Press Releases

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

NYC to be more attractive for criminals around the world

At a time when the people's trust in government is at an all-time low, our City Council Members have introduced legislation which increases the number of dangerous illegal immigrants in our neighborhoods. Under the recently passed law, Introduction 656, the New York City Department of Corrections will no longer cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents concerning approximately half of the illegal immigrants who get arrested in the City.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

COUNCIL MEMBER ELIZABETH CROWLEY DASHES HOPES FOR ST. SAVIOUR'S PARK SPACE. Impetuous decision has dire consequences.

Last week, park and community advocates including the Juniper Park Civic Association, Newtown Historical Society and NYC Park Advocates were shocked to learn that the City's Department of Parks and Recreation and Council Member Elizabeth Crowley have dropped their bid to acquire the 1.5-acre former site of St. Saviour's Church in Maspeth, Queens. The groups had been working for 5 years to have this site converted into parkland before the decision to quit was made by city officials without any community notification or input.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Juniper Civic: Lack of NYPD response left Middle Village to fend for itself in aftermath of storm.

After the most violent storm ever to hit New York City, the NYPD decided that the 104th Precinct could handle the chaos of downed power lines, hundreds of trees blocking streets & homes, and thousands of cars spilling off of the clogged Long Island Expressway (LIE).

Friday, February 12, 2010

Mayor Should Practice What He Preaches on Snow Removal

"The Mayor should get his own house in order before threatening home and business owners," said Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association. Holden said that dozens of city owned property and pedestrian thoroughfares in Middle Village and are never shoveled. The Juniper Park Civic Association has been complaining for years about city owned sidewalks that are rarely shoveled. This includes pedestrian overpasses, bridges, and other city property.

Friday, February 05, 2010

VFW Post 551 Settles Dispute With Neighbors

Middle Village residents may have finally resolved their noise complaints with the Haspel-Staab Veterans of Foreign War Post 551.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Crooks posing as Con Ed workers burglarize Middle Village seniors.

On Monday, January 18th an elderly Middle Village couple was victimized by a pair of crooks posing as Con Edison workers. The scammers, described as two male whites, rang the doorbell of the couple's home on 60th Drive saying that they had to investigate a possible leak in the home. Upon entering they stole $900 in cash. The 78-year old woman and her 87-year old husband called police but the perpetrators were long gone.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

VFW Post 551 Loses Liquor License Bid for Yard

For more than a year, the Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) has received complaints from neighbors about noisy parties being held by the Haspel-Staab Veterans of Foreign War Post 551, located at 84-02 60th Avenue in Middle Village. The problems heightened when the Post ‒ no longer run by World War II veterans ‒ decided to bring their indoor parties outside, converting their fifteen-foot wide driveway next to their clubhouse into a place to party ‒ all set with tables, a tent, chairs, lights, and barbecue grills.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Trees Fall Victim to Mindless Vandalism in Juniper Valley Park,

Sept 14th: Juniper Valley Park has once again fallen victim to mindless vandalism. Twelve young trees were cut down last night in the park in a shocking display of premeditated arborcide in Juniper Valley Park. A reward of $2,000 has been offered to catch the individuals responsible for the attack.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Monsignor Nicholas Sivillo...Thanks for the Memories and the Blessings!

Monsignor Nicholas Sivillo, pastor of Our Lady of Hope R.C. Church will be retiring on June 30th. As we bid farewell to Monsignor Sivillo and thank him for his approximate twenty-one years of service to Our Lady of Hope and to our community, there is a sense of sadness that the years have gone by so quickly and that changes in life are inevitable.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Investigate City Council Vote on Maspeth High School

The Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) is calling on NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn to investigate the April 2nd City Council vote on the construction of a High School on the corner of 57th Avenue and 74th Street in Maspeth. Robert Holden, president of the JPCA , said that council members were not given vital information that could have affected their vote on the 1,100 seat high school. The Council voted 38-10 to approve the site for a high school despite opposition from Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, Community Board 5, the Community Education Council (CEC), COMET, and JPCA. The Juniper Park Civic Association learned last week that the proposed site is contaminated with potentially cancer-causing toxins however city council members were not told of the levels or severity of the toxins.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

JUNIPER CIVIC CALLS ON COUNCIL SPEAKER QUINN TO CENSURE COUNCILMAN CHARLES BARRON

The Juniper Park Civic Association is calling on City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to publicly censure Councilman Charles Barron for his conduct during the March 31 Public Siting Subcommittee Meeting regarding the proposed Maspeth high school at 74th Street and 57th Avenue. Before any attendees had testified, Councilman Barron went on a rant about the race of the audience, assuming that all were there to demand local zoning for the high school.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Maspeth Triangle Reconfiguration Causing Traffic Nightmare

The failure of the city's Department of Transportation to implement the Grand Avenue Truck Bypass Plan in advance of permanently closing off a heavily traveled part of Grand Avenue is causing a traffic nightmare in Maspeth.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Juniper Civic wins neighborhood preservation award

Tony Nunziato, representing the Juniper Park Civic Association, accepted the 2008 Neighborhood Preservation Award from the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance at the awards ceremony which took place at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site on East 20th Street in Manhattan.

