As a key Republican Party nomination battle for state Senate shapes up between Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Forest Hills attorney Juan Reyes, the Queens Conservative Party today gave Ulrich an ideological boost by throwing him its support.

It’s been a tough year.

On Monday, the 40th anniversary of the day Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins took an unparalled leap for mankind, 30 children sat cross-legged in a Richmond Hill classroom, ready to take their own small steps to follow in their heroes’ spaceboot prints.

2005

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley pulled off a stunning victory on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Councilman Anthony Como (R-Middle Village) by almost 4,000 votes in the election for the District 30 seat.

Republican Anthony Como unofficially topped Democrat Elizabeth Crowley by 70 votes in the District 30 special election for City Council on Tuesday, but hundreds of uncounted absentee ballots left Como’s claim to victory uncertain until at least next week.

For those keeping track, and depending on one’s politics, Tuesday May 20 may go down in history as the most pivotal — or, at least controversial — day of the District 30 special election to replace the disgraced former Councilman Dennis Gallagher.

Opinions clashed and tempers flared last week at a public hearing over plans to build a 1,650-seat school facility in Maspeth.

Opinions clashed and tempers flared last week at a public hearing over plans to build a 1,650-seat school facility in Maspeth.

When the Queens County Republican Party announced last week that it would endorse Anthony Como for the upcoming City Council District 30 special election, not everyone was pleased — least of all, Como’s Republican opponent, former City Councilman Thomas Ognibene.

Two devastating floods and the scandalous rape case involving a Middle Village councilman dominated headlines in Mid- Queens this year.

Two devastating floods and the scandalous rape case involving a Middle Village councilman dominated headlines in Mid- Queens this year.

After being voted out of his leadership posts by fellow City Council members, scandal-scarred lawmaker Dennis Gallagher now appears to be losing support from some Republican primary voters, as well.

The fate of a Middle Village councilman charged with raping and assaulting a 52-year-old grandmother is in the hands of the criminal justice system. In the meantime, his political clout is eroding.

The fate of a Middle Village councilman charged with raping and assaulting a 52-year-old grandmother is in the hands of the criminal justice system. In the meantime, his political clout is eroding.

Middle Village residents may have to find a new route home this summer. At its monthly meeting, Community Board 5 voted 36 to 4 to close a portion of Eliot Avenue for two month’s of round-the-clock reconstruction work this summer.

Whether a 1,000-foot stretch of Eliot Avenue in Middle Village should be closed during an upcoming reconstruction will be discussed at a Community Board 5 meeting next week.

An expansion plan unveiled to Glendale parents last week will bring overcrowding relief to one of the borough’s most jam-packed elementary schools. But there’s a catch: Students must give up half of their beloved playground.

Middle Village parents gave a big thumbs up last week to the city’s plan to build a new four story schoolhouse at P.S. 128, to ease overcrowding and add middle school grades.

A new shopping mall, an old church and a decades old debate over the city’s leash laws dominated headlines in Mid and Central Queens neighborhoods in 2006.

More than 150 volunteers, including students from P.S. 71, above, painted over graffiti covered mailboxes, light posts, garages and businesses on Saturday and Sunday.

Gallagher Responds

The Pearlmans and the Maurers have a common bond. They both lost children in the 9/11 attacks and their suffering remains raw five years later.

The head of a City Council task force looking into the Department of Buildings came to a conclusion an hour into its Queens public hearing last week.

Many veterans are letting benefits they are entitled to go unclaimed, according to veterans groups.