Northeast Queens' Top Five Stories of the Summer

Autumn is on the way, so Patch is providing a rundown of the top five stories of the summer.

If you think we missed one of the biggest local stories of the past few months, tell us in the comment section provided below.

1. Six candidates are running for Councilman Dan Halloran’s seat following his arrest in April in an alleged bribery scheme and his announcement that he would not seek reelection.

Patch wrote profiles of the candidates – former state Assemblyman John Duane, former Halloran chief of staff Chrissy Voskerichian, Flushing attorney Paul Vallone, long-time activist Paul Graziano, Douglaston attorney Dennis Saffran and Austin Shafran, formerly of Empire State Development.

And check out this piece on a recent Bay Terrace Community Alliance candidates forum, which was attended by all six candidates as well as several mayoral, comptroller and public advocate contenders.

2. Bayside leaders continued the fight to halt airplane noise over northeast Queens. Check out this video of Anthony Weiner discussing the matter at a recent Bay Terrace candidates forum.

3. Giftalicious closes its doors on 235th Street in Douglaston, but a new wine bar is planned for a vacant site a few doors down. In Bayside, a shoe shop and two eateries are expected to open on Bell Boulevard this fall. H Mart debuted in Bayside at the former Waldbaum’s site along Francis Lewis Boulevard.

4. The summer’s top crime stories include a Bayside man accused of taking his girlfriend hostage and a city firefighter who allegedly placed fake emergency calls to empty out local firehouses, from which he then stole personal belongings. Also, a Papa John’s franchise owner with a former Bayside chain store site was accused of sales tax theft.

5. Community Board 11 says the city left its members out of the process for selecting a new school for the community. State Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and state Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, D-Fresh Meadows also oppose the school’s proposed locale.