Astoria residents condemn pharmacy merger
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, District 36 on January 5, 2012 | 1 Comment
State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) held a recent rally attended by about 30 people at an Astoria pharmacy to protest a proposed merger between two pharmacy benefit management companies, saying the plan would be a detriment to local businesses. “They can put pharmacies out of business,” Simotas said about the possible combination of the two [...]
Grand post office spared
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, Congress, District 14, District 36, U.S. House on October 27, 2011 | No Comments
A spokeswoman from the U.S. Postal Service said that while Astoria’s Grand station has been saved from the chopping block, four other post offices in Queens are still up for study. Connie Chirichello of USPS said public meetings will be held to discuss whether or not offices in Holliswood, Rosedale, Arverne and Rockaway Beach will [...]
Simotas nixes USPowergen emissions plan
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, District 12, District 36, State Senate on September 22, 2011 | No Comments
An Astoria power generating company’s plan to decrease emissions which formerly enjoyed community and legislator support has been rejected by a second neighborhood lawmaker. State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) said last week that she met with representatives from USPowergen, a Stamford, Conn.-based company that operates the Astoria Generating plant on the Con Edison complex at [...]
Women legislators endorse Weprin bid
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, City Council, City Offices, Congress, District 12, District 14, District 16, District 21, District 24, District 29, District 30, District 36, State Senate, U.S. House on August 11, 2011 | No Comments
Many female elected officials at the city, state and federal levels endorsed state Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) last Thursday at a news conference in front of Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, saying the Democratic candidate for the sprawling congressional district is a tireless advocate for women’s rights. “Some of the most impassioned speeches [...]
Talkin’ bout my generation, my dad and daughter’s, too
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, City Council, City Offices, District 22, District 36 on April 7, 2011 | No Comments
Three generations of the Vallone family were on stage at Astoria’s Central Lounge last Thursday night, playing classics such as “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and “Rock Around the Clock” in celebration of City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.’s (D-Astoria) 50th birthday. “I’m overwhelmed and humbled by this,” said Vallone, who turned half a century on [...]
Moya, Simotas ready for debut in Assembly
Posted by Rebecca Henely in Assembly, District 36, District 39 on November 11, 2010 | No Comments
When the state Assembly opens its 2011 legislative session in January, two new faces from western Queens will be seen on the floor. Democrats Francisco Moya of Corona and Aravella Simotas of Astoria, both of whom had no opponents in the general election, stepped into seats left open by officials moving on to the state Senate.
