Yvonne Marrero, the principal of PS 222 in Jackson Heights, has come under fire for cutting seven of the school's 25 teachers when the budget only required two. Photo by Christina Santucci

UFT demands apology for layoffs

The United Federation of Teachers said it wants an apology from Principal Yvonne Marrero, who initially removed seven teachers from the 25-member staff of PS 222 at 86-15 37th Ave in Jackson Heights, when cuts to the school’s budget only demanded two. Now the other five teachers will be allowed to return to work.

Ann Forte, spokeswoman for the city Department of Education, said that in June near the end of the school year Marrero was instructed to implement a budget cut of 4 percent. After looking at staffing and budget overall, Marrero thought it was necessary to put seven teachers in “excess,” Forte said.

In excess, teachers are removed from their position, but their salary is...

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114th Precinct captain retires in abrupt move

The deputy inspector of Astoria’s 114th Precinct unexpectedly retired from his post last week, while several other top officers at the precinct also stepped down, community leaders said.

LaGuardia CC cooks present their dishes to the masses

Gilmar Avila, a 6-year-old from Ozone Park darted through the pouring rain at the Jamaica Farmers’ Market last week to stand in line for the raw beet and apple salad about which he could not stop raving.

Cops nab 2 in Corona death

Two people are under arrest for allegedly killing a Corona man during an early morning scuffle Saturday on National Street, police and eyewitnesses said.

Peralta, broker hold foreclosure workshop

When in dire financial straits and facing foreclosure, the first instinct for many people is to sell their homes — and in this economic crisis, many are fighting to keep their heads above water.

Gennaro bill slated to clean Queens air

A bill sponsored by City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) and slated to pass the Council Thursday is expected to reduce air pollution, promote the use of alternative fuels and create green jobs in the city, Gennaro and Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this week.

Mayor, DMC take stand on caregiver abuse

The recent killings of children by caregivers in Queens and throughout the city prompted Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Hollis hip-hop artist Darryl McDaniels and a bevy of other officials to launch a citywide campaign in Forest Hills last week urging parents to be cautious about those looking after their little ones.

MTA elevators, escalators need repair: Liu

City Comptroller John Liu said his agency has issued recommendations to the MTA after an audit found transit officials have grown lax in maintenance and safety oversight of subway elevators and escalators.

LIC summer camp puts girls up close to nature, science

For many children, summer camp means playing ball or hiking through the woods on a sunny day, but for Green Girls, participants in a summer program for middle school girls through the City Parks Foundation’s Coastal Classroom, summer camp means seining the East River in Long Island City on a cloudy, drizzly day — and loving every minute of it.

NYPD cracks down on tix fix

The city Police Department has started tracking all parking and traffic tickets issued by police officers through scanners at precincts across the five boroughs in a bid to stop ticket fixing.

Astorians discuss waterfront improvements

For more than a year, Green Shores NYC has been working to realize its vision of a connected waterfront along the East River from Bowery Bay to Newtown Creek, and last week the organization began to formulate that vision further with the public.

Man accused of stealing from 8 LIC businesses

A 47-year-old Port Washington, L.I., man was charged with multiple counts of burglary and larceny last week for allegedly stealing multiple items equivalent to thousands of dollars from eight businesses in Long Island City, the Queens district attorney said.

Family of Taconic crash mom cuts deal for movie: NY Post

The family of the mother who killed eight people, including herself, her daughter and her three young Floral Park, L.I., nieces in the wrong-way Taconic Parkway accident last year just inked a deal with a movie company that plans to exhume her body to determine if a stroke led to the crash, the New York Post reported.

St. Mary's Hospital to expand

St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside is embarking on a $114 million expansion the facility said will move its patients into more modern quarters and cut down on their hospital stays.

Slain EMT was 'good kid'

As family and friends laid to rest EMT worker Jason Green, a 32-year-old Ravenswood resident who was shot and killed in front of a Manhattan nightclub, some friends took the time out to defend him Monday from the scandal that had plagued Green for the last eight months.

DOE wants parents' say on courses for new Maspeth school

The city Department of Education is asking for community input as it plans the curriculum for its new high school at 54-40 74th St. in Maspeth.

Moynihan Station starts construction in October

Work is expected to start in October on the long-delayed project to turn the James Farley Post Office on Manhattan’s West Side into a resplendent successor to Penn Station, the last stop for thousands of Long Island Railroad riders from Queens.

Mysterious dogs sent on wild goose chase at Fort Totten

Dogs made of bark that cannot bite have been popping up around Fort Totten to scare off gaggles of geese, but no city agency has yet to come forward to take credit for placing the pretend pooches at the historic fort.

Weiner trumps Turner in fund-raising for 2010

Bob Turner, a Republican from Rockaway Point who is running for U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-Forest Hills) seat, has raised a little less than $40,000 and has given himself a little more than $50,000 in the last campaign filing period, according to his most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission.

Martha's bakery in Bayside temporarily closes after fire

A weekend fire on Bell Boulevard has forced the popular Martha’s Country Bakery to shut its doors temporarily and a physical therapy office to close until the extensive damage is repaired.

New medical center opens at Kennedy Airport

With hundreds of thousands of travelers, airline workers and other visitors using John F. Kennedy International Airport every day, there are countless health risks faced by people at the airport, according to Dr. Manuel Ceja.

Rangel faces trial before House Ethics Committee

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Sunnyside) will face a trial before the House Ethics Committee to determine whether he violated ethics rules following a House panel’s recent investigation.

Western Queens Bulletin Board

Ongoing events and notices in your community

Business  (top)

Fresh Meadows gym fills area business void

Columnists  (top)

Berger's Burg: 'Vacation' not in vocabulary of the United States' workers

Dishing with Dee: GOP must stop backing Dems and start grooming their own

I Sit And Look Out: Political games end position of longtime public service

Letters  (top)

Saujani a worthy Maloney opponent

City residents must always try to secure quality education for their children

City has to better track crimes in parks

Support, don't cut, school funding

Owners of co-ops and condos need Senate 'ombudsman bill'

Sometimes exaggeration goes too far

Pols spend too much on races

City more green than people think

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