Resorts World Casino gets green light to open

 

Photo via WikiMedia Commons

After nearly six months of shutdown due to public health concerns, Resorts World Casino opened its doors to the public this afternoon.

The entertainment hub has implemented an extensive safety plan in order to adhere to the State’s guidelines to ensure a safe reopening. All guests are required to wear masks and maintain a six foot distance from others outside their party.

Entry is limited to the bus lobby entrance, specific parking areas and the skybridge. Staff will conduct temperature checks at the door.

During the first phase of the reopening, guests will be able to enjoy electronic blackjack, baccarat and Three-Card Poker games with plexiglass dividers. Physical distancing panels will be erected on select slot machines. The casino has also installed sanitation stations, equipped hand sanitizer and wipes, throughout the floor.

“While the casino floor may look a little different, all of these changes are part of our 21-point plan, created with your health and safety in mind,” said Resorts World Casino New York City COO Scott Molina. “Regulating capacity on the casino floor will allow for easier social distancing, and sanitation stations will make it easy for you to wipe down electronic table games and other common areas before touching them. Once we are back open, we will constantly be evaluating the situation in order to gauge when we can return our full suite of amenities to our valued guests.”

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato toured the facility yesterday, ensuring that all protocols were up to standard before the official opening.

“I was thankful to learn of Governor Cuomo’s decision,” said Senator Addabbo. “This will result in many of the furloughed casino workers returning to their jobs and providing for their families, while permitting our residents to visit these gaming sites to safely enjoy the amenities during these difficult times. The reopening of casinos will also be an economic generator for revenue and educational funding for our state, as we deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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Richmond Hill street to honor WWII vet Anton Dietrich

This weekend, the Richmond Hill community will honor a local hero and civic leader.

On Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m., Councilman Eric Ulrich will host a street co-naming ceremony honoring the late Anton Dietrich, a World War II veteran and Community Board 9 member.

He passed away in February 2018 at the age of 99 years old.

The ceremony will take place at the intersection of 89th Avenue and 134th Street in Richmond Hill, where Dietrich lived.

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Ulrich funds cleanup along Jamaica Bay

Councilman Eric Ulrich has funded a $55,000 initiative to clean up marine debris along Jamaica Bay.

The effort will also remove derelict boats. Abandoned boats are among the biggest problems in New York City’s waterways.

“Preserving and protecting the Bay is a top priority for Broad Channel and its surrounding communities,” Ulrich said.

“Time and time again, residents have had to deal with abandoned boats and other maritime debris in Jamaica Bay. This is unacceptable and wrong.”

The funds were allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation through the NYC Cleanup Initiative.

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District 28 conducts community cleanup efforts

Last weekend, Councilwoman Adrienne Adams enlisted community-based organizations and resident volunteers in a community cleanup effort across the district.

Working in small groups, volunteers beautified and cleaned streets in Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park and Jamaica.

Due to recent budget cuts, there has been increased litter on streets and sidewalks across the city.

Community groups that participated included: South Queens Women’s March, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, South East Queens Cleanup Initiative and Hood Love.

“Sanitation is critical to the health and safety of our communities and we each have a role to play,” Adams said. “While we worked to clean up trash, this event was also an opportunity to raise awareness abut the importance of keeping our community clean.”

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Jamaica, Rockaways prioritized in city’s new Outdoor Learning initiative

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza announced a new Outdoor Learning initiative for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The program will allow schools to hold classes outdoors in schoolyards, adjacent streets and nearby park space. The program is open to all public, charter and private schools.

Schools in areas hardest hit by COVID-19 with no outdoor space will receive priority.

Beginning on Monday, school principals can submit a request for learning space in school adjacent streets and nearby parks. Schools that want to use their own on-site yards can fill out a survey to notify the Department of Education.

Proposals submitted by Friday, August 28th will receive responses by September 4. Additional requests can be submitted on a rolling basis.

Jamaica, Rockaway and Far Rockaway are some of the Queens neighborhoods that will be prioritized.

Others include Corona, Briarwood and Queensbridge in Long Island City.

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“Censue Subway Series” kicks off: Jamaica vs. Canarsie

This week, NYC Census 2020 launched the NYC “Census Subway Series” and “NYC Counts” census contest, to mobilize New Yorkers to self-respond to the census immediately.

The initiative follows President Trump’s move to cut the census short by one month.

“The 2020 Census will be a critical component of New York City’s recovery after COVID-19. That means we must do everything we can to achieve a complete and accurate count, and fight Donald Trump’s attempts to steal the census,” said Julie Menin, Director of NYC Census 2020 and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel, NYC Law Department.

The “Census Subway Series” is a weekly challenge in which two neighborhoods from different boroughs will are pit against each other to see which gains the largest growth in its Census 2020 self-response rate. Competitor will be announced on a weekly basis over a five-week period,based on the latest self-response rate data. .

First to compete are Jamaica, Queens (current self-response rate: 49.4%) and Canarsie, Brooklyn (current self-response rate: 47.9%).

In addition to bragging rights, residents of the competing neighborhoods — as well as any New Yorker who completes the census during the next five weeks — may be eligible to win these prizes:

  • $1,000 gift card from Seamless (six total)
  • A $50 Lyft credit voucher and annual CitiBike membership (100 total)
  • An annual membership to The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 (a $200 value; 25 total)

 All New Yorkers must take a photo of their census completion confirmation page and upload it to the City’s website to enter. Complete rules can be found at nyc.gov/censuscontest. The last day to enter is Monday, September 21, 2020.

Self-respond online at my2020census.gov or by phone at 1-844-330-2020.

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South Ozone Park man sexually abused children at daughter’s daycare

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced last week that 77-year-old Ramon Rodriguez of South Ozone Park has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually abusing two girls at his daughter’s daycare center.

One of the victims was just seven years old when she was abused in 2010. The second was just five years old when she was abused in 2019.

In January, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first degree.

He will be required to register as a sex offender.

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Sheikh Medical Care opens in Ozone Park

Photo Courtesy of Sheikh Medical Care PLLC

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.

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Drive-in movies to be shown at York College

Screen shot via Google Maps.

Starting July 30, Movies In Your Car, a drive-in theater initiative, is coming to York College.

Movies will be shown on giant inflatable, hi-definition screens with sound played from a pre-programmed station on car radio.

Movies In Your Car will show two movies per night that highlight Black American films, as well as popular blockbuster films.

In partnership with local restaurants, Movies In Your Car will provide premium dinner and drinks to purchase.

Tickets per car start at $40 for general admission an $60 for the VIP experience.

Here is the film schedule:

  • Thursday, July 30, 8 p.m. – Girl’s Trip
  • Thursday, July 30, 11 p.m. – Training Day
  • Friday, July 31, 8 p.m. – Minions
  • Friday, July 31, 11 p.m. – Belly
  • Saturday, August 1, 8 p.m. – Sonic The Hedgehog
  • Saturday, August 1, 11 p.m. – Harlem Nights
  • Sunday, August 2, 8 p.m. – Trolls
  • Sunday, August 2, 11 p.m. – Transformers
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