Queens College unveils new digital brochure

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Queens College has rolled out a new digital brochure to offer information to prospective students, parents and the public.

The brochure, called QC at a Glance, gives a virtual introduction to Queens College.

It touches on topics like programs, faculty, campus life and the value of a Queens College education.

Visitors go on a virtual campus tour that includes campus buildings, departments and programs.

They will also hear about the college’s diverse student body, well-known alumni and the school’s role in the community.

Check out QC at a Glance here.

Assemblyman Ron Kim captures 70 percent of the vote

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It was already a foregone conclusion after primary night that Assemblyman Ron Kim would win re-election, it was just a matter of the margin.

After all of the absentee ballots were counted last week, it’s now clear: Kim captured north of 70 percent.

According to the Flushing lawmaker, he secured 3,585 votes out of a total of 5,095 votes cast for the 40th Assembly District. That’s about 70.36 percent.

Here’s what Kim had to say about the victory:

My colleagues and I have already returned to Albany to continue our work ensuring a safe path to reopening New York’s institutions and businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am also fighting to ensure that those in power are held accountable for mistakes and misconduct that caused otherwise preventable harm and trauma to our fellow New Yorkers during this health crisis. Though the general election is on the horizon, my focus these next few months will be on bringing New York back to its full potential.

Kim faced police sergeant Steven Lee, a first time candidate, who would later form a nonprofit organization, call for neighborhood watch patrols, and donate PPE to senior centers.

The race eventually got dirty and personal, with accusations of cyberbullying.

Annual blood drive set for Thursday, August 6

Blood Drive 2020

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein’s 8th annual summer blood drive is set to take place on Thursday, August 6 from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, located at 212-51 26th Avenue.

The event is hosted in conjunction with the New York Blood Center.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for blood donors,” Braunstein said. “Each blood donation saves up to three lives, so I hope you will take the time to share this lifesaving gift.”

Donations are by appointment only. Donors must:

  • Wear a mask or face covering and have your temperature taken
  • Must be 14 days symptom free if recovered from COVID-19
  • Not donate if you have had a positive diagnostic test or experienced symptoms in the last 14 days
  • Not donate if you are currently on self-quarantine

To sign up for donations, click here, or contact Braunstein’s office by phone at 718-357-3588 or by email at braunsteine@nyassembly.gov.

Borough president accepting applications to serve on CEC 25

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Acting Borough President Sharon Lee is looking for two dedicated parent volunteers to fill two vacant positions on Community Education Council District 25.

Lee is accepting applications from education-minded individuals until Friday, August 7.

CEC 25, which includes Flushing, Beechhurst, College Point, Murray Hill,  Whitestone and Willets Point, is responsible for advising and commenting on educational policies and providing input to Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza.

Each CEC oversees elementary and middle schools in their respective community school district. There are seven community school districts in Queens.

To read more about the role of CECs, click here.

CEC members meet for public meetings every month, and visit schools to see what their educational needs are. They also review the district’s educational programs, approve zoning lines, and submit a capital plan to the chancellor after holding public hearings.

The CEC membership application is available online here and can be returned by email to education@queensbp.org.

Queens Botanical Garden has finally reopened

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Starting on July 21, the Queens Botanical Garden is reopening with limited open hours.

QBG is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Free hours are Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 to 11 a.m.

All visitors must wear a mask and maintain six feet of distance from others to remain in the garden.

Hand sanitizer dispensers are available at multiple points throughout the harden. High-touch surfaces will be disinfected throughout the day.

For more information on admission pricing, open hours, and other facts about reopening, go to their website here.

Flushing Greenmarket opens for fifth season

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The Flushing Greenmarket at Maple Playground has launched for its fifth season.

The market will be operated by GrowNYC, and will be open every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until November. The last day will be November 24.

The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce will partner with GrowNYC to help promote the market and coordinate programming with local businesses and cultural groups.

The Flushing Greenmarket has been at Maple Playground since the summer of 2016. It provides residents with access to farm fresh food and vegetables.

Everything sold at the market is farmer grown, produced, caught or foraged.

Farmers accept cash, debit and credit cards, food stamps, WIC and health bucks.

Eastern Queens pol distributes PPE across his district

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Earlier this week, Councilman Barry Grodenchik distributed thousands of free face masks and hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer in his eastern Queens district.

The grab-and-go events in Glen Oaks and Fresh Meadows is part of an effort to keep local residents safe during COVID-19.

In total, Grodenchik’s team gave out over 4,000 packages. Each package contained five masks and two-ounce containers of NYS Clean Hand Sanitizer.

The Glen Oaks giveaway took place at the Glen Oaks Shopping Center. The Fresh Meadows event was located outside the AMC Fresh Meadows theater.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Grodenchik has partnered with numerous community organizations to give out PPE to residents.

Two local Catholic schools to permanently close

St. Mel's Catholic Academy. Screen shot via Google Maps.

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy. Screen shot via Google Maps.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has announced that six Catholic Schools will close permanently on August 31. Among them are Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Whitestone and St. Mel’s Catholic Academy in Flushing. The diocese said the “devastating effects” of COVID-19 on enrollment and finances made it “impossible” for them to reopening this upcoming school year. All six schools already saw a decline in enrollment over the last five years, but the registration totals for this year were “significantly down,” the diocese said. Affected students and families will receive help to transfer to nearby Catholic academies. The Diocese of Brooklyn, through the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Trust, will provide a one-time grant of $500 for each child from a closed school enrolling in a new Catholic academy in Brooklyn or Queens. “This is an incredibly sad day for our Catholic community to have to close these schools, but the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic is insurmountable,” said Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools. “The difficult decisions come after the intense analysis of the financial picture of each academy.”

Flushing Town Hall gets donation of 5,000 face masks

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Flushing Town Hall has received a donation of 5,000 face masks from Pauline Huang, a longtime friend and supporter of the organization.

Huang worked with the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America and the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of New York to secure the masks from abroad.

The donation was delivered to the building on July 7.

Huang serves as president of United Custom Service. She also consults with the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, is an ambassador for Queens Botanical Garden. and is the board chair at MuseConnect.

“I’ve had a relationship with Flushing Town Hall since back in 2010 when I helped host a fundraising event for the Hall,” Huang said. “It’s a historic, beautiful facility for the people and residents in Queens.

“I love this place; its culture and atmosphere are so unique,” she added. “You cannot find a replacement for this Town Hall.”

Vallone: $20 million in funding coming to NE Queens

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Councilman Paul Vallone announced that $20 million in the recently-passed city budget will come back to Northeast Queens.

Out of that funding, nearly $5 million will be for upgrades at local schools. Every school in the district will receive a minimum of $50,000 to fund technology upgrades, Vallone said.

Another $10 million has been allocated for improving parks in his district, including $5 million for pathway renovations at Joe Michael’s Mile and $3.4 million to complete the waterfront, esplanade and seawall repairs at MacNeil Park.

Other projects include $674,000 in classroom renovations at JHS 194,  $500,000 year-round Reading Garden at Auburndale Library, $1 million in playground renovations to PS 194 and more.

A capital investment of $820,000 is coming to St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, which will allow them to add 10 additional beds to the fourth floor.

Finally, over $1 million has been secured to support nonprofits like the Bayside Village BID, Commonpoint Queens, the Alley Pond Environmental Center and others.