Monday, July 28, 2008

JUNIPER CIVIC CLAIMS VICTORY OVER HUANG

The Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) is today claiming victory over notorious developer, Tommy Huang, (destroyer of the officially landmarked RKO Keith's Theater of Flushing) who illegally constructed a house at 57-39 Mazeau Street in Maspeth in 2006. He has now removed the top story and a section on the side of the house that encroached on the lot next door.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

The Juniper Valley Park 2008 Summer Concert Series

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Juniper Park Civic Assoc. & Commerce Bank present: The Juniper Valley Park 2008 Summer Concert Series

Monday, February 11, 2008

ALL FAITHS CEMETERY SAYS, "WE'LL TAKE ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH"

All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village has stepped up to the plate in the battle to save neighboring Maspeth's historic St. Saviour's Church. They have agreed to receive the building as long as funds are raised for the move.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

JUNIPER CIVIC CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BLOOMBERG-PARKSIDE CONNECTION

The Juniper Park Civic Association is calling for an investigation into the connection between the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit and the Parkside Group lobbying firm after this Sunday's published report by New York Magazine which stated that former CAU Commissioner Patrick Brennan, now a partner in the Parkside Group, has been working on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign "for most of the past year".

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

JPCA ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO TESTIFY AGAINST MASPETH CELL TOWER

Despite overwhelming community opposition, Omnipoint communications is moving forward with their special permit request at the Board of Standards and Appeals on Tuesday, January 29th at 1:30pm at 40 Rector Street, 6th Floor, Hearing Room (E) in Manhattan.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

JPCA to hold holiday party on Dec. 13th

The Juniper Park Civic Association will hold their annual holiday party and raffle on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 at 7:45pm at Our Lady of Hope Auditorium in Middle Village. The civic association will use this occasion to welcome in its 70th anniversary year.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

JPCA & Councilman Avella protest illegal houses on Mazeau Street

The Juniper Park Civic Association and Councilman Tony Avella held a press conference this past Sunday, December 2nd on Mazeau Street in Maspeth. This marked the one-year anniversary of our first press conference that called for DOB to step in and force the demolition of a building on the street. About 40 concerned residents came out in the cold and snow to protest alongside us.

Monday, July 23, 2007

German Night Features die Schlauberger in Juniper Valley Park Free Summer Concert

The Juniper Park Civic Association, NYC Parks & Recreation, Commerce Bank and RCN are proud to present German Night on Tuesday, July 31st, 7:30pm to 9:30pm as part of the Juniper Valley Park 2008 Free Summer Concert Series.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

JPCA and Councilman Tony Avella to hold 2 rallies this weekend

The Juniper Park Civic Association and Councilman Tony Avella will hold two rallies this weekend aimed at curbing overdevelopment and preserving history in Maspeth & Middle Village, Queens.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Councilman Tony Avella selected as Juniper Civic's "2006 Man of the Year"

The Juniper Park Civic Association is proud to announce that Councilman Tony Avella has been selected as our 2006 Man of the Year, an honor that historically is awarded to the most outstanding leaders in the City of New York.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Juniper Civic to Honor DSNY for Outstanding Service

Special Guests at the next JPCA meeting will include representatives of the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY). The JPCA will present two community service awards to the DSNY for outstanding contributions in the neighborhood and the City of New York.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

JPCA MOVES AGAINST REALTOR ENCOURAGING ILLEGAL CONVERSIONS IN MASPETH

On April 4th, a member of the Juniper Park Civic Association observed an online real estate advertisement for the newly constructed "Maspeth Mews" development at 60-51 Flushing Ave. on the "Queens Crap" website. The ad blatantly encourages potential buyers to convert the garage and basement into an illegal apartment.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Midville Dodgers To Try Out Travel Team

Surdi To Lead Spring Squad The Midville Dodgers are pleased to announce the formation of a 12-and-under travel tournament team that will begin play this coming spring.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Councilman Gallagher Corrupts Community Board Process

To use the answer to the St. Saviour's question as a litmus test for appointment to Community Board 5 is a perfect example of how far Councilman Dennis Gallagher will go to help his developer cronies and friends. He has betrayed his constituency plain and simple.

Monday, March 12, 2007

NYPD Precincts & Technology: Welcome to the 1950's.

Take a tour of local NYC precincts and you may just find yourself traveling back in time to the 1950's. After an examination of the technology in the precincts you will quickly determine that it is closer to 1957 than 2007.

