As 2021 draws to a close, QNS has compiled a list of the biggest stories, events and people from Queens that have caught our attention this year.

Here is a look back at the best stories of the month of July.

the Queens Night Marlet at Flushing Meadows Corona Park opened in July with free admission and open to the public.

In June, the open-air market returned for its sixth season with reduced capacity for its first three weekends and required patrons to purchase tickets in advance or at the door. The event pledged 20% of net ticket proceeds to initiatives promoting racial equity and COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts. In three weeks, the pledge raised nearly $ 10,000.

On his opening night, Borough President of the Borough of Queens, Donovan Richards, issued a proclamation declaring June 19 “Queens Night Market Day”. In the first five seasons, the market welcomed over a million visitors, helped launch over 300 new businesses in New York City, and represented over 90 countries through its various suppliers and food.

The city’s Ministry of Education (DOE) in July, impeached High School Principal Maspeth after substantiating allegations of his involvement in an academic fraud scandal.

Principal Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir has been accused of changing incomplete grades to passing grades and of awarding unearned credits to students. As a result of the DOE investigation, Mutakabbir faced disciplinary charges and was removed from the payroll while the department continued with his dismissal under state law.

City Councilor Robert Holden, who brought the scandal to light two years ago, criticized the DOE for moving slowly with investigations.

“It took way too long, as neither the administration nor the DOE was in a rush to investigate. I brought this shame to the attention of the chancellor and the mayor directly and no action was taken, ”Holden said.

New York Restaurant The week returned in July with 31 participating businesses in Queens.

NYC Restaurant Week is a biannual program that celebrates the city’s world-famous dining scene, in which participating restaurants offer fixed-price lunches and dinners.

The event took place from July 19 to August 22. Restaurants had charged $ 21 or $ 39 for lunch or dinner, which includes an appetizer or side. Some restaurants also offered exclusive dining experiences with three or more courses for $ 125.

Amid the pandemic, restaurants were offering indoor and outdoor dining, as well as ordering and delivery options.

Two teenagers were arrested on gang assault charges for brutally beating a 44-year-old man in Juniper Valley Park in July.

The 14 and 15-year-olds were charged after their parents took them to the 104th Precinct Police Station in Ridgewood.

As the man was walking his dog, he saw a group of children setting up fireworks and confronted the group over the noise, which led to a severe beating. Police say the man was able to escape and only had cuts and bruises.

In the aftermath of the incident, City Councilor Robert Holden called for immediate action from the NYPD and the Parks Department.

The new $ 1.1 billion UBS Arena, located at Belmont Park in Elmont, was nearing completion in July in time for the Islanders’ 2021-2022 NHL season.

The ultramodern 19,000-seat venue, developed in partnership with Oak View Group (OVG), the New York Islanders and Sterling Project Development (SPD), is also a world-class home for more than 150 concerts and festivals as the arena plans to host annually.

The arena’s design is inspired by iconic New York landmarks including Central Park, Ebbets Field, Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue Armory, and Prospect Park Boathouse. There are two outdoor decks open to all guests, eight bars with full views of the action on the ice, and more restrooms per person than any area in the New York metro area.

A network of drug dealers and arms traffickers were arrested in a morning raid on the Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway in July.

A group of 21 defendants were indicted by a Queens grand jury and were charged in five different indictments with allegedly using and / or holding firearms and selling drugs in Redfern Houses and neighborhoods surrounding areas between November 2019 and March 2021, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda. Katz.

Police recovered guns, cocaine, heroin, heroin containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs during the operation.

Using surveillance techniques, undercover shopping and other investigative tools, the Violent Criminal Enterprise District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Gun Recidivist Investigation Program, conducted a long-term investigation to uncover the firearms traffic and illicit drug sales in Queens.

A NYPD officer on leave was arrested over a parking dispute in Queens, authorities said.

Aaron Cooper argued with another man over a parking space, according to police. Cooper then allegedly began to curse the victim, which alarmed the victim, before pulling a small black gun from his front pocket.

Cooper would then have held the gun next to him and returned to his car. The victim, fearing for his safety, then notified the police.

Cooper was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, threat, criminal mischief and harassment.

Quick-witted mother rescued her 5-year-old son from an attempted kidnapping in Richmond Hill when a driver jumped out of the car and sprinted to the sidewalk, where he grabbed the boy and threw him in the car.

The young boy’s mother, with the help of her two children, pulled the boy out of the open front passenger window.

Police had identified the suspect as James McGonagle, 24, who was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping, reckless endangerment and acting in a manner harmful to a child under 17.