Maria Fitzsimons is a reporter, photojournalist and photo editor living in Astoria, Queens.

Writing Samples:

A piece of beauty for Long Island City

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/a-piece-of-beauty-for-long-island-city/article_234aa03c-f0f1-5d03-9477-5dcfc199c275.html

Trade Fair employees strike
Union opposes proposed cuts in pay, medical coverage and hours

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/trade-fair-employees-strike/article_87b2c9b3-2c1c-516d-894e-5e8bdbe3ee3e.html

LIC crane collapse prompts investigation
Operator’s license suspended; LIC crane collapse last Wednesday

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/lic-crane-collapse-prompts-investigation/article_4e74e4c0-3ab9-5764-8259-66ac1bd2c565.html

Rockaway, Howard Beach schools move to LIC in Sandy’s wake

Rockaway and Howard Beach students move temporarily to LIC
http://www.qchron.com/editions/south/rockaway-howard-beach-schools-move-to-lic-in-sandy-s/article_4c43d791-be35-5242-b5bf-d5b2b7fc3086.html

Free rooms for Sandy evacuees
Residential rental company Airbnb partners with city for housing

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/free-rooms-for-sandy-evacuees/article_6d20636a-e63a-5724-9125-6a0b4f1c928e.html

Art House Astoria carolers bring holiday cheer to Western Queens
It’s time for Christmas songs to fill the air

http://www.qchron.com/qboro/stories/art-house-astoria-carolers-bring-holiday-cheer-to-western-queens/article_6a3e440f-2f1e-599b-962c-4aa846f8653c.html

Astoria board says nay to no-car plaza

Newtown Avenue plan voted down 25 to 7 for parking and biz concerns

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/astoria-board-says-nay-to-no-car-plaza/article_dbaf2bb4-8319-5584-b229-5d84eda84668.html

Beer bottles and condoms left in park

Unlocked Sean’s Place gate allows for unsavory nighttime activities

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/beer-bottles-and-condoms-left-in-park/article_488ca403-3143-5703-8921-522cf45b77d0.html

Businesses unite for scavenger hunt

'Where's Waldo' game brings customers to Astoria and LIC stores

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/businesses-unite-for-scavenger-hunt/article_c1e3e921-2f15-56e9-8ddb-2fbe14830940.html

City Council nixes mayor’s wage veto

Service workers rally at City Hall

http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/city-council-nixes-mayor-s-wage-veto/article_b9d822dc-cdfe-58a9-bb32-1485720c88f0.html

Mourners find dead man at cemetery

Mystery surrounds the death of Sunnyside’s Robert Zaretz, 42

http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/mourners-find-dead-man-at-cemetery/article_7de82b35-3682-5a13-87e6-549009c78faa.html

Queens Quartet Brings Bach to School

Classical music performance takes center stage

http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/queens-quartet-brings-bach-to-school/article_9cc83930-29cd-5c24-8ec8-0ee7c7cecead.html

Photographer saw beauty in the everyday

Thousands of historical NYC photo negatives unearthed in family attic

http://www.qchron.com/qboro/stories/photographer-saw-beauty-in-the-everyday/article_9e40af9a-9493-5487-bfdf-cc576d535fc9.html