We’re new in the neighborhood, but we’re on the streets and in the meetings and talking to the people who shape news in Southeast Queens.

That’s a promise the PRESS made when we hit the streets on May 12 . . . we held true to that promise, exposing radiation in St. Albans, covering protests and celebrations and neighbors complaints and enthusiam the AirTrain. . . .

We featured the thoughts of local activists and residents who’ve "made good," offered prayers and words of comfort from local religious leaders, and opened our hearts to a two-year-old boy who came from Kenya for open heart surgery in the U.S. . . . we cheered on our Mets as they came "that close," and wept with the familes of five employees at a Wendy’s restaurant when two South Queens men allegedly executed their loved ones, leaving two other people massacred mentally. . .

The PRESS debuts with the story of the discovery of the strontium 90 — a radioactive substance — in a building at the St. Albans Veterans Hospital . . . Reverend Floyd Flake announced that he will not make a bid for mayor, opting to fight for the best in charter education by accepting a position at Edison Schools . . .The city Council Select Committee on Police Performance met with police officials and community residents in Springfield Gardens to examine policing in Southeast Queens . . . Harold Levy was appointed New York City Schools Chancellor and stood firm with his decision to suspend School Board 29 … The massacre of seven employees at a Wendy’s restaurant rocked the city, claiming the lives of two Southeast Queens residents and forever changing the life of survivor JaQuione Johnson of Jamaica ….

Residents of Jamaica opposed the expansion of a Catholic Medical Center Methadone Clinic . . . Fire Dept. officials concluded that a million dollar crane being used in the construction of the AirTrain project was set ablaze by vandals . . . As a developer nixed plans for a 14-screen multiplex in Springfield Gardens, ground was broken for a multi-level shopping mall on Jamaica Avenue . . . The PRESS examines police-community relation with a cover story in late June. . . The presence of the chemical PERC is discovered at the site of the former West Side Corporation in Jamaica, causing officials to label the parcel of land a "severe danger to area residents". . . A congressional resolution brings the recently constructed Food and Drug Administration Building in Jamaica one step closer to being named after Reverend Floyd Flake . . . The PRESS examined the relationship between Southeast Queens and the designer drug ecstasy. . . .

Construction is moving forward at a remarkable pace to connect John F. Kennedy Airport (shown) with downtown Jamaica on the monorail AirTrain.

Southeast Queens’ leaders come together to discuss solutions to the recent discovery of toxic sites in the area . . . The PRESS spoke with the keepers of Baisley Pond Park . . . Port Authority officials report that construction on the AirTrain is being completed in record time . . . Nathaniel Washington was elected president of School Board 29. . . Trucks return to spraying throughout the borough in the fight against the spread of the West Nile Virus. . . A PRESS feature examined the struggle for Black businesses to become franchise owners . . . .

Local leaders met to discuss solutions regarding toxic sites in Southeast Queens . . . A PRESS cover story examined how the Police Athletic League is acting as a positive force for young people in Southeast Queens . . . As the presidential race heated up, the PRESS asked "Can Southeast Queens Still Rock The Vote?". . . Schools Chancellor Harold Levy rejected School Board 29’s choice of Rhia Warren for superintendent . . . A strike by Verizon workers caused delayed repairs, slowed billing and limited directory assistance in Queens . . . A PRESS cover story took an in-depth look at the historic cemeteries of Southeast Queens that have fallen into disrepair . . . Former Assemblywoman Cynthia Jenkins’ petition was thrown out by a Queens Supreme Court . . . residents of the neighborhoods St. Albans and Cambria Heights told the PRESS that the face of the neighborhood is becoming younger as older residents decide to move away . . . .

The Swahili Ministry at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Jamaica reached out to a two-year-old boy from Kenya who came to the U.S. for open heart surgery . . . A Southeast Queens restaurant owner was killed while making a delivery, allegedly after being attacked with a brick by a group of teens . . . The PRESS examined the growing trend of grandparents raising children . . . A study revealed that the dangers of groundwater contamination spread from a toxic site in the Jamaica Corporate Park . . . A grant from the Federal Aviation Administration gave students from York College the opportunity to learn to fly . . . The results of a state investigation of toxic waste in Southeast Queens did little to ease the concerns of area residents at a public meeting in Jamaica . . . The PRESS reported on the positive impact of the Jamaica Fathers Project on young and absentee dads . . . The Southeast Queens group, Mothers Against Guns, announced that they were determined to stop the violence . . . Former School Board Superintendent Celestine Miller was eyed by prosecutors in an investigation into a multi-million computer bid rigging scheme . . . .

The Main Street Wendy’s was covered with flowers to remember those lost in execution-style shootings as part of an early morning robbery. Two Southeast Queens residents were killed and one severely injured. PRESS Photos by Ira Cohen

A 73-year-old Hollis woman became the first Queens victim of the West Nile Virus in 2000 . . . A memorial service was held for the victims of the Wendy’s Massacre in May that claimed the lives of two Southeast Queens residents and left one young Jamaica man severely injured . . . The PRESS reported on the local battle against domestic violence . . . Three children were attacked by a stray dog at a Jamaica daycare center . . . Government officials announced a crackdown on predatory lenders in our area . . . The city was swept up by Subway Series mania as the Yankees beat the Mets in the first inter-borough baseball championship in over 40 years . . . .

Six people including former school district 29 superintendent Celestine Miller, were indicted in a multi-million dollar bid rigging, bribery and computer kickback scheme . . . Southeast Queens incumbents score resounding victories on election day . . . PRESS Columnist and NY1 News Anchor Gary Anthony Ramsay talks about his 15 minutes behind bars . . . The PRESS examined one local mother’s fight to create a foundation to help find missing persons . . . The PRESS covered the problem of homelessness in Queens . . . Southeast Queens toxic sites are targeted by the PRESS in an investigation of Environmental danger zones . . . .

Southeast Queens received federal funds to study area traffic . . . an increasing number residents got in gear for the holiday of Kwanzaa . . . The PRESS took a tour of the Food and Drug Administration Building in Jamaica . . . Schools Chancellor Harold Levy announced that he will stand by his choice of Michael Johnson for superintendent of School Board 29 . . . A fire destroys "Pooor" Freddie’s Tire Shop . . . Floyd Flake is eyed as the top choice for the position of US Secretary of Education but takes himself out of the running a few days after the announcement . . . .

And so we bid farewell to this first year of the new century – a time of mixed emotions and great expectations . . . .

And so we take our first steps into this new time unsure of
the challenges that await us but certain of our ability to face what lies ahead . . . we hope that our contribution to the history of Southeast Queens will make the road less rocky . . . .

To new moms and dads,
brides and grads , our congratulations . . . to "our" Championship Mets – hey Ya Gotta Believe!

And to the families of Anita Smith, Jean Auguste, Ramon Nazario, Jeremy Mele and Ali Ibadat, we offer our sincere coindolences for their incomprehensible loss . . . to Patrick Castro and JaQuione Johnson, we wish a million more miracles and time to heal . . . .