Monday, February 26, 2007

FALSE ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD DISCREDIT NYC DOG

JPCA has retained counsel to explore legal action against the persons responsible for this press release for their reckless accusation that our organization attempted to inject fraud into a governmental process.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Old Maspeth, Queens Church Property Could Reveal Historic & Revolutionary War Artifacts

ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL RECOGNIZED BY CITY AND STATE.
Councilman wants to create housing project on site.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Midville Dodgers Announce Winter Workouts

The National Champion Midville Dodgers Baseball Clubs will begin their 8 week pre-season workout at "The Cage" located at 62-40 Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Villlage on January 28th 2007 10AM ‒ 12 noon.

Monday, November 27, 2006

COUNCILMAN TONY AVELLA CALLS FOR SHUTDOWN OF HUANG

Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) is joining the Juniper Park Civic Association in demanding that the NYC Department of Buildings issues no further building permits to the owner of the property at 57-39 Mazeau Street in Maspeth, Queens, and that an investigation is opened into his activities. A press conference featuring the councilman and JPCA leaders will be held on Saturday, December 2nd, 2006 at 11am.

Monday, November 27, 2006

104 QUEENS CIVIC GROUPS WANT DOGS LEASHED IN CITY PARKS

Citing danger, discrimination, faulty statistics, and complaints from their members, the Queens Civic Congress, Inc., an umbrella organization representing 104 civic and community groups across the borough of Queens, has expressed support for keeping dogs leashed in city parks at all times in a letter to NYC Department of Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Destroyer of Flushing's RKO Keith's Theater now raping Maspeth

The Juniper Park Civic Association is demanding that the Department of Buildings issues no further building permits to the owner of the property at 57-39 Mazeau Street in Maspeth, Queens, and that an investigation is opened into his activities.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Safe Halloween campaign expands throughout Queens

The Juniper Park Civic Association is again expanding its Halloween safety campaign to other police precincts in Queens County. The campaign dubbed, "Operation Cooperation," is asking merchants in the neighborhoods to voluntarily pledge not to sell eggs and saving cream to minors during Halloween week. The campaign has worked successfully in the 104th Precinct for over 10 years.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Parks Dept. Scrambles to Rewrite Leash Law in Wake of Court Battle with Civic Association

Adrian Benepe, Commissioner of the NYC Parks Department, encourages the public to violate the leash law in NYC parks from 9pm to 9am, twelve hours a day, by promoting "off-leash hours" during this time.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Parks Commissioner Benepe puts muzzle on NYC community boards

Will not allow local input from boards on unleashed dog issue. JPCA lawsuit against Benepe Moves Forward.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Councilman Tony Avella To Developer: Do Not Destroy Maspeth's St. Saviour's Church

The Juniper Park Civic Association and Four Borough Neighborhood Alliance held a joint press conference on Saturday, May 7th 2006, which was attended by more than 100 neighborhood residents.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Residents Rally to Save Historic St. Saviour's Church in Maspeth

Despite heavy rain, on Saturday, April 22nd, about 100 demonstrators gathered on Grand Avenue in Maspeth to preserve the historic 1847 St. Saviour's church and property.

Monday, April 03, 2006

JPCA: Owner of St. Saviour's Property Endangers Health of Neighbors

The Juniper Park Civic Association is demanding that the owner of the property that includes the former St. Saviour's Church in Maspeth, Queens, stop its assault on our neighborhood.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Coalition Calls For An End to Discrimination Against Queens Landmarks by the LPC

The Juniper Park Civic Association, Committee to Save the Trylon Theater and the Greater Astoria Historical Society are demanding an end to the discrimination against Queens by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Juniper Civic Calls on Councilman Gallagher To Save St. Saviour's Church

The Juniper Park Civic Association, Committee to Save the Trylon Theater and the Greater Astoria Historical Society are calling on Dennis Gallagher to act immediately to stop to the destruction of St. Saviour's Church in Maspeth, Queens.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Mayor Bloomberg Selected Juniper Park Civic Association Man of the Year

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been selected 2005 "Man of the Year" by the Juniper Park Civic Association. The Mayor will be awarded the honor at the JPCA Town Meeting on Thursday, March 23rd, 7:45pm at Our Lady of Hope Auditorium, Eliot Avenue & 71st Street, Middle Village, Queens.

Monday, March 01, 2004

Congressman Joe Crowley Selected Juniper Civic "2002 Man of the Year."

The Juniper Park Civic Association is proud to announce that Congressman Joseph Crowley has been selected as the 2002 Man of the Year, an honor that historically, is awarded to the most outstanding leaders in the City of New York.

THE JUNIPER BERRY

The Juniper Berry magazine, first published in 1938 is an all-volunteer effort containing articles on crime prevention, neighborhood issues, meeting reports and notices, neighborhood history and photographs, guest articles, editorials and more.

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