MetroCard mobile van coming to Fresh Meadows

Dan Rose
Screen shot via Google Maps
Screen shot via Google Maps

An MTA Mobile Sales Van is coming to Fresh Meadows for two days this September, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced.

The mobile van will be in the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, located at Horace Harding Expressway and 188th Street, on Monday, September 14, and Monday, September 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Services that are offered include applying for the Reduced Fare program, purchasing and refilling MetroCards, exchanging damaged reduced-fare MetroCards, and reporting a lost or stolen reduced-fare MetroCard.

Seniors or people with disabilities applying for the Reduced Fare program should bring proof of age documents, birth certificate, driver’s license, Medicare card or valid state ID or passport.

“It is oftentimes difficult for residents to access MTA services,” Rozic said. “That is why I am bringing the MetroCard Mobile Van to the neighborhood to make it more convenient for commuters to talk with a trained representative about their concerns or questions.”

Check out the “Museum Without Doors” outdoor exhibit

Dan Rose
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Photo courtesy of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce

A new pop-up community art project, “Museum Without Doors,” has come to the Flushing Greenmarket at Maple Playground.

The project is a collaboration among local artists, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, New Inspiration Cares, Crystal Windows and GrowNYC.

The first exhibit showcases the work of artists Joseph Hsu and Shih Pao Lin. Other artists that will be featured include Fred Adell and Eddie Abrams.

Hsu’s work includes four photographs from his “New York on PAUSE” series, depicting images of New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lin’s three-dimensional works and two paintings fall under the theme of “Bull Up the City.”

More funding coming to Flushing food pantries

Dan Rose
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Tzu Chi Foundation executive director Freeman Su

With so many New Yorkers continuing to suffer from food insecurity and hunger, food pantries are in desperate need of more funding and support.

Last week, Councilman Peter Koo announced the passage of a resolution in the City Council providing $65,880 in new funding for food pantries throughout Flushing.

The allocation will go to La Jornada, the Tzu Chi Foundation, South Asian Council for Social Services, Flushing Jewish Community Council and CCNS-St. Michael’s Church.

The funding will be used to purchase supplies for operational support.

“Thousands of New Yorkers are in need of emergency food assistance due to the pandemic, and this funding will help make sure those who are struggling through tough times will continue to have access to food,” Koo said.

“Food pantries in Flushing have lines around the block every day, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure the safe operation of those important public service centers.”

Queens College has another year as a “Best College” from Princeton Review

Dan Rose

Clock tower Fridays

For the 29th consecutive year, Queens College has been named one Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges.”

Since the guide was first published in 1992, Queens College has been a mainstay on the list. The school was also ranked a 2021 Best Regional College for the Northeast.

Queens College was noted for its high-quality academics, affordability and diversity.

The results are formed from student surveys from across the country on dozens of topics about their schools.

“It comes at no surprise that Queens College has been recognized in every edition of the Princeton Review “Best Colleges” guide for our academic excellence, affordability and accessibility to students,” said QC President Frank H. Wu, “and I am already well-acquainted with its extraordinary diversity, with students having greeted me in 17 languages as I took office in July.

“For over 83 years, we have provided an unparalleled combination of equal access and opportunity for ambitious students – many of modest means – to advance toward successful and rewarding futures,” he added.

More garbage pickups coming to NE Queens

Dan Rose

College Point, July 2020

Additional trash bin pickups has come to northeast Queens.

Last week, Councilman Paul Vallone announced that he secured $71,000 through the City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund garbage pickups in communities in his district, including Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and Whitestone.

The funding comes in response to significant cuts to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY)’s operating budget, which has left garbage bins filled with trash throughout the city.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” Vallone said in a statement. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting and doing business in northeast Queens.”

Within Queens Community District 7, there will be an additional garbage pickup on Sundays.

In Community District 11, there will be pickups on one additional weekday for 30 weeks.

The increased service began on August 23.

Flushing Town Hall’s Virtual Jazz Jam set for September 9

Dan Rose

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On Wednesday, September 9 at 7 p.m., Flushing Town Hall’s monthly Jazz Jam will celebrate “SEPTEMBER: the Season, the Composers, the Artists, Reflections.”

Participating musicians will choose to play “September songs,” or the work of a composer, singer or musician with a September birthday.

The Jazz Jam will be led by Astoria resident Carol Sudhalter, along with FTH’s house band. They will pay tribute to Louis Armstrong, performing songs associated with the legendary trumpeter/vocalist.

The event is open to amateur and professional musicians, and is part of Flushing Town Hall’s online entertainment series, “FTH at Home!”

Audiences can watch this session live for free by tuning in to Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page or on Zoom here.

Prepare for most adulticide treatment for mosquitos in northeast Queens

Dan Rose

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The Health Department is conducting yet another round of adulticide treatment to parts of eastern Queens to reduce the risk of West Nile virus.

It’s the fourth round of mosquito spray being applied to the area.

The trucks will spray pesticides on Thursday, August 27 between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning. In case of bad weather, the application will be delayed for Monday, August 31.

The department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard or Anvil. The risks of the pesticides for mosquito control are low to people and pets.

Some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash.

To stay safe during spraying, residents are advised to stay indoors whenever possible. Air conditioners can remain on.

That area that will be sprayed is bordered by Flushing Bay to the West; East River and  Little Neck Bay to the North; Nassau and Queens County Boundary to the East; and, Northern Boulevard, Douglaston  Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Bell Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Clearview Expressway, 32nd Avenue, Francis Lewis Boulevard, and 20th Avenue to the South

That includes parts of Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglas Manor, Douglaston, Little Neck, Malba and Whitestone.

OATH to host webinar on city-issued summonses during COVID-19

Dan Rose
File photo
File photo

Councilman Peter Koo is teaming up with the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) for a webinar on Wednesday on how to respond to city-issued summonses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Joni Kletter, the OATH commissioner and chief administrative law judge, will host the “Comm-Cam” event for Flushing area residents and small businesses.

OATH received nearly 850,000 summonses each year from agencies such as the departments of sanitation, buildings, environmental protection, health and others.

“Comm-Cam” is short for “Commissioner’s Community Web-Cam Series.” It is OATH’s new community outreach event. The commissioner will explain the changes in services, policies and procedures that have been implemented during the pandemic.

The informational event will run on August 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. It will be open to up to 100 people and use the WebEx web conferencing technology.

RSVP by emailing RSVPOATH@oath.nyc.org to receive a videoconferencing link.

Free Wednesday Movie Night Drive-in at NY Hall of Science

Dan Rose

Free Wednesday Movie Nights

Every Wednesday this summer, Queens families can enjoy free drive-in movies on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

From August 19 to September 30, Acting Queens Borough President’s office is collaborating with Rooftop Films, Museum of the Moving Image, NYC Parks and other groups for “Free Wednesday Movie Nights at the 2020 Queens Drive-In.”

Here’s the full schedule of movies set to screen:

  • August 19: “John Lewis: Good Trouble”
  • August 26: Up
  • September 2: The Lunchbox
  • September 9: WALL-E
  • September 16: The Farewell
  • September 23: Iron Man
  • September 30: Men in Black

The film series will feature a 60-foot screen constructed in the Hall of Science parking lot.

It will open to pre-registered attendees at 7:30 p.m., one hour before the film screenings begin at 8:30 p.m.

Food and beverages will be available for contactless purchase through select food vendors that participate in the Queens Night Market, which is also held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

 

Another round of mosquito spray coming to northeast Queens

Dan Rose

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The Health Department is conducting yet another round of aerial larviciding treatment to parts of eastern Queens to reduce mosquito activity and reduce the risk of West Nile virus.

It’s at least the third round of mosquito spray being applied to the area.

The aerial larviciding will take place on Thursday, August 20 between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.

In case of bad weather, the application will be delayed for Monday, August 24.

The department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard or Anvil. The risks of the pesticides for mosquito control are low to people and pets.

Some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash.

To stay safe during spraying, residents are advised to stay indoors whenever possible. Air conditioners can remain on.

That area that will be sprayed is bordered by 188th Street, Grand Central Parkway, 164th Street, Hillside Avenue, and 181st Street to the West; Long Island Expressway to the North; Nassau-Queens County Boundary to the East; and Union Turnpike, Grand Central Parkway, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue to the South.

That includes parts of Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Jamaica Hills, Little Neck and Oakland Gardens.