The Juniper Berry December 2020

Yesterday & Today: 53rd Road, facing east from 73rd Place

Published December 4, 2020

Yesterday & Today: 53rd Road, facing east from 73rd Place

By Christina Wilkinson

In 1945, the landscape of 53rd Road in Maspeth was both very similar and very different from that of today. There were sidewalks, but the road was not yet paved and there were no curbs. The Brooklyn... See More

Published December 4, 2020

Peace to all

By Christina Wilkinson

We present on the cover and above, images taken from vintage holiday cards. The cute, colorful... See More

Berry Bits: Update on Glendale, Midville and Maspeth Library Service

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Update on Glendale, Midville and Maspeth Library Service

By Christina Wilkinson

The temporary library at Atlas Park in Glendale will not reopen. Work on the permanent Glendale... See More

Berry Bits: Maspeth teen charged in death of Forest Park Golf Course caretaker

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Maspeth teen charged in death of Forest Park Golf Course caretaker

By Christina Wilkinson

79-year-old caretaker William Hinchey chased some teens off the Forest Park golf course in early... See More

Berry Bits: 2 men arrested for Forest Park sexual assaults

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: 2 men arrested for Forest Park sexual assaults

By Christina Wilkinson

Cuauhtemoc Cardenas (right), a 32-year-old homeless man, was indicted on rape charges in early... See More

Berry Bits: Con Edison trying to prevent outages

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Con Edison trying to prevent outages

By Christina Wilkinson

In order to better understand climate trends and protect its power systems, Con Edison has... See More

Berry Bits: Gun Seller Busted

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Gun Seller Busted

By Christina Wilkinson

76-year-old Woodside resident Ivan Trdoslavic was arrested in late October after action by an... See More

Berry Bits: Grand Ave stores take a beating

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Grand Ave stores take a beating

By Christina Wilkinson

As if businesses along Grand Avenue weren’t suffering enough, on September 6, a fire broke out at... See More

Berry Bits: Woman found dead under truck in Maspeth

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Woman found dead under truck in Maspeth

By Christina Wilkinson

On the morning of November 16, a Hispanic woman, estimated to be between 30 and 40 years old, was... See More

Berry Bits: Trailer involved in $6M airport heist found in Maspeth

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Trailer involved in $6M airport heist found in Maspeth

By Christina Wilkinson

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by Port Authority Police Chief Security Officer John... See More

Berry Bits: Rest in peace, Mr. Madri

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Rest in peace, Mr. Madri

By Christina Wilkinson

We are sad to report the death of St. Francis Prep English teacher John Madri, who died on Monday,... See More

Berry Bits: Fatal accident on Juniper Blvd North

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Fatal accident on Juniper Blvd North

By Christina Wilkinson

At 6:36am on November 24, 75-year-old Eugenia Atamian, a regular visitor to Juniper Valley Park,... See More

Berry Bits: Sinkhole swallows SUV

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Sinkhole swallows SUV

By Christina Wilkinson

On Thanksgiving morning, a vehicle used as a taxi fell into a giant 8-by-10-foot sinkhole in front... See More

Berry Bits: Have no fear, Santa is here!

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Bits: Have no fear, Santa is here!

By Christina Wilkinson

There may be some youngsters out there in Juniper land who are afraid that Santa might be prevented... See More

Message from the President 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

Message from the President 12-2020

By Tony Nunziato

Season’s Greetings! Here we are at the end of another year, and for many the clock can’t strike... See More

Things That Are Dumb: All-Time Dumb Award Winners!

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: All-Time Dumb Award Winners!

By Christina Wilkinson

It takes a lot to win the Dumb Award on these pages, but this issue’s honorees surely take the... See More

Things That Are Dumb: Tenants Target Holden’s House

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: Tenants Target Holden’s House

By Christina Wilkinson

In late October, another group of BLM activists known as the Ridgewood Tenants Union marched from... See More

Things That Are Dumb: Schools are open, schools are closed, schools are open

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: Schools are open, schools are closed, schools are open

By Christina Wilkinson

After a delayed opening, public schools in NYC, where it was feared that COVID would rapidly... See More

Things That Are Dumb: Color-coded zones cause agita

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: Color-coded zones cause agita

By Christina Wilkinson

Governor Cuomo has categorized certain areas as yellow, orange or red zones based on increasing... See More

Things That Are Dumb: The party was over – twice

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: The party was over – twice

By Christina Wilkinson

In late October, the NYC Sheriff broke up a large warehouse party found to be taking place on... See More

Things That Are Dumb: Gun? What gun?

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: Gun? What gun?

By Christina Wilkinson

Denial will not likely be a strong defense for Julin Liriano, age 34, who was arrested on drug and... See More

Things That Are Dumb: Businesses harassed and fined by inspectors

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: Businesses harassed and fined by inspectors

By Christina Wilkinson

Health inspectors are ready to pounce on businesses who can’t keep up with the city and state’s... See More

Things That Are Dumb: No sleeping in peace

Published December 4, 2020

Things That Are Dumb: No sleeping in peace

By Christina Wilkinson

As the pandemic has worn on, the jerks are getting restless. Those participating in “car... See More

Letters to the Editor 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

Letters to the Editor 12-2020

Tidings of Comfort and Joy Dear JPCA members, As we enter one of the most unique holiday seasons in... See More

Rally at the Janta House

Published December 4, 2020

Rally at the Janta House

By James McMenamin

As an update for the lengthy article in Juniper Berry’s last issue, a rally was held on November... See More

Exploring the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

Published December 4, 2020

Exploring the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

By Richard Polgar

Bicycling in NYC has never been easier and safer. Many miles of marked and protected bike lanes... See More

Amazing Stories 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

Amazing Stories 12-2020

OBJECT TO THE T-RAIL  Trolley Road Restrained From Laying It, Pending... See More

104th Precinct Report 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

104th Precinct Report 12-2020

By Captain Louron Hall

My name is Captain Louron Hall, the new Commanding Officer of the 104th Precinct, and I am... See More

The solution to hunger

Published December 4, 2020

The solution to hunger

By Crystal Wolfe

Every problem has a solution. The solution to hunger in America is Catering for the Homeless, Inc.... See More

George Washington at Christmas

Published December 4, 2020

George Washington at Christmas

Christmas was an important religious holiday in George Washington’s time and the twelve nights of... See More

Do You Know What I Know?

Published December 4, 2020

Do You Know What I Know?

By Christina Wilkinson

The Hidden Meaning Behind a Beloved Christmas Song Everything seemed upside down in October 1962... See More

Mr. New Year’s Eve

Published December 4, 2020

Mr. New Year’s Eve

By Christina Wilkinson

Those of us who are able to stay awake long enough to celebrate at midnight on New Year’s will... See More

Thank a Police Officer Day September 19, 2020

Published December 4, 2020

Thank a Police Officer Day September 19, 2020

By Christina Wilkinson

Thank a Police Officer Day was celebrated on Saturday, September 19th this year. JPCA and Newtown... See More

Pieces of an Early Family’s Legacy

Published December 4, 2020

Pieces of an Early Family’s Legacy

By James McMenamin

During a mid-summer early evening walk with her sister, Elmhurst resident and Newtown Civic member... See More

Maspeth High School Makes The Most Of Students’ Time

Published December 4, 2020

Maspeth High School Makes The Most Of Students’ Time

Maspeth High School is making a difference during a school year where nothing seems to have stayed... See More

How to dispose of worn-out flags

Published December 4, 2020

How to dispose of worn-out flags

By Joyce Beaudoin

Since walking has become an outlet for many people during the Covid-virus, I have noticed that many... See More

Meet the Authors: Ryan James Girdusky and Harlan Hill

Published December 4, 2020

Meet the Authors: Ryan James Girdusky and Harlan Hill

Since 2007, Ryan Girdusky has worked in politics, starting out with New York City Councilwoman... See More

The Paper Route

Published December 4, 2020

The Paper Route

By Paul DeFalco

I remember never having to worry about cars driving down Mazeau, because it was a small... See More

The Woodside Carbarn

Published December 4, 2020

The Woodside Carbarn

By John A. Roberts

Trolleys were not Jay Gatsby’s speed as he raced his yellow roadster along Northern Blvd.... See More

Berry Book Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Book Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

I thought I’d revisit a book franchise I enjoyed quite a bit as a child for this issue (save for... See More

Published December 4, 2020

Almost

A story written for my granddaughter Lena on her fourth birthday You only had to look at him to... See More

Berry Gaming Review: PS5

Published December 4, 2020

Berry Gaming Review: PS5

By Christina Wilkinson

As for games, the PlayStation 5 is compatible out of the box with nearly all PlayStation 4 titles... See More

Think Waste-By-Rail is a Problem Today? Just Wait!

Published December 4, 2020

Think Waste-By-Rail is a Problem Today? Just Wait!

By Mary Parisen-Lavelle

When Fresh Kills landfill closed without a plan to deal with the massive flow of daily trucked... See More

Elmhurst Sculpture Garden Unveiling and Cleanup

Published December 4, 2020

Elmhurst Sculpture Garden Unveiling and Cleanup

By James McMenamin

On November 7th, a group of community members joined artist and founder of the Elmhurst Sculpture... See More

Chef Ricco presents: Conversation with a Butcher

Published December 4, 2020

Chef Ricco presents: Conversation with a Butcher

My trip to the “Little Italy” of Middle Village 2020 has been a very unique and challenging... See More

Social Security Benefits increase in 2021

Published December 4, 2020

Social Security Benefits increase in 2021

Nearly 70 million Americans will see a 1.3 percent increase in their Social Security benefits and... See More

Meet the Author: Crystal Wolfe

Published December 4, 2020

Meet the Author: Crystal Wolfe

Crystal Wolfe researched thousands of books on the subjects of science, religion, history,... See More

Killy’s Korner 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

Killy’s Korner 12-2020

By John Killcommons

Neighborhood Hall of Shame: 12-2020

Published December 4, 2020

Neighborhood Hall of Shame: 12-2020

Thankfully, the vast majority of property owners and residents in Middle Village & Maspeth take... See More

The Violet That Bloomed in Winter

Published December 4, 2020

The Violet That Bloomed in Winter

By Garrit Furman, 1837

Thou modest little flower, Nursed by the sun’s dim ray, When Winter rules the hour, And... See More

The Juniper Berry December 2020 Cover