NEWS YOU CAN USE: St. John’s to ‘Light it up Blue’ for Autism

NEWS YOU CAN USE

St. John’s raising Autism awareness

St. John’s University will be joining countless organizations throughout the world this week when they “Light it up Blue” for Autism awareness. This is the second annual “Light it up Blue” campaign. It was launched by by Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, and help raise funds and awareness of autism.

The D’Angelo Center and St. Thomas More Church on the St. John’s campus will shine a bright blue on April 1 to help kickoff Autism Awareness Month.

St. John’s will host several education and support events, beginning on Wednesday, March 30:

Light it Up Blue Fun Run

March 30 – 2:30 p.m./Carnesecca Arena

STJ student-athletes will place blue bows and puzzle pieces around campus

Light it Up Blue Commuter Breakfast

Thursday, March 31 – 8 a.m./D’Angelo Center

Information session and viewing of Temple Grandin (an HBO film about a young women’s perseverance while struggling with the challenges of autism – when the disease was relatively unknown)

Light it Up Blue with PS 177

Thursday, March 31 – 11 a.m./D’Angelo Center

The School of Education will sponsor Funtime Sessions, where education majors will engage with students from PS 177 in arts and crafts, story time, coloring, snack time, and a special light it up blue egg hunt

Light it Up Blue Fun Soccer Clinic

Thursday, March 31 – 5 p.m./Great Lawn

St. John’s Red Storm Women’s Soccer Team will host a fun soccer clinic

Inside of Their World: Candlelight Vigil of Hope

Thursday, March 31 – 8 p.m./D’Angelo Center

The University community will gather in prayer and hope. Mothers of Autistic children will share stories

Light it Up Blue Sibling Event

Friday, April 1 – 1 p.m.

A group for brothers and sisters of people with disabilities, who can meet with others who understand what is means to be the sibling of a person with a disability

No. 7 subway weekend work scheduled

Due to switch replacement work, the No. 7 line will be out of service between the Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main Street stations during four weekends over the next two months, the MTA announced.

The No. 7 line will not be running between the times of 4 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday on the weekends of March 26 – 27, April 2 – 3, April 16 – 17 and May 14 – 15.

Free shuttle buses will be available to carry passengers between the Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main Street stations on these weekends.

Also, from March 23 to May 13, the last Manhattan-bound express train will leave Flushing-Main Street at 9 a.m. rather 9:55 a.m.

Transit personnel will be on hand during the weekends to provide assistance for those using the shuttle buses.

The No.7 line was also out of service on the weekend of March 11 due to heavy rains on the night before that damaged the signal system in the tunnel.

For more information, visit www.mta.info and click on “Planned Service Changes.”

Schedule changes on Metro-North

The Metro-North Railroad will implement minor changes to certain train schedule beginning Sunday, April 3.

Changes to the schedules are planned for Hudson, Harlem and New Haven line customers to accommodate various construction projects, to better reflect actual running times and to improve operational reliability.

A new Friday-only train will also be added to the New Haven line.

For more information and the schedule adjustments visit https://mta.info/mnr/html/serviceupdates.htm?story=685 and pick up a new timetable at Info Booths or ticket windows.

Get 10 free trees for spring

With spring about to bloom, the Arbor Day Foundation is offering ten free trees for you to plant.

The dogwoods will be sent to you between March 1 and 31, the optimal time for planting these trees, with instructions on how to plant the them enclosed. These white-flowering trees that will grow to between 6-12 inches are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced for free.

It is just $10 to become a member of the foundation and receive trees that “have showy spring flowers, scarlet autumn foliage, and red berries which attract songbirds all winter,” according to John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation

This is part of the non-profit foundation’s Trees for America campaign.

To become a member and receive your ten trees join online at www.arborday.org/March or send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE DOGWOOD TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by March 31, 2011