a Business Education Day to Jamaica Avenue.

More than 50 businesses on the corridor were provided information — in five different languages — on guidelines for reopening amid the ongoing pandemic.

The Woodhaven BID says it will host another Business Education Day in the near future.

New York Blood Center (NYBC) will host a blood drive this Friday, August 28, at the Shops at Atlas Park. It will last from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The event is part of a series of weekly blood drives each Friday through September 11th. This week, NYBC aims to collect 50 donations, which can serve up to 150 patients. According to NYBC, the organization has collected 722 donations so far this year from blood drives at the Shops at Atlas Park.    

Extra precautions will be taken to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Those experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms are not eligible to donate. Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here.

Before COVID-19, mobile blood drives hosted by high schools, colleges, businesses and other organizations made up about 75% of the region’s incoming blood supply, but the number of blood drives has dropped by two-thirds this year due to the pandemic. Anyone with space available to host a blood drive can sign up nybloodcenter.org.

The Health Department is conducting aerial larviciding treatment to parts of central Queens to reduce mosquito activity and reduce the risk of West Nile virus on Tuesday, August 18 from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.

In case of bad weather, the application will be delayed for Wednesday, August 19.

The department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard or Anvil. The risks of the pesticides for mosquito control are low to people and pets.

Some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash.

To stay safe during spraying, residents are advised to stay indoors whenever possible. Air conditioners can remain on.

That area that will be sprayed is  bordered by 64^th Street, Mount Olivet Circle, Metropolitan Avenue, LIRR, 78^th Place, Myrtle Avenue, Forest Park Drive, and Forest Parkway to the West; Long Island Expressway, Queens Boulevard, 63^rd Drive, Woodhaven Boulevard, Metropolitan Avenue, and Union Turnpike to the North; Van Wyck Expressway to the East; and, Jamaica Avenue, 107^th Street, Atlantic Avenue, Woodhaven Boulevard, and Jamaica Avenue to the South.

One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center will expand its “Mommy & Me” service thanks to a $50,000 allocation from Councilman Eric Ulrich.

Mommy & Me provides education programming for local youth, including virtual classes during the pandemic.

“The One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center has been a staple in our community for over a decade, offering valuable, no-cost educational services to parents across the borough,” Ulrich said.

The program has been running for more than 15 years, serving Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and other nearby residents.

The community center is located at 110-08 Jamaica Avenue.

Father Christopher Heanue, administrator at Holy Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, recently completed his “100 Miles of Hope” fundraiser to support the parish’s food pantry.

The bike ride was from Holy Child Jesus inRichmond Hill to East Hampton on Long Island. Altogether, he raised $20,000 in his effort.

Heanue was joined by two parishioners, Paul Cerni and Tom Chiafolo. They started with a 5 a.m. mass, followed by a seven-hour, 45-minute bike trip.

They are still accepting donations through their online GoFundMe page, which you can find here.

On Monday, community members celebrated the grand opening of Sheikh Medical Care PLLC in Ozone Park.

Located at 103-02 93rd Street, the practice is led by board certified Dr. Tania M. Skeikh, who boasts a long career as an internal medicine physician.

Among the people who cut the ribbon for the new office was Councilman Eric Ulrich.

“There are so many people in this district that have been looking for a doctor’s office, and we want them to know they have a great option right here in our backyard,” he said. “Dr. Tania M. Skeikh is the epitome of the American dream, having come here from Bangladesh.

Sheikh said she’s grateful to serve the health concerns of Queens.

“It’s long awaited, but the community can rest assured a great and qualified doctor is in your neighborhood,” she said.

For more information, contact Sheikh Medical Care PLLC at 718-487-3944 orSheikhMedicalCarePLLC@gmail.com.

A local priest is embarking on a 100-mile journey to raise funds for the parish’s food pantry.

Father Christopher Heanue, administrator at Holy Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, is riding from the parish in Richmond Hill to East Hampton, Long Island.

Heanue is calling it “100 Miles of Hope.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, donations to Holy Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church have maintained the operation of the food pantry.

Two parishioners will join Father Heanue on the journey, which they expect to complete in 10 hours.

“These have been difficult months,” he said. “It is vital that the food pantry continues to serve those in need, and I am committed to doing all I can to keep bringing hope to our people through its service.”

To donate to the 100 Mile Ride, visit their GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/100-miles-of-hope or text ‘miles’ to 718-550-6525.

Last week, Councilwoman Adrienne Adams joined the U.S. Census Bureau and Chhaya CDC to host a Census “Day of Action.”

The event focused on educating and motivating hard-to-count communities in Queens to get counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.

A current multilingual and multi-targeted campaign is underway to reach all residents, including non-English speakers, immigrants and those with limited internet access.

The campaign is educating residents about what’s at risk with the Census, including federal funding for services.

Respond to the Census online here.

Thanks to the help of a local elected official, a mail collection box in Woodhaven has been restored.

Congresswoman Grace Meng announced earlier this week that she convinced the U.S. Postal Service to bring back the box on 98th Street and the northbound service road of Woodhaven Boulevard.

Residents in the area complained that the box suddenly went missing last month, Meng said. The congresswoman then contacted the agency and learned that it was taken away for repairs.

Moving the box on 98th Street forced residents to walk several blocks away to another collection box. It affected many seniors who were unable to walk that additional distance.

Within days, the box was reinstalled.

“This collection box serves an important need for local residents, and I’m pleased that those who use it can continue to do so,” Meng said. “Making my constituents travel further to send out their mail was a major inconvenience for them, and physically difficult, if not impossible, for many seniors.”

On Tuesday night, the New York City Council passed an $88 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021.

The budget process was particularly difficult this year given the billions of dollars the city is losing in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic lockdown.

Among the more contentious parts of the budget was the decision to cut nearly $1 billion from the NYPD’s $6 billion operating budget.

For weeks, activists have marched and protested calling for defunding the NYPD by at least $1 billion. While the budget falls short of that, it reduces overtime pay for police officers, transfers school safety to the Department of Education and cancels two cadet classes.

In the late hours on Tuesday night, 37 members voted for the budget, while 12 rejected it. Councilman Eric Ulrich was among those who voted no. Here’s why.

“I could not, in good faith, vote ‘yes’ on the budget adoption,” he said in a statement. “These deep cuts to the NYPD budget are just insane.

“While gun violence and murder skyrocketed, the mayor and Council are catering to the demands of left-wing extremists who aim to completely dismantle the NYPD.”

Ultimately, nine members of the City Council voted no because they believe the cuts don’t go far enough. Eight members said no because they opposed cuts to the NYPD.

“This budget will more New York City a more violent place,” Ulrich added. “New Yorkers will not soon forget this betrayal of public trust and who was behind it.”