NEWS YOU CAN USE
High Wind and Fog Advisory
With the National Weather Service forecasting gusts of wind greater than 55 miles per hour, the Department of Buildings is reminding property owners to secure any items that may be swept away in the wind and to secure any buildings and construction sites.
To secure a building, property owners should take all precautionary measures including but not limited to the following:
• Bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys.
• Anchor objects that would be unsafe outside, such as gas grills or propane tanks.
• Close up and secure patio umbrellas.
• Secure retractable awnings.
• Remove aerial antennas and satellite television dishes.
The National Weather Service has also issued a dense fog advisory. Visibility
will frequently be under a quarter mile. Because of the conditions drivers should use caution while on the road by slowing down and allowing enough distance between you and other vehicles.
Southern storms death toll reaches 173 The storms that have ripped the South have resulted in 173 deaths as of Thursday morning, according to the New York Times.
One hundred-twenty eight of these deaths occurred in Alabama on Wednesday alone as a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa razing homes and buildings.
Strawberry’s Grill helping to fight Autism On Tuesday, May 3, Strawberry’s Grill in Douglaston will be helping support Autism services at the Samuel Field Y.
Seatings begin at 4 p.m. and Strawberry’s will donate half of each patron’s bill to Samuel Field Y’s programs for children with Autism.
For reservation and to help a good cause, call Strawberry’s Grill at 718-517-8787
Bowne House Historical Society to give away trees
On Sunday May 1, the Bowne House Historical Society will be giving away trees as part of the MillionTreesNYC project.
These trees must be planted on private property and in New York City.
The tree giveaway will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. at the Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing NY.
The types of trees will be:
– Katsura (from Japan)
– Kousa dogwood (from Korea)
– ‘Kwanzan’ flowering cherry (from Japan) VERY FEW
– Fowering pear (from China)
– Burr oak
No card transactions at MetroCard vending machines Saturday
From 1 to 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, credit and debit card transactions will be unavailable at all MetroCard vending machines for an annual planned system upgrade. The unavailability may last until noon.
2nd annual Cinco de Mayo Street FairHealthfirst and Elmhurst Hospital Center will be holding their second annual Cinco de Mayo Street Fair on Friday, May 6.
The event is open to all Queens residents and will honor Jorge Muñoz who recently the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Obama for his efforts in distributing free home-cooked meals to needy people in New York through his An Angel in Queens organization.
The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Elmhurst Hospital Center, 41st Avenue and 81st Street.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Staten Island bound lower-level closure
The lower-level of the Staten Island bound Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will be closed to all traffic between midnight and 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 for the annual TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour.
The BQE and the Belt Parkway approaches to the upper level will remain open as will both levels of the bridge Brooklyn bound.
Other MTA crossings will also face delays on this day including:
– Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel:
o 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Trinity Place exit closed to Manhattan-bound customers exiting the tunnel. Drivers will be detoured to West Street.
o 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Westbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278W) will be closed from Atlantic Avenue to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Brooklyn-bound traffic will be diverted to the Hamilton Avenue exit ramp after toll plaza.
– RFK Bridge:
o 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ramp to FDR Drive south will be closed. All Manhattan-bound traffic must exit at 125th Street.
– Queens Midtown Tunnel:
o Drivers may experience heavier than usual traffic delays as a result of traffic being diverted from the Pulaski and Ed Koch-Queensboro bridges, which will be closed.
For more information on the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour please visit Bike NY
website at: https://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/fbbt/index.html
Gas motors past $4 mark
New York City gas prices motored past the four dollar mark last week and have continued to rise, according to AAA’s fuel gauge report.
The average gas price in the city is $4.167 up six cents from a week ago.
Gas prices a year ago were just over three dollars per gallon and the price has risen more than 30 cents in the past month.
The highest recorded gas prices in the city were recorded on July 16, 2008 when the price hit $4.411.
Recycle your electronics
Out with the old; in with the new.
This is a common refrain in the digital age with new electronics being unveiled every week. But this "out with the old" must be done environmentally safe.
And with that in mind State Senator Joe Addabbo, Jr. is holding a free recycling day that will prevent old electronics from ending up in a landfill which can allow toxic components to leak into the environment.
The event will take place at the George Seuffert Sr. Bandshell Parking Lot in Forest Park on Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Recyclers can also bring old clothing (must be clean and dry) and any paper and cardboard.
The electronics will have the hazardous materials removed and disposed of in a environmentally-safe way, surpassing state and federal mandates